Skip to main content

Full text of "History of the New Netherlands, Province of New York, and State of New York, to the adoption of the Federal Constitution"

See other formats 


Google 


This  is  a  digital  copy  of  a  book  that  was  preserved  for  generations  on  library  shelves  before  it  was  carefully  scanned  by  Google  as  part  of  a  project 

to  make  the  world's  books  discoverable  online. 

It  has  survived  long  enough  for  the  copyright  to  expire  and  the  book  to  enter  the  public  domain.  A  public  domain  book  is  one  that  was  never  subject 

to  copyright  or  whose  legal  copyright  term  has  expired.  Whether  a  book  is  in  the  public  domain  may  vary  country  to  country.  Public  domain  books 

are  our  gateways  to  the  past,  representing  a  wealth  of  history,  culture  and  knowledge  that's  often  difficult  to  discover. 

Marks,  notations  and  other  maiginalia  present  in  the  original  volume  will  appear  in  this  file  -  a  reminder  of  this  book's  long  journey  from  the 

publisher  to  a  library  and  finally  to  you. 

Usage  guidelines 

Google  is  proud  to  partner  with  libraries  to  digitize  public  domain  materials  and  make  them  widely  accessible.  Public  domain  books  belong  to  the 
public  and  we  are  merely  their  custodians.  Nevertheless,  this  work  is  expensive,  so  in  order  to  keep  providing  tliis  resource,  we  liave  taken  steps  to 
prevent  abuse  by  commercial  parties,  including  placing  technical  restrictions  on  automated  querying. 
We  also  ask  that  you: 

+  Make  non-commercial  use  of  the  files  We  designed  Google  Book  Search  for  use  by  individuals,  and  we  request  that  you  use  these  files  for 
personal,  non-commercial  purposes. 

+  Refrain  fivm  automated  querying  Do  not  send  automated  queries  of  any  sort  to  Google's  system:  If  you  are  conducting  research  on  machine 
translation,  optical  character  recognition  or  other  areas  where  access  to  a  large  amount  of  text  is  helpful,  please  contact  us.  We  encourage  the 
use  of  public  domain  materials  for  these  purposes  and  may  be  able  to  help. 

+  Maintain  attributionTht  GoogXt  "watermark"  you  see  on  each  file  is  essential  for  in  forming  people  about  this  project  and  helping  them  find 
additional  materials  through  Google  Book  Search.  Please  do  not  remove  it. 

+  Keep  it  legal  Whatever  your  use,  remember  that  you  are  responsible  for  ensuring  that  what  you  are  doing  is  legal.  Do  not  assume  that  just 
because  we  believe  a  book  is  in  the  public  domain  for  users  in  the  United  States,  that  the  work  is  also  in  the  public  domain  for  users  in  other 
countries.  Whether  a  book  is  still  in  copyright  varies  from  country  to  country,  and  we  can't  offer  guidance  on  whether  any  specific  use  of 
any  specific  book  is  allowed.  Please  do  not  assume  that  a  book's  appearance  in  Google  Book  Search  means  it  can  be  used  in  any  manner 
anywhere  in  the  world.  Copyright  infringement  liabili^  can  be  quite  severe. 

About  Google  Book  Search 

Google's  mission  is  to  organize  the  world's  information  and  to  make  it  universally  accessible  and  useful.   Google  Book  Search  helps  readers 
discover  the  world's  books  while  helping  authors  and  publishers  reach  new  audiences.  You  can  search  through  the  full  text  of  this  book  on  the  web 

at|http: //books  .google  .com/I 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


NEW  NETHERLANDS, 


PROVINCE  OF  NEW  YORK, 


I 


▲5D 


STATE  OF  NEW  YORK, 


TO  THE  ADOPTION  OF  THE  FEDERAL  CONSTITUTION. 


IN  TWO  VOLUMES. 


BY    WILLIAM   DUNLAP. 


VOL.  II. 


•  ••■., 

'-..:.' 

...       .•.•":■ 


•  •  »   •  •• ■  ,      . • 


^ '"'''"■ -        "--•     ■•», 


•      .      .     . ••     . 

••, . 


NEW  YORK: 

PRUITfiD  Ton  THE  AUTBOR'i  BXPRXSEirTATlVES 

BY  CARTER  &  THORP,  EXCHAN6K  PLACE 

1840. 


/-A)   /I 


Emtkrbo, 
According  to  Act  of  Cong  rem,  in  tho  year  1840, 

BY  JOHN  A.  DUMI.Ar, 

In  tlM  Clark**  OAce  of  the  Diitrict  Covrt  of  the  Southern  DUlrict  of 

KVW  YORK. 


.    » ■ 

m 


•  •         •    - 


'  •  •      • 


CONTENTS 


OF 


THE  SECOND  VOLUME. 


CHAPTER  L  rA9n. 

Capture  of  Ticonderoga — Ethan  AUeD — ^Arnold — Montgomery — His 
letters, 9 

CHAPTER  IL 

The  Jobnflonfl — Brant — Schuyler's  Expedition  to  Johnstown— The  state  of 
the  Valley  of  the  Mohawk, 95 

CHAPTER  HI 

Gates,  a  British  officer — ^An  American  officer — ^At  Cambridfe — At  New 
York — Disputes  the  command  with  Schuyler — Hancock's  letter,    .... 

CHAPTER  IV. 
General  Gates *at  Ticonderoga— Arnold — His  efforts  against  Carieton,    -    -    -  48 

CHAPTER  V. 

England  buys  foreicn  troops  to  hel^  to  subdue  America — Her  army  repairs 
from  Boston  to  Halifax — After  being  reinforced,  the  army  lands  on  Staten 
Island — The  troops  of  Washington— Battle  of  Brooklyn,  and  retreat  firom 
Long  Island, 66 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Lord  Howe  meets  a  Committee  of  Conffress,  on  Staten  Island — General 
Howe  pushes  his  army  to  Heilgate — Math,  and  death  of  Henly — Hale  m 
executed— Affair  of  fcipp's  Bay — Difficulties  of  evacuating  the  city — 
Death  of  Leieh.and  of  Knowlton — Fire  of  1776 — General  Howe  crosses 
to  Frog's  Point-^White  Phuns— Fort  Waahington—Rawlitt*— Prisoners,    •  73 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Retreat  to  the  Delaware — Lee's  misconduet— Affiurs  in  tiie  north — Colonel 
Meigs — Vermont— Starke, 


CONTENTS.  5 


APPENDIX 

TO  VOLUME  I. 

APPBITDIX.  PAGE. 

A, I 

B, II 

C, TI 

D, ni 

£, iz 

F, Ill 

G, XTI 

H, XVII 

I,  XXIT 

J xxn 

K, XXIX 

L, XXXIX 

M, XL 

N,  ......           .               XLII 

O, XLIT 

P, XLV 

On 

R 

Sf XLTI 

T, XLTII 

U, LI 

V, LT 

W LXIV 

Appendix  referred  to,       .  lvi 

Appendix  referred  to,  ...        lix 

Treaty  of  Peace  of  1763— Indian  Hosti- 
lities after  the  Peace,    .        .  lxix 

Review  of  Vanderdonck's  account  of 
New  Netherlands,    ....    lxzii 

Indian  Circulating  Medium— First  Inter- 
course between  the  Dutch  and  New- 
England,  -         .         .         .  LZXXIZ 

First  Organization  of  Continental  Army 
—New  York  Regiments,  xcvi 

English  settlement  of  New  Jersey,    .  c 

MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER,  cxv 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


It  may  be  thought  that  an  apology  is  due  to  the  reader 
for  the  errours  and  imperfections,  fewer  however  than 
under  all  circumstances  might  have  been  expected,  which 
he  will  meet  with  in  the  perusal  of  these  two  volumes. 

The  greater  part  of  the  first  volume  was  printed  after 
the  author  was  attacked  with  a  disease,  which  ultimately 
proved  fatal.  For  a  time  he  was  able  to  devote  some 
attention  to  the  correction  of  the  press ;  but  it  finally 
devolved  exclusively  upon  one,  who  had  not  by  previous 
studies  acquired  an  equal  intimacy  with  the  subject,  nor 
was  acquainted  with  the  work  itself,  except  as  it  came 
under  his  observation  piecemeal  while  passing  through 
the  hands  of  the  printer.  For  a  considerable  time  after- 
ward, the  author's  situation  was  such  that  no  application 
could  be  made  to  him  to  remove  doubts  or  elucidate  ob- 
scurities. The  second  volume  is  literally  a  posthumoua 
production,  the  materials  of  which  have  been  selected 
and  arranged  according  to  the  expressed  design  of  the 
writer,  or  when  that  was  wanting,  pursuant  to  the  most 
probable  conjecture. 

Hence  have  arisen  in  some  few  instances,  an  apparent 
confusion  or  involution  of  facts  and  dates,  which  to  dis- 
entangle or  evolve,  requires  it  is  believed  merely  a  little 


8  ADVERTIS 

attention : — and  also  in  two  or  three  instances,  the  repe- 
tition of  the  same  circumstances  or  ideas,  in  the  same, 
or  nearly  the  same  language.  These  are  indeed  blem- 
ishes; but  such  as,  it  is  conceived,  cannot  niateriallv  detract 
from  the  gratification  and  instruction  to  be.  it  is  hoped 
derived  from  the  perusal  of  the  AvorL  Literal  and  ver- 
bal errooTS  will  occur  to  the  reader :  in  general,  however, 
not  of  a  natiu^  to  mislead  or  embarrass  him.  A  table 
of  errata  concludes  the  present  volume. 

The  editor  begs  leave  to  submit  the  work,  now  com- 
plete, to  the  kind  and  candid  consideration  of  the  pubUcL 

New  York.  FebruarA'.  1S40. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  YORK. 


CHAPTER  I. 


C^ir-r  0/    Ticoiuirroga — Efkan  Allf]^— Arnold — Monfgowury 

Ths  coatro\"er?ies  between  New  York  and  New  Hampshire 
^"e  been  aoucevl  in  preceding:  paces,*  but  when  the  great  strugigle 
^t'-^een  :he  colonies  and  Great  Britain  had  arri\'ed  at  a  crisis 
»ix'h  su^Hjrseded  in  the  minds  of  the  leadings:  men  of  New  York 
^  oc<r  considerations*  Tr^'on  was  placed  in  the  position  of  an 
rf2ecy  to  both  the  contending  parties.     The  contest  between 
Ea^iizd  and  America  had  another  edect  upon  this  quarrel  for 
ic."vs  :  :::i::y  of  those  claliuin^  under  New  York  became  open 
e3ec1.es  to  the  o?neril  cause  of  libertw  and  of  course  their  in* 
-jesce  La  urzinj:  the  claims  of  that  province  to  the  New  Hamp- 
shire ^jants  ceased. 
ITT-5         As  soon  as  open  hostilities  had  commenced  at  Lesdn^ 
ton.  certain  ^H?rsons  at  Hartford  formevl  a  design  upon  the 
of  Ticondero^a,  and  bein;  joined  by  Ethan  Allen  and 
>^  ol  Mij«achusetts«  they  turned  their  thoughts  and  steps  to 
fi^aaio^rtoo,  where  they  knew  men  were  to  be  found  ready  to 
son  upon  a  dan^c^rous  enterprize.     On  their  arrival,  a  council  wis 
called,  aad  Allen  assumed,  or  was  appointed,  the  leader.     He 
ftes7a:^hed  scouts  to  the  northward  to  cut  odf  communication  be- 
:v?en   Canavia  and  the  object  at  which  tliey  aimed,  and  then 
aar.T.ed  to  Casdeion,  where  thev  arrived  on  the  evenins:  of  the 
Ta  ol  May.  1 77o.     Here  they  decided  on  their  plan  of  operations. 
A  parrr  oi  thirty  men  was  to  march  to  the  head  of  the  lake  and 
Ki^e  Major  Skene,  the  son  of  the  proprietor,  who  was  then  in 
Efi^Uod,  and  firom  whom  the  spot  now  called  Whitehall  wis 


10  CAPTUKB  OF  TI£O3n>EB06A. 

then  decoQunated  Skenesboroozb.  This  partr  was  to  «eize  aH  d&e 
iahabiUDCs  and  conduce  them  to  the  place  .Mien  aid  fixed  oa  'he 
embarkation.  As  the  main  body  va<  preparinz  to  move  to  ^he 
lake,  Benedict  Arnold  arrived  with  a  comtnL§5u>n  from  the  ibs" 
sachuieos  committee  of  safety,  to  raL^  men  and  proceed  to  the 
capture  of  Ticondero-za.  unci>as:ioi:^  of  the  previoLLs  movements 
in  Connecticut  and  :he  Green  Mountains.  Arnold  had  appotnced 
omcers  to  eniiaC  men  for  ihl^  object,  but  he^nnx  of  the  previaas 
movf^ment,  hastened  on.  thir.klnj:  to  tike  command  bv  virtue  gc 
his  commissioa  irom  Massachusetts :  this  suited  the  dispoeicoa 
neither  of  Allen  or  his  followers :  and  Arnold,  findinj  tha:  dse 
men  refused  to  tbllow  any  ouier  than  the  leader  of  their  choice, 
agreed  to  join  a«  a  Tolun:eer. 

The  whole  force,  amountinz  to  230.  pushed  for  the  shore  or 
the  lake  opposite  Ticoaderoira.  and  were  tort  una  te  enouzh  to  Snd 
a  boy  for  a  zuide.  the  **ja  of  a  farmer,  who  was  in  the  habit  oC 
croesinz  the  lake  ia  his  faLher's  b«oa:  to  play  wi:h  the  Lads  of  hi» 
own  aie  beloc^nz  to  the  nrrisoa.  and  who  bv  this  means  wa 
jaraillar  widi  es-erj-  path  ieadlcr  t*  the  fortress.  Nithan  Betaaa, 
(this  was  the  boy's  name.)  was  permitted  by  hj?  fidier  to  uihi«»rQke 
the  service;  and  Alien  proceeieii  u>achi*=ve  L^e  conqr^est  of  Lhe  pbce 
whicb  had  repulsed  the  flower  of  a;e  Bnd-h  soldi-;:}  ucder  Abercroc:- 
bie.  with  a  slaughter  often  times  the  w  hole  Eiir.i&erthat  now  prepami 
to  capture  it.  I  will  let  Allen  tell  in  his  own  way,  the  result  of 
this  expedition. 

••  The  fir-t  STsteraatlcal  and  h\oo*iT  atte:r*p:  at  Lexicitocu  to 

enslave  America,  thorouzhlv  elec:rlned  mv   mind,  and  f.*iiv  de- 

_    .  «  • 

lermiaed  me  to  take  i  part  with  my  country.  And  wblle  I  waj 
wishing  for  an  opport:iniiy  ti^  slinaLIze  myself  In  iis  behalf,  direc- 
tions were  privately  sent  to  me  irom  the  then  colony,  now  stite  of 
Connecticut,  to  raise  the  Green  Mountain  Boys.  and.  if  possible, 
with  them  to  surprise  and  taJ^e  the  tortress  of  Ticondero-,ra.  This 
coierprize  I  cheerfullv  undertook  ;  ard  after  nrst  ^^:anili!^  all  the 
several  passes  that  lead  'khither.  Uj  cut  on  all  inteliizence  becweca 
Ae  'arrisoa  and  the  countrv.  made  a  forced  mamh  irom  Be»- 
nii^toa,  and  arrived  at  the  Lake  opposite  TInor.tieroca.  oo  the 
eveoinx  of  the  9th  di\'  of  Ma  v.  177-5.  widi  2^>j  y^\l^r>l  Greca 
Mountain  Boys ;  and  It  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  I  pn>- 
cored  boats  to  crosd  the  lake.  However.  I  landed  eljrhtj-chree 
men  near  the  .^arnsoo.  and  sent  the  boats  back  for  the  rear  zvi^^ 
commanded  by  CoIoneL  ?*eth  Wanier  :  but  :he  day  be  ran  to  dawn, 
and  I  found  myself  necessitated  to  attack  the  fort  before  the  rear 
cottid  cross  the  lake ;  and  as  it  was  hazardous.  I  hamLr^^ed  the 
officers  and  soldiers  in  the  manner  foIlowLr.r :  ••  Friernis  and  fellow 
soldier»^\ou  have  for  a  number  of  }ears  past  beea  a  scour^ 
aad  terror  (oarburarj  powers    Yoor  valour  bail  been  fiuxked  abr<Md« 


CAPTURE  OF  TICONDBROGA.  1 1 

mi  acknoirledi^v  as  appears  by  die  advice  and  orders  to  me 
fom  liie  ppneral  assembly  of  ConDCcticui,  to  surprise  and  take  the 
;«rnsoo  now  before  us.  I  now  propose  to  advance  before  you, 
Uii  in  person  conduct  you  throucrh  tlie  wicket  gate  ;  for  we  must 
ibis  momln^:  either  quit  our  pretentions  to  valour,  or  possess  our- 
selves of  tins  fortress  in  a  few  minutes ;  and  inasmuch  as  it  is  a 
desperate  attempt,  which  none  but  the  bravest  of  men  dare  under- 
uke.  I  do  not  urire  it  on  coutrar}'  to  his  will.  You  tliat  will 
usiienake  voluntarily,  poise  your  firelock.^* 

**  Tike  men  being  at  iliis  time  drawn  up  in  three  ranks,  each  poised 
!iL«  LTV  lock.     I  ordered  them  to  face  to  the  right ;  and  at  die  head 
o:  *j:e  cen!re  file  marched  them  immediately  to  tlie  wicket  gate 
^'.^rvsAJd.   wiiere  I  found  a  sontrv*  posted,  who  instantly  snap|>ed 
K>  fjsee  at  me.     I  ma  immodiatciv  towards  him,  and  he  retreated 
uL-uw^ti  the  covered  way  into  the  parade  within  the  garrison,  gave 
i  hiijoo.  and  ran  under  a  bomb  proof.     My  party  who  followed 
:nc  into  the  ton,  I  formed  on  tlie  parade  in  such  a  manner,  as  to 
idce  the  barracks  which  faced   each  other.     Tlie  garrison  being 
asleep,  except  tlie  sentries,  we  gave  tluee  huzzas,  which  greatly 
surprised  diem.     One  of  the  sentries  made  a  pass  at  one  of  my 
o5cers  with  a  c]iar::od  bavonet,  and  slighdv  wounded  him.     Mv 
£rii:  thought  was  to  kill  him  widi   my  sword,  but  in  an  instant  I 
aitered  the  design  nnd  fury  of  die  blow  to  a  slight  cut  on  the  side 
of  the  head  :  upon  which  he  dropped  his  gun,  and  asked  quarters, 
«tiich  I  readily  irranted  him  :  and  demanded  die  place  where  the 
commanding:  oiiicer  kept.     He  showed  me  a  pair  of  stairs  in  the 
&oni  of  the  garrison,  which  led  to  a  second  stor\'  in  said  barracks, 
to  vbich   1  immediately  repaired,  and  ordered  tlie  commander, 
Cipiain  Dela place,  to  come  fordi  instantly,  or  I  would  sacrifice 
the  whole  garrison  :  at  which  ume  the  captain  came  immediately 
lo  the  door  with  his  breeches  in  his  hand,  wlien  1  ordered  him  to 
deliver  to  me  die  fort  instantly  ;  he  asked  me  by  what  authority  I 
demanded  iu    I  answered  him,  *  in  die  name  of  the  great  Jehovah, 
Msd  die  Continental  Congress.'     The  authority  of  congress  being 
very  iitde  known  at  that  time,  he  began  to  speak  again,  but  I  in- 
terrupted him.  and  with  my  drawn  sword  near  his  head  airain 
demanded  an  immediate  surrender  of  the  garrison  ;  with  which  he 
'then  complied,  and  ordered  his  men  to  be  fordiwith  paraded 
without  arms,  as  he  had  given  up  the  garrison.     In  the  meantime 
soaie  of  my  officers  had  given  orders,  and  in  consequence  thereof, 
Mndn*  of  the  barrack  doors  were  beat  down,  and  about  one  third 
of  the  garrison  imprisoned,  which  consisted  of  said  commander,  a 
Lieutenant  Keltham,  a  conductor  of  artillery,  a  gunner,  two  ser- 
geants, and  fony-four  rank  and  file :  about  one  hundred  pieces  of 
cttaoQ,  ooe  thineeo  inch  mortar,  and  a  number  of  swivels.     Thk 


12  BTHAN  ALLE!f . 

siuprise  was  carried  into  execution  in  the  grejr  of  the  morning  of 
the  lOth  of  May,  1775." 

The  prisoners  were  one  captain,  one  lieutenant,  and  fortr-eigbt 
non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  besides  non-combatants ; 
thej  were  sent  to  Hartford  for  safe  keeping.  One  hundred  and 
twenty  pieces  of  cannon,  with  mortars,  swivels,  small  arms  and 
stores,  were  made  prize  of. 

Seth  Warner,  who  led  the  second  division  of  Allen^s  army,  wan 
despatched  to  seize  Crown  Point,  which  he  efiected,  the  place 
being  only  garrisoned  by  a  sergeant  and  eleven  men,  who  were 
taken  with  sixty  cannon,  and  of  course  some  small  arms  and 
stores. 

Arnold  again  attempted  to  take  command,  but  Allen  and  his 
men  resisted,  and  after  the  party  that  had  seized  Major  Skene  and 
the  vessels  at  Skenesborough  had  joined  the  main  force,  they  de- 
termined to  go  down  the  lake  and  make  an  attempt  upon  St 
John's.  They  had  now  a  schooner  and  several  batteaux,  and 
Arnold,  who  was  accustomed  to  the  sea,  had  charge  of  the  larger 
vessel ;  Allen  commanding  the  batteaux.  Arnold  arrived  first  at 
the  point  of  destination,  took  the  garrison  by  surprise,  (a  sergeant 
and  twelve  men,)  and  secured  them  with  a  sloop  of  seventy  tons, 
mounting  two  brass  six  pounders.  After  securing  the  stores 
and  destroymg  such  things  as  he  could  not  bring  off,  the 
futiu^  British  general  sailed  triumphantly  up  the  lake  and  met 
Allen  and  his  detachment,  who  could  only  join  in  triumph,  salutes 
and  congratulations.  Allen,  however,  was  determined  to  perse- 
vere, and  he  pushed  on  with  design  to  hold  possession  of  St. 
John's  :  with  this  intention,  he  landed  and  proceeded  about  a  mile, 
when  he  was  driven  back  to  his  boats  ^ith  the  loss  of  three  of  his 
men  taken  prisoners* 

Allen  returned  to  Ticonderoga,  to  the  command  of  which  he 
was  commissioned  bv  the  authorities  that  were  constituted  bv  the 
people  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut.  Arnold  was  stationed 
at  Crown  Point  and  had  command  of  the  flf.*et. 

Allen  now  contemplated  the  conquest  of  Canada,  and  had  the 
merit  of  first  suggesting  what  was  soon  after  adopted  as  a  national 
measure.  Colonel  Hinman,  arriving  at  Ticonderosra  with  troops 
from  Connecticut,  the  command  of  the  place  was  yielded  to  him. 

General  Schuyler  made  use  of  Allen  as  a  missionary,  not  of 
religion,  but  policy,  among  the  Canadians  and  the  Indians  of  dwt 
country,  and  he  executed  his  mission  at  least  to  his  own  satisfiM^ 
tioBtbemg  convinced  that  if  the  Americans  could  advance  in  force, 
Ae  people  of  the  country  would  join  them. 

When  General  Montgomerj-,  by  Schuyler's  illness,  was  obliged 
to  take  the  command  of  the  army  designed  for  Canada,  Allen  was 
sent  by  Schoyier  to  iiiae  a  force  of  Canadians,  and  succeeded  wm 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD.  13 

far  as  to  have  250  men  under  arms  and  at  his  command  ;  with  these 
he  avowed  to  General  Montgomery  his  intention  of  joining  him  to 
assist  in  the  reduction  of  3t.  Johns,  but  while  on  his  march  up  the 
St.  Lawrence,  having  arrived  opposite  Montreal,  he  was  induced 
either  by  the  persuasion  of  a  Major  Brown  who  met  him  there,  or 
by  his  own  vanity  and  love  of  adventure,  to  undertake  the  capture 
of  Montreal  independently  of  Montgomery,  whose  orders  he  ought 
to  have  solicited  and  obeyed.  According  to  the  plan  digested  by 
Brown  and  Allen,  the  first  was  to  cross  above  and  the  second  be- 
low the  town  and  make  a  simultaneous  attack ;  Brown  had  200 
Americans :  Allen  crossed  the  river  with  eighty  Canadians  and 
thirty  Americans,  in  canoes,  on  the  night  of  the  24th  of  Septem- 
ber, and  in  the  morning  looked  in  vain  for  Brown^s  signal  for 
attack.  Finding  that  his  consort  had  failed,  Allen  would  willingly 
have  recrossed  the  St.  Lawrence,  but  it  was  too  late.  The  British 
in  the  town  had  notice  of  his  situation,  and  soon  poured  out  upon 
him  an  overwhelming  force  of  regular  troops,  Canadians  and  In- 
dians :  after  a  skirmish,  and  the  desertion  of  all  his  men  but 
thirty-eight,  Allen  agreed  to  surrender  upon  "  honourable  terms." 
They  were  marched  as  prisoners  into  the  town  they  had  captured 
in  anticipation,  and  Allen  was  received  by  General  Prescott,  the 
commanding  officer,  with  language  and  treatment  unworthy  of  any 
gentleman.  After  asking  Allen  if  he  was  the  man  who  took  Ti- 
conderoga,  and  being  answered  in  the  affirmative,  he  threatened 
his  prisoner  a  halter  at  Tyburn,  and  sent  him  in  irons  on  board  a 
vessel  of  war  to  be  transported  to  England. 

The  appointment  of  Benedict  Arnold  as  a  colonel  in  the  con- 
tmental  army,  and  the  choice  made  of  him  by  General  Washing- 
ton to  co-operate  in  the  attack  on  Quebec,  which  was  intended  to 
be  conducted  by  General  Schuyler,  makes  him  so  prominent  an 
object  that  we  must  look  back  upon  his  previous  history. 

He  was  the  son  of  Benedict  Arnold,  a  cooper  by  trade,  who 
emigrated  to  Norwich,  in  Connecticut,  from  Rhode  Island,  in  the 
year  1730,  and  having  accumulated  property,  engaged  in  the 
West  India  trade,  and  marrying,  became  in  process  of  time  the 
father  of  a  man  who  has  stamped  his  name  indelibly  on  the  pages 
of  our  hbtory,  as  that  of  a  gallant  soldier  and  an  unprincipled 
traitor. 

Benedict  the  second,  was  bom  at  Norwich,  on  the  3d  of  January, 
1740.  His  father,  then  in  successful  trade,  gave  him  as  good  an 
education  as  the  place  afforded;  and  his  father  dying  while  he 
was  yet  a  minor,  he  was  apprenticed  to  two  druggists.  Young 
Arnold  was  a  source  of  more  trouble  than  pleasure  or  profit.  He 
was  noted  for  acts  of  daring,  of  perfidy  and  cruelty,  as  far  as  such 
qualities  can  be  seen  in  boyhood.  Tired  of  exhibiting  his  propea- 
aities  for  mischief  on  so  small  a  scale,  he,  at  the  age  of  sixteen 


14  BBKEDICT  ARNOLD. 

▼ears  of  age,  ran  awajr,  and  enlbted  for  a  soldier.  H15  mothers 
distress  caused  an  application  for  hi«  discharge,  which  was  success- 
ful, but  charmed  with  companions  who  would  acknowled^  bis 
superiority,  and  with  a  licence  suited  to  his  perverted  faculties,  be 
again  abs«conded  and  joined  the  troops  destined  for  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  where  he  became  acquainted  with  the  scenes  of  his  future 
varied  adventures.  From  this  engagement  he  deserted,  and  Bed 
back  to  Norwicli — thus  his  first  act  of  treason  aiHl  flicht  from  the 
colours  he  had  engaged  to  fight  under,  was  against  George  II,  the 
grandfather  of  the  master  under  whose  standard  he  sufa^equent^ 
carried  fire  and  sword  into  his  native  countr\-. 

He  was  received  and  protected  by  his  masters,  who  sheltered 
him  from  the  punishment  his  desertion  merited  ;  but  his  conduct 
was  a  continued  source  of  dLszust  to  them,  and  of  misery  to  his 
mother,  whose  days  were  probably  shortened,  as  well  as  embiaered 
by  his  present  conduct  and  her  anticipations  of  the  future.  Happily 
she  could  not  ima:nne  the  amount  of  hb  future  infamv. 

He,  however,  sen'ed  out  his  time  and  commenced  business  as  a 
dn]g«:ist  in  New  Haven.  The  slow  increase  of  property  could 
not  content  this  grasping  youth :  he  commenced  trading  to  the  West 
Indies,  and  from  a  port  long  noted  for  shipments  of  horses  and 
mules  to  that  market,  Arnold  carried  on  a  profitable  traffick,  oc- 
casionally visitiifg  Canada  in  the  way  of  trade,  and  occasionallv 
making  voyages  to  the  West  India  Island  and  commandine  hti 
own  vessels.  He  is  de«cribed  by  Mr.  Sparks,  as  "  turbiilent, 
impetuous,  presuming,  and  unprincipled.*'  He  was  ensa^ed  m 
quarrels  perpetually.  That  he  should  be  a  smu<:der  followed  of 
course,  and  when  informed  against  by  a  sailor,  such  was  the  ptib- 
lick  opinion  of  English  custom  house  regulations  and  acts  of  par- 
liament, taxing  the  colonial  trade,  that  Arnold  with  impunitr  in- 
flicted lashes  on  the  informer  at  the  publick  whippmz  post,'  and 
banbbed  him  fiom  New  Haven. 

Arnold's  bold,  not  to  say  audacious  character,  with  the  qualities 
which  marked  him  as  a  leader  in  whatever  was  dai]:;erous,  so  br 
outweighed  his  evil  qualities  and  bad  reputation  as  a  man  in  the 
eyes  of  the  military  portion  of  the  inhabitants  of  New  Haven,  that 
be  was  chosen  captain  of  one  of  the  independent  companies,  called 
the  Govemour's  Guards;  and  when  tiie  stirring  news  of  the  battle 
of  Lexington  arrived.  Captain  Arnold  wiilioutdifficuliv  called  oat 
aixty  volunteers  from  the  guards  and  the  students  of  the  college, 
ready  to  march  for  the  scene  of  strife.  Arnold's  troops  bad  fire 
arms  but  no  ammunition,  and  a  refusal  was  returned  from  the  select 
men  to  his  demand  for  powder  and  ball.  Drawing  up  his  volun- 
teers m  batde  array,  the  captain  sent  word  tliat  if  the  kevs  of  the 
magazine  were  not  delivered  to  him,  he  would  break  down  the 
dooiB  and  help  hinuelC     The  threat  produced  the  requisite  am- 


BENEDICT  ARXOLD*  15 

susitiou«  and  Amolil  and  his  company  were  among  the  earliest 
of 'Jje  jaihering  at  Cambridi??. 

Srinroly  had  he  arrived  before  Boston,  when  he  proposed  to 
ie  Ma5sachusett5  comniiitee  of  safety,  an  expedition  for  the  sur- 
:r.5e  of  TiconJero^,  a  place  well  known  to  him,  when  he,  as  a 
."•riraie  soldier  in  the  kinc's  service,  made  one  of  its  irarrison.  His 
f  !in  was  seen  to  be  feasible,  and  he  was  on  the  3d  of  May,  com- 
=us^ned  as  colonel  in  the  senico  of  the  province  and  appointed 
•j)  corcmaiKi  100  men*  for  the  esjvecial  purpose  proposed  by  him. 
Fiimished  with  nionev,  ammunition,  and  authority  to  draw  on  the 
r-?:nT.:nee  for  ilie  costs  of  stores  and  provisions  for  his  troops. 
Colonel  Arnold  proceeded  to  Stockbrid5;:e  I'or  the  purpose  of  en- 
'-sdn-  men,  when  to  his  zreat  cha;rrin  he  learned  that  men  from 
C->oecncut,  had  already  :rone  into  the  Hampshire  Grants  to  raise 
•Jr-f  Green  Mountain  boys  for  the  same  point  of  attack.  Arnold 
ir:v::ited  oiScers  to  recniit  for  him,  but  with  his  usual  impetuosity 
:->":: o\i  on,  and  overtoi>k  Kthan  Allen  and  his  onranized  force  at 
Ci3>:!e:on  :  ai  once  he  showed  his  commission  and  claimed  com- 
zuzl :  but  Kill  an  u-as  a  match  for  Benedict  on  such  an  occasion, 
i::^  hLs  niountaineors  refused  to  follow  anv  other  than  their  own 
c:*>5ea  leader.  Arnold  si.hinitied  to  necessity  and  joined  the  ex- 
r^Li^iion  is  a  volunteer.  1  have  alreadv  iriven  the  result:  Arnold 
<:::e:ed  the  fortress  side  by  side  with  the  conqueror:  but  the  post 
oc-re  in  possession.  h»*  a::tiin  demanded  the  command.  Allen  was 
i*  cecivTod  in  denial  as  Arnold  could  be  in  requiring,  and  the 
Cor. r.^-c tic i:t  committee  was  appealed  lo,  who  immediately  ap|K>inted 
Co!or.el  Allen  comma Luiant  of  the  conquered  post  and  its  de- 
Kadencies- 

Arnold  ajain  with  an  i!!-crace  submitted  :  but  four  davs  after 
-e  surrender,  his  own  enlistetl  followers  arrived  at  Ticonderoja 
^j  the  way  of  :>keneslH>rvni:l!i,  (now  Whitehall)  where  they  had 
cirnred  a  schooner  belon;rin^  to  the  British  Major  Skene,  which 
ifo*:-!:t  li:em  triumphantly  down  the  lake  :  with  this  schooner  and 
*^e!!<  rren.  Arnold  a^ain  had  a  command  and  on  an  element  fami- 
jr  to  ':.\rA  :  he  pii?!:ed  down  to  St.  John's,  surprised  the  carrison, 
i«er.:e3?.r  ard  twe!\e  men,  captured  a  kiiu's  sloop  and  four  bat- 
eaux, \*r.io;i  loading  witii  stores  from  i!:o  tort,  he  carried  to  Ticon- 
OKDja.  In  this  he  anriripatod  Allen,  ul.om  he  met  on  the  way 
»  Stl  John's.  Crown  Point  had  fallen  into  tlie  hands  of  Setli  War- 
mer. ar.il  Lhus  Lake  Ch;::T*;^!aiii  with  its  forts,  once  so  formidable 
I'd  iitil  to  well  appoinvd  Briiisii  armies,  fell  into  the  hands  of  i 
few  daring  undisciplii.ed  Americans. 

The  Ku^Iish  to*^)k  possession  of  St.  John's  with  a  force  much 
reiier  than  t::e  New  Knjiand  leaders  had  in  the  vicinity,  and  it  was 
•r.oured  that  they  irteni'ed  to  come  up  the  lake.  Arnold,  who 
ued  indepeadenily  of  Allen,  and  considered  him^self  as  the  navil 


14  BEXEDICT  AENOLD. 

years  of  as6.  ran  away,  and  enli-tc-J  for  a  ^ol'lier.  Hi?  mo:':.er'» 
dw!re«3  c&u*eii  in  ^:>,>\l~Ai'in  Kir  iii-  Ji-r.-iiar.''/.  nhWu  -.va-  ?jcfei»- 
ful,  bui  c!,anr;o.i  w;i!i  -otnj.s :.;'■:.-  v.j.o  -.(..i.jii  a' k:.<i-.\:r.i.-t  i.U 
su[»erl'»riiv.  a;!(!  «i:;i  a  licei:rr'  .-uitt-i  Ifi  liU  ptne-rit.-,!  Juruliir-;,  ;,e 
■sain  al)=con(]e.i  a::.i/jJK-ii  i;;-- irwijis  li-.'^tiueJ  for  Lake  Ci.aru- 
plain.  wiiere  he  beca:i;t  ?.f-<|iaintfcii  wliU  Uiv  -r-i-'i-uei  (.f  iil-  iuiure 
varied  adveniiin?*.  Fro:!i  u.'i^  t:;ii.;<.'iii(-i3i  lie  de-*.-rtc-(!.  ar.-l  t3-ti 
back  lo  Norwjrii — ll;:;*  liis  f.ri-t  a-t  «it' irta*on  and  rti:;!ii  frr.m  liie 
colour^!  he  had  (-nrarod  to  fi.-ijt  uii>lcr,  was  aiiairt!-!  ("leorji.-  II,  lije 
grandf-ither  of  iht  martt-r  ujidur  wiiO«e  $;andarJ  lie  iultst-ijuenily 
carried  Gre  and  sword  imo  ],U  native  coiinin-. 

He  wa*  receivtil  and  fin.te^ied  Iiv  iiis  nvi-^icTf,  who  slieliered 
him  from  ihc  pnniM.ineni  liis  de»r:ioii  mcriicil :  but  lii#  conduct 
wa?  a  cominiit'l  .-qv.t'i-  of  di-z<iM  lo  liicin,  and  of  miser}'  lo  hb 
mother,  who-*-  day=  i^r  re  probably  ■■iionened,  af  well  as  embittered 
by  liis  present  conduct  and  lier  anticipations  of  the  future.  Happily 
she  could  not  itnaziiie  the  amount  of  his  future  infamy. 

He.  however,  .-erved  out  hi^  lime  and  commenced  burinesB  u  a 
dniL'::iM  in  Nc-n  Haven.  The  »Iuw  increase  of  proper^  could 
not  content  tbi^  in^-pin?  youth :  be  commenced  tndiog  to  lbs  WhI 
In<iie$,  and  from  a  ji^in  Ion;  noied  for  EhipmenU  of  bon^  ■—! 
mules  to  thai  inarkcL  Arnold  carried  on  a  j 
ca-cionally  vj:>itiifz  Cana<la  in  the  way  of  trade,  and  < 
makins  voyairfs  to  the  We^t  India  Idaod  md  e 
own  resseU.  He  is  described  by  Mr  Sparks,  m  ' 
impetuous,  pre^umin^,  and  unprincipled."  He  % 
quarreU  perpeinallr.  That  be  sboiild  be  a  uuui 
course,  and  nhcn  informed  against  by  a 
lick  opinion  of  Kn::iiT>h  custom  boiuc  'l-, 
liament.  taxinz  tiie  colonial  trade,  ibai  . 
flicied  lii^hc?  on  the  informer  at  tbe  pul 
banished  htm  fiom  New  Hareo. 

Arnold':'  bold,  not  to  say  audadc 
which  marked  him  ai  a  leader  m 
oulweinhcd   his  eril  qualities  id  ' 
eyesofUie  military  portion  of* 
be  was  chosen  captain  of  one 
ibe  Ooterrour's  Uuards  ;  av 
of  Lexininon  arrived,  Capta 
sixty  volunteers  from  the  gu 
ready  to  march  for  the  acen 
arms  but  no  ammunition,  and 
men  to  his  demand  for  powd 
leers  in  battle  array,  tbe  cap 
magazine  were  not  delirere 
doon  lod  help  himielC    ^ 


tsL-.;?«ti..  w." 


16  BEXBDiCT  ▲RXQLD. 


commander,  prepared  his  flotilla  to  oppose  them.  Besides  a  Dum- 
ber or  batte^ux,  he  had  the  captured  schooner  and  sloop,  and  widi  this 
ibrce  he  took  post  at  Crown  Point.  AVith  part  of  die  artillery 
taken  in  the  forts  he  armed  his  vessels,  and  despatched  cannon  by 
the  way  of  Lake  George,  intended  for  the  anny  at  Cambridge.* 

In  the  meantime,  doubts  respecting  Arnold's  conduct  in  mat- 
ters respecting  propert}*,  very  naturally  arose  in  the  minds  of  those 
who  first  commissioned  him  as  a  colonel,  and  gave  a  command  of 
men  and  money,  and  moreover  his  former  reputation  might  well 
occasion  suspicions  as  to  his  prudence,  and  the  legislature  of  Mas- 
sachusetts sent  three  delegates  to  Lake  Champlain  to  inquire  into 
the  state  of  affidrs.  They  were  instructed  to  inquire  into  his 
"  spirit,  capacity,  and  conduct,"  and  authorized,  if  they  saw  fit,  to 
order  his  return  to  Massachusetts  to  give  an  account  of  the  money, 
ammunition,  and  stores,  intrusted  him.  Inquiries  of  tbb  nature 
troubled  Arnold  all  tlirough  life  :  and  this  at  the  commencement 
of  his  heroick  carreer  greatly  irritated  him.  He  was  likewise 
superseded  in  command ;  Colonel  Hinman  being  appointed  his 
superiour.  Truly  all  this  did  not  appear  a  suitable  return  ibr  the 
activity  and  ability  he  had  displayed,  and  Arnold  complained 
loudly  of  the  injustice  and  indignity  with  which  he  was  treated,  and 
in  conclusion  resigned  his  commission. 

Having  no  furtlier  business  on  the  lake,  he  proceeded  to  Cam- 
bridge, loudly  complaining  of  the  treatment  he  had  received.  His 
accounts  were  allowed,  but  not  without  that  suspicion  which  seems 
to  have  attended  him  in  ever)'  period  of  his  life. 

The  military  talents  Arnold  had  displayed,  his  intelligence,  spiritt 
activity,  and  perseverance,  recommended  him  to  General  \^aab- 
ington  as  a  leader  fit  for  the  arduous  enterprize  of  conducting  a 
force  through  the  eastern  wilderness  by  the  way  of  Kennebec  River 
to  Quebec,  a  task  justly  considered  to  be  of  a  most  arduous  nature, 
and  requiring  a  man  of  tried  hardihood  and  undaunted  resolution. 
Such  a  man,  Washington  saw  in  Benedict  Arnold,  and  the  moral 
deformities  of  his  character,  were  passed  over — he  was  a  tool  fitted 
for  the  work  to  be  done — and  the  commander-in-chief  commis- 
sioned him  as  a  colonel  in  the  army  of  the  continent,  furnished 
him  with  the  necessar}'  instructions,  and  put  under  his  command 
1,100  men,  and  several  officers,  who  subsequently  became  famous 
in  the  struggle  then  commencing.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Christo- 
pher Greene,  aftenvards  the  hero  of  Red  Bank  ;  Lieutenant  Co- 
lonel Enos ;  Majors  Bigelow  and  Meigs ;  Captain  Dearborn  and 
Captain  Daniel  Morgan  with  his  riflemen,  so  famously  conspicuous 


*  The  committee  at  Albaaj  forwarded  abandaat  nippUes  of  pork  and  tmu  to 
the  eoaqiieron  of  tbe  lake. 


MONTGOMERY.  17 

in  every  action  from  Quebec  to  Monmouth,  and  at  a  later  period 
in  a  higher  command,  the  conqueror  of  Tarleton  at  the  Cowpens. 

These  troops  were  designed  to  co-operate  with  the  force  which 
invaded  Canada,  and  formed  a  junction  with  tliem  under  the  walls 
of  Quebec. 

In  surmounting  the  difficulties  of  the  arduous  march  through  the 
wilderness  to  Quebec,  and  in  every  action  attendant  upon  the  dis- 
astrous expedition  and  attack  upon  the  capital  of  Canada,  in  which 
Montgomery  fell,  Arnold  by  his  ardour  and  daring — by  his  cool 
intrepidity  and  endurance  of  hardship — by  his  resources  in  every 
difficult  emergency,  increased  his  military  reputation,  and  his  popu- 
larity with  all  the  friends  of  the  great  cause  he  so  conspicuously 
served.  I  leave  to  the  historian  of  the  United  States,  the  details 
of  the  Canada  expedition,  and  will  take  up  the  story  of  Benedict 
Arnold,  when  we  again  meet  him  on  the  territory  of  New  York. 

Richard  Montgomery  was  born  in  the  year  1736,  near  the  town 
of  Raphoe,  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  educated -at  the  college  of 
Dublin.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  entered  the  army,  and  was 
sent  to  Halifax  with  the  regiment  to  which  he  belonged  in  1767. 

In  1758,  he  served  under  Amherst  at  the  capture  of  Louisbourg, 
the  American  Gibraltar,  which  as  we  have  seen,  had  been  before 
taken  by  the  American  provincials  and  restored  to  France  by 
Great  Britain,  to  the  great  detriment  of  the  colonists. 

The  17th  regiment,  to  which  Montgomery  was  attached,  fol- 
lowed Amherst  to  Lake  Champlain,  and  introduced  him  to  the  fu- 
ture scenes  of  his  republican  military  service  under  his  friend 
Philip  Schuyler.  He  followed  the  triumphant  course  of  General 
Amherst  until  the  conquest  of  Canada  was  completed  in  1760.  In 
the  latter  year,  Montgomery  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain, 
and  as  such  followed  Monckton  from  Staten  Island  and  New  York 
to  Martinico,  the  surrender  of  which,  and  of  the  Havana,  was  soon 
followed  by  the  peace  of  February  10th,  1763. 

Returning  with  the  regiment  to  New  York,  he  remained  there, 
as  it  appears,  some  years,  and  then  went  to  England.  From  some 
disgust  to  the  service,  he  sold  his  commission  and  returned  to  New 
York  in  1773.  Having  purchased  an  estate  on  the  Hudson,  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  Livingston  family,  he  married  the  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  R.  Livingston,  and  thus  became  the  brother-in-law 
of  the  late  accomplished  chancellor. 

In  the  year  1776,  he  was  elected  by  the  county  of  Duchess,  to 
the  first  provincial  convention  held  in  New  York. 
1775         The  continental  congress,  probably  guided  by  the  ad- 
vice of  Washington,  as  in  the  choice  of  Charles  Lee  and 
Horatio  Gates,  appointed  Captain  Montgomery  one  of  the  first 
brigadier-generals  that  were  selected  for  their  army. 

Philip  Schuyler  who  at  the  same  time  was  selected  as  a  roajor- 

VOL.  II.  3 


^ 


18  MCniTGOlfSKT. 

general*  wis  appoinieil  to  cororoaml  the  army  intended  (or  so  H* 
tempt  upon  Canaih,  by  the  way  of  Lake  Cliamplain,  while  nno- 
dier  force  was  pu<lied  for  the  same  purp<i^  by  land  throiig|i 
the  wilderness  under  Arnold  ;  but  intended  for  ^huyler's  eom- 
fDtnd. 

Montgomery  repaired  to  Albany,  and  wm?  ordered  by  bis  friend 
Schuyler,  to  Ticondero;!a,  recently  seize^l  upon  by  Ethan  Allen. 

He  proceedeil  with  a  small  body  of  troops  down  tbe  lake. 
Beinc^  joined  by  his  friend  and  commander,  they  effected  a  boding 
near  S>t.  Johns  and  proceeded  on  their  march  to  the  ton  oo 
the  5tfa  of  ^ptember,  but  were  attacketl  while  fordin;;  a  creek, 
and  thrown  in  some  disorder  by  an  Indian  ambuscade.  Tbe 
enemy  was  however  soon  di«per^  with  lo«s  to  diemselFes*  wmd 
principally  by  the  prompt  movement  of  the  command  immediaiely 
led  by  Montgomery. 

General  ;5cboyler  wa?  carrieil  back  to  Ticonderoga  in  a  Mate  of 
extreme  sickness  and  exhaustion,  yet  never  ceasing  to  ibrward 
the  men,  artillery  and  stores,  necessary  for  ilie  expedition.  On  re- 
ceiving a  reinforcement,  Montgomery  began  his  investment  of  ^L 
Johns. 

After  establishing  an  entrenched  camp  of  300  men  in  a  position 
to  intercept  communication  between  St.  Johns,  CliainbU'  e,  and  Mon- 
treal, he  opened  bis  fire  of  artiller)'  upon  the  lieseiged.  But  be 
experienced  all  the  difficulties  arising  from  incompetent  guns,  am- 
monition,  and  artillerists — his  engineer  was  without  the  rudiinents 
of  knowledge,  as  such— his  troops  were  undisciplined,  and  sunk 
onder  the  effect  of  exposure  to  cold  and  wet,  fatigue  and  unwbol- 
aome  water.  His  efforts  were  counteracted  by  the  insubordiaatioo 
of  his  officers  and  men.  Tbe  conduct  of  Ethan  Allen  in  making 
an  attack  on  Montreal  without  ordere  from  the  general,  and  with  a 
Ibrce  altogether  inadequate,  added  to  the  nuNtificatioos  of  Moot 
fomefy. 

Tbe  capture  of  .\llen  took  place  on  the  2-5th  of  September. 
Shortly  after,  Mr.  James  Livingston,  who  had  at  tbe  imanrr  of 
Montgomery,  succeeded  in  raising  a  corps  of  300  fanadiani,  in 
conjunction  with  Major  Brown,  and  a  detachment  from  the  army, 
aocceeded  in  capturing  Chamblce,  its  garrison  and  stofea,  aoioag 
which  was  the  very  acceptable  acquisition  of  one  bimdred  and 
twenty-six  barrels  of  gunpowder. 

This  success  and  the  danger  of  the  post  of  St.  Johns,  rendered 
it  necessary  for  General  Carleton  the  English  commander  m  Ca- 
nada, to  quit  Montreal,  and  with  a  moifey  army  of  Canadians, 
Scotch  emigrants,  Indbns,  and  some  English  troops  of  tbe  regular 
force,  to  risk  a  field  movement  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  Mont- 
gomery. Mc  Lean  of  the  British  army  was  encamped  at  tbe 
moocb  of  tbe  Sorel»  and  Carlctoo*s  6ni  move  was  a  jonctioo  with 


iiontoomert's  lbttbss.  19 

him.  This  Montgomery  forestw,  and  gave  euch  orders  to  Colonel 
Warner  as  placed  him  in  a  situation  at  Loiiguiel  to  0|>po.«e  the 
movement  ofCarleton,  who  crosi^ing  the  Sl  Lau*rence,  was  receiv^ 
from  the  south  bank  by  a  fire  of  inuriketry  and  artillery,  nhich  had 
been  marked,  and  which  put  to  rout  the  whole  arm'-inienL  Thb 
9«iccess,  and  tlie  advance  of  a  further  American  force,  induced 
Mc  Lean  to  abandon  hi.s  post  and  descend  the  Su  Lawrence. 

Carleton  giving  up  all  hope  of  savin:;  Montreal,  put  himself  on 
board  of  a  boat,  and  with  muffled  oars,  in  a  dark  ni«£ht,  succeeded 
in  passing  the  American  posts  and  descended  the  river  in  safety. 
St.  Johns  surrendered  on  the  3d  of  November,  and  on  the 
13ih  Montgomery  had  full  possession  of  Montreal,  eleven  sail  of 
English  vessels.  General  Prescott,  and  120  regular  troops  of  the 
•eveoth  and  twenty-sixth  regiments. 

On  tlie  4th  of  December,  Montgomery  effected  a  junction  with 
AiDold,  and  immediately  proceeded  to  Quebec.     In  this  fortress, 
snder  the  command  of  a  veteran  soldier,  the  force  consisted  of  450 
teamen  and  marines  ;•  50  privates  of  the  7th  regiment ;  160  of  Mc 
Lean^s  corps,  and  2-30  Canadian  militia.     To  invest  the  place  with 
bis  miserable  shadow  of  an  army,  less  in  number  than  the  garriaon, 
was  out  of  the  question  with  the  commander  of  the  Americant, 
and  the  inclemency  of  winter  in  Canada  equally  forbade  it.     Es- 
calade was  determined  on.     After  tlie  ceremony  of  surrender  and 
lome  preparation,  the  attempt  was  made  as  detailed   in  many  of 
our  histories,  and  ti)e  gallant  Montgomery  fell.     The  Lieutenant 
Govemour  Cramaht^,  requested  tiiat  tlie  body  of  the  fallen  general 
might  be  buried  within  the  walls,  and  Carleton  granted  die  request. 
It  was  subsequently  removed  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  depo- 
siled  many  years  after  his  deaili,  with  all  military  honours,  under 
the  monument  voted  by  congress  and  erected  to  his  memory  in 
St  Paul's  cha)>el.* 

The  following  extract^t  from  unpublished  letters  of  Montgomery, 
VTiiteo  during  ihe  last  and  most  eventful  period  of  his  life,  to  bit 
friend  Schuyler,  whom  he  constantly  addi esses  in  the  most  respect- 
ful and  affectionate  terms,  cannot  but  be  read  with  interest 

TictrnJiTftg't^  Aifgifftf  1>,  177.5.  —  "The  troops  destined  for 
ttie  eeoerous  effort  to  relieve  our  brethren  of  Canada,  will  in  all 
pix)b«biiity  be  at  St  Johns  in  fourteen  days.**' 

Tiattuieroga^  Aifgm^f  :i5. — '*  I  ho|>e  you  will  join  us  with  all 
expedition.  Let  rne  iiitreai  you  (if  you  can  (Kissihiy)  to  follow  in 
a  whale  boat,  leaving  somebody  to  bring  foiward  liie  troo[w  and 


*  .\«  to  the  It  veil  of  AUen  And  Mont^omeir.  ice  Sparka'f  Amcrinii  Biofrapbj, 
Vol.  l— of  Arnold— SjiarU  Vol  3. 

t  For  ikam  I  am  ini*T>**^'  to  mj  higU/  Kiiunwl  friend,  Ez-cfaABoeUor  KtaL 

7.* 


20  uontgomert's  letters. 

ardlleiy.  It  will  pve  the  men  irreat  confidence  id  your  9[Hrit  and 
activity.  Be  assure!  1  have  your  iionour  and  reputation  hiebly  at 
heart,  as  of  the  greate-^t  consequence  to  the  public  service ;  that 
all  iDV  ambition  is  to  do  inv  duiv  in  a  subordinate  canacirv,  without 
the  least  unsrenerous  intention  ofiesTicnini  the  merit  so  iiisllv  vour 
due,  which  1  omit  no  opportunity  of  setlinfr  in  its  fullest  light." 

Camp,  ttmr  Sf,  J'^hns,  S*pt.  19,  177o. — "We  arrived  here  oo 
the  17th,  in  the  evenin::.  1  have  srrest  dependence  on  your  pres^ 
ence  to  administer  to  our  many  want."*.  Major  Broivn  was  driven 
off  yesterday  mominc:  by  a  party  of  British  when  he  landed  on  the 
left  side  of  the  lake." 

Campy  south  tide  Si*  Jnhns,  Sfpf.  t34. — "  I  can  say  nothing 
pleasing  as  to  my  troops.  The  other  niihi  Captain  Moti  basely 
deserted  the  mortar  batter}'  without  beini:  attacked,  though  he 
made  me  a  report  that  the  enemy  had  rushed  on  him.  I  expect  to 
set  our  mortars  to  work  to  nitrht.  If  successful  I  shall  endeavour 
to  have  deputies  sent  from  Canada  to  the  congress,  giving  tbem 
assurances  that  before  an  accommodation  takes  place,  Canada  must 
have  a  free  government,  and  that  the  congress  will  as  soon  give  up 
the  Massachusetts  government  to  the  resentment  of  the  ministry 
as  relinquish  this  point. 

I  should  like  to  have  three  enlighfenrd  members  of  congress  as 
a  council,  immediately,  lest  I  should  make  ^  thnx  pa$. 

Should  Arnold  come  in  my  neidibourhood,  has  he  orders  to 
put  himself  under  my  command  r  You  know  his  ambition,  and  I 
need  not  point  out  the  bad  consequences  of  a  separate  command.** 

Campf  near  St.  Johns,  Sej^f.  25. — *'  Colonel  Allen  passed  the  St. 
Lawrence  below  St.  Johns  with  twenty  of  ours  and  fifty  Canadians. 
He  was  attacked  from  the  garrison  and  taken  prisoner,  and  two  or 
three  of  his  men  killed.  I  lament  that  his  imprudence  and  ambi- 
tion urged  him  to  this  affair  sinixlehanded." 

Same  date. — "  We  have  opened  a  batter}*  of  two  twelve  pounders 
upon  the  ship  yards  and  schooner.  1  want  men  and  ammunition ; 
the  weather  is  bad,  and  the  iiround  encamped  on,  swampy.  \Vc 
are  scant}-  in  pork  and  flour.  1  have  sent  back  ten  boats  with  the 
naked  and  lazv.'* 

Camp,  south  side  St,  Juhns^  Oct.  0. — "  Your  diligence  and  fore- 
sight have  saved  us  from  the  dilhculties  that  threatened  us,  and  we 
are  no  longer  afraid  of  star\-ing.  I  am  wailing  with  impatience  for 
the  arrival  of  troops. 

We  have  a  post  at  La  Prairie,  and  a  conference  by  Major  Brown, 
and  some  of  our  officers,  with  the  principal  inhabitants  of  Mon- 
treal, at  La  Prairie  to-morrow.  I  am  too  feeble  in  men.  The 
weather  has  been  miserable.  If  I  could  send  -300  men  to  Montreal 
h  would  declare  for  us. 

Oar  army  shows  a  great  want  of  military  spirit.     They  petition 


U03ITG0MBRT*S  LETTERS.  21 

for  the  release  of  the  base  coward  Captain  Mott.  Oui  sensible 
officers  swallow  ever)'  old  woman's  stor\-  that  is  dropped  into  their 
mouths.     General  Carleton  is  still  at  Montreal." 

Camp  J  south  side  St.  Johns,  Oct.  9th. — "  There  has  been  shock- 
ing embezzlement  of  the  public  stores  end  monies.  Fray  send 
me  Yorkers,  they  dont  melt  away  half  so  fast  as  their  Eastern 
neighbours.  We  want  iron,  steel,  ammunition,  a  ten  inch  mortar. 
Your  residence  at  Ticonderoga  has  probably  enabled  us  to  keep 
our  ground.  How  much  do  the  public  owe  you  for  your  attention 
and  activity  ?" 

Camp,  near  Si,  Johns,  Ocf.lSth. — "A  general  dissatisfictioii 
prevails  in  the  army,  and  that  unless  something  is  done  in  a  few 
days,  I  am  told  there  will  be  a  mutiny.  It  seems  I  am  at  the  bead 
of  troops  who  carry  the  spirit  of  freedom  into  the  6eld  and  think 
for  themselves.  Owing  to  the  want  of  subordination  and  discipline, 
I  thought  it  expedient  to  call  a  council  of  the  field  officers.  Tbe 
result  has  deprired  me  of  all  hopes  of  success.  The  troops  it 
the  post  of  La  Prairie  have  shown  great  intimidation,  and  ^I  have 
had  great  difficulty  in  keeping  them  there.  The  friendly  Canadians 
grow  exceedingly  uneasy  at  their  situation  should  we  not  succeed. 

You  will  see  the  propriety  of  putting  Ticonderoga  in  a  state  of 
defence  against  a  winter  coup-de-Aiain,  by  a  stockade,  and  by 
having  a  post  at  Crown  Point.  The  vessels  to  be  placed  in 
stockade  also :  preparations  for  a  naval  armament  in  tlie  spring." 

Camp,  near  St.  Johns,  Oct.  20th. — "  Chamblee  surrendered  to 
Major  Brown  and  Mr.  Livingston.  The  latter  htaded  300  Cana- 
dians. He  had  not  above  500  of  our  troops.  It  was  a  plan  of 
the  Canadians,  who  carried  down  the  artillery  past  the  fort  of  St 
Johns  in  batteaux.  We  have  got  six  tons  of  powder,  which  with 
the  blessing  of  God,  will  finish  our  business  here.  I  have  found 
Major  Brown  on  all  occasions  active  and  intelligent.  We  have 
sunk  the  enemy's  schooner ;  our  troops  are  now  in  high  spirits. 

The  quantity  of  women  and  baggage  taken  at  Chamblee  is  aston- 
ishing. The  officers  of  the  7th  regiment  taken  at  Cliamblee  are 
genteel  men.  I  have  had  great  pleasure  in  showing  them  all  the 
attention  in  my  power.     I  have  not  in  my  camp  above  7o0  men." 

Camp^  near  St.  Johns,  Oct.  26th. — "  In  a  few  days  I  hope  to  have 
a  battery  to  the  north  side,  of  three  twelve,  and  one  nine  pounders, 
upon  a  dry  piece  of  ground  to  the  north  west." 

St.  John^s,  October  31. — **  I  must  earnestly  request  to  be  suf- 
fered to  retire  should  matters  stand  on  such  a  footing  this  winter 
as  to  permit  me  to  go  off  with  honour.  I  have  not  talents  nor 
temper  for  such  a  command.  I  am  under  the  disagreeable  neces- 
sity of  acting  eternally  out  of  character — to  wheedle,  flatter  and 
lie.     I  stand  in  a  constrained  attitude.     I  will  bear  with  it  for  a 


S2  ltOXTGOSfERT*«  LETTERS. 

fihort  time,  but  I  cannot  bear  it  long.     Mr.  Wooster  bas  behaved 
bitherto  much  to  mv  ftatisfactioii." 

Camp^  nrar  St.  John's^  Stfrember  3d, — "  The  garrisoD  surrender^ 
ed  last  oight,  and  tlii^  morning  we  take  poisei^ion.  We  pbjed 
CO  the  fort  from  our  battery  of  four  twelve  pounders  on  liie  north 
west,  and  of  two  twelve  pounders  on  tlie  east  side.  Major  Preston 
commanded.  Governour  Carleton  made  an  attempt  to  land  with 
thtrty-lbiir  boats  full  of  men  at  Longuiel,  and  was  repulsed  with 
Warner's  detachment :  send  all  tlie  troops  you  can/' 

Montreal^  Sorembcr  13'/r. — "  This  momi..g  lliis  city  capitulated. 
and  Carleton  with  his  garrison  has  gone  doun  to  Quebec/*  [He 
talks  of  6nishin<i^  the  business  it  once  bv  a  viirorous  attack  oo 
Quebec.]  '*  If  your  healili  will  not  permit  you  to  engage  in  this 
tflSur,  Lee  ought  tj  all  means  to  have  the  command  here.  The 
troops  are  exceedingly  turbulent,  and  indeed  mutinous.  My  fcx- 
ation  and  distress  can  only  be  alleviated  by  reHectin::  on  the  great 
public  advantages  which  must  arise  from  my  unparalleled  good 
fiHtune.  I  shall  call  a  convention  in  Canada  when  my  intended 
expedition  is  finished.  Will  not  your  health  permit  you  to  reside 
at  Montreal  this  winter  ?  I  must  go  home  this  winter — lam  uxary 
of  powtTj  and  totally  want  that  patience  and  temper  so  requisite 
for  such  a  conmiand.  I  wish  some  method  could  be  fallen  upon 
of  engaging  gentlemen  to  ser\'e  :  a  point  of  honour  and  more  know- 
ledge of  the  world  to  be  found  m  that  class  of  men,  would  gready 
reform  discipline  and  render  the  troops  much  more  tractable.  The 
officers  of  the  1st  regiment  of  Yorkers  were  very  near  a  mutinj 
the  other  day,  because  I  would  not  slop  the  clothing  of  the  garrison 
of  St.  Johns.  I  would  not  have  sullied  my  own  reputation,  nor 
disgraced  the  continenuil  anny,  by  such  a  breach  of  capitulation, 
for  the  universe.  There  was  no  driving  it  into  their  notldles  that 
the  clothing  was  really  the  property  of  tlie  soldier,  that  he  liad  paid 
for  h/' 

Montreal^  Socember  17M. — '*  Colonel  Easton  has  six  guns 
mounted  at  the  Sorrel,  and  disturbs  CarIeton*s  eleven  sail  in  the 
river.  I  am  making  preparations  to  attack  him  on  my  si«)e  with 
artillery.  I  hope  to  give  a  final  blow  to  ministerial  )K>litics  in  this 
province.  I  cannot  retire  with  honour  until  the  campaign  is  fin- 
iibed,  but  that  instant  it  is  over  1  must  retire/* 

JtfoR/rra/,  Savember  19/A. — "  1  have  an  express  from  General 
Arnold — he  lias  crossed  the  river  to  the  Quebec  side — Ite  had 
been  near  surprising  the  town.  Carleton  is  fifteen  miles  this  siile 
Sorrri.  I  presume  he  is  with  that  fleet.  Arnold  has  no  artillery, 
nnd  is  in  want  of  warm  clothing.     I  have  set  a  regiment  on  foot  of 

fames  Livingston,  colonel,     i  have  declared  to  the 

that  I  should  call  a  con%'ention   u|K)n  my  return  from 

The  Papiik  ifnaU  have  hitherto  done  us  all  the  mischief 


MONTOOMBRT's  LBTTXK8.  S3 

in  their  power*  The  inhabitants  are  our  friends  on  both  sides  of 
the  river  down  to  Quebec.  They  permit  our  ex|)rcsses  to  pass 
unmolested.*' 

MonirtaU  SffremfH^-  20M. — "  Captain  Lamb  of  the  artillery  is 
active,  spirited  and  industrious.  The  rascally  Green  Mountaio 
Boys  have  left  me  in  the  lurch,  after  promi.-in^  to  go  down  to 
Quebec.  I  am  oSIii^ed  to  fnpeak  to  you  of  Colonel  Ea.4ioo  in  tbe 
warmest  terms  of  acknowledgment.*' 

Montretd^  November  2^fh. — *•  1  am  ashamed  of  staying  here  so 
long  and  not  getting  to  Arnold's  assistance.  To-morrow  I  shall 
sail  with  two  or  three  hundred  men,  some  mortars  and  other  ar^ 
tillery.  Lieutenant  Halsey«  whom  I  left  as  assi:<tant  engineer  at 
St.  Johns,  has  run  away  and  taken  the  artificers  1  had  left  to  cany 
on  the  works  ;  he  deserves  the  severest  punishment.  Poor  Allen 
is  sent  to  England  in  irons.  I  wish  Lee  could  set  off  immediately 
for  the  command  here.  ( )ur  commissaries  have  made  great  havoc 
with  the  public  stores.  There  are  great  abuses  to  be  rectified* 
Several  commissaries  and  other  officers  have  flown  without  settling 
their  accounts.  I  wish  exceedingly  for  a  respectable  committee  <^ 
congress.  I  really  have  not  weight  enough  to  carry  on  business 
by  myself.  I  have  not  above  800  effectives  here ;  but  I  can  hare 
as  many  Canadians  as  I  know  how  to  maintain. 

An  affair  hapened  yesterday  which  had  very  near  sent  me  home. 
A  number  of  officers  presumed  to  remonstrate  against  the  indul- 
gence I  had  given  some  of  the  officers  of  the  king's  troops*  Such 
an  insult  I  could  not  bear  and  immediately  resigned.  To-day 
they  qualified  it  by  such  an  apology  as  puts  it  in  my  power  to  re- 
sume the  command.  Captain  Lamb  is  a  restless  genius,  and  of  a 
bad  temper,  and  at  the  head  of  it :  he  is  bnve,  active  and  intelli- 
gent, but  very  turbulent  and  troublesome." 

Hollfind  Hmi^e^  mar  tJie  Heigh fs  of  Abraham^  Dec.  bth."^^^  1 
have  joined  Colonel  Arnold  ni  l^oint  aux  Trembles,  where  I  ar- 
rived with  the  vessels.  They  carried  300  troops  equifiped  for  a 
winter  campaign.  Colonel  Livingston  is  on  the  way  with  a  part 
of  his  regiment  of  Canadians.  Mr.  Carleton  is  shut  up  in  tbe 
town  with  a  shew  of  defence.  I  mean  to  assault  his  works  towards 
the  lower  town,  which  is  the  weakest  part.  I  shall  be  yery  sorry 
to  be  reduced  to  this  mode  of  attack,  because  I  know  the  melan- 
choly consequences. 

Colonel  Arnold's  corps  is  an  exceeding  fine  one,  and  have  a 
superiour  style  of  discipline.  I  am  not  intoxicated  with  the  favour 
I  have  received  at  the  hands  of  fortune,  but  I  do  think  there  is  a 
&ir  prospect  of  success.  I  have  been  under  the  necessity  of 
clotliing  the  troops.  As  a  stimulant  to  the  troops  to  go  forward, 
I  was  obliged  to  offer  as  a  reward  all  public  stores  taken  in  tbe 
▼eaaebi  to  tbe  troops,  except  ammunitiop  attd  provisions.    I  gave 


24  HOKTGOMBRT*8  LETTERS. 

them  the  rearms  clothing  of  the  sereoth  and  tweoty-sixtb  regiments. 
1  would  not  wish  to  s€e  le^^^  than  10.000  meo  ordered  here  io  the 
spring  to  protect  the  province,  with  artillen',  fxiw-gallies,  etc 
The  Canadians  will  be  our  friend?  so  Ion::  as  we  are  able  to  main' 
tain  our  ground.  I  am  mucli  obliired  to  you  for  coram unicating  to 
congress  my  desire  of  retiring.  I  wish  like  a  New  Englaod  maD 
for  the  moment  of  my  release.  Mc  Pherson  is  a  young;  mao  (Cap- 
tain) of  good  sense  and  a  great  deal  of  spirit,  and  nH)st  amiable.** 

Head  Qwtrtcn^  Uf'orf  (ItieUr^  Dtc.  16r/r. — **  Yesterday  we 
opened  a  batter}'  of  Gve  c:uns ;  very  little  effect :  the  govemour  would 
not  receive  any  letter  or  summons.  The  enemy  hare  Feiy  hesrj 
roetaL  I  never  expected  any  advantage  from  our  artillery  than  to 
amuse  the  enemy  and  blind  them  to  my  real  intention.  I  propOK 
tbe  first  stronc:  north  wester  to  make  two  aiUich  by  night— one 
about  one-third  of  the  troops  oo  the  lower  town — the  other 
Cape  Diamond  bastion  by  escalade.  I  am  fully  convinced  of  the 
practicability  ;  but  if  tbe  men  should  appear  not  to  relish  this  mode 
of  proceeding,  I  shall  not  press  it.  The  enemy  are  weak  in  pro- 
portion to  the  extent  of  their  works.  We  have  not  much  abore 
800  men  fit  for  duty,  exclusive  of  a  few  ragframuixin  C) 
We  want  cash,  and  shirts  and  artillery  stores.  The 
will  not  relish  a  union  with  the  colonies  till  thev  see  the  whde 
countrv  in  our  hands.  Were  it  not  for  this  I  should  have  been 
inclined  to  a  blockade  till  towards  the  first  of  April." 

H^id  Quarters^  hrjore  QntUc^  Ike.  26th. — ^**  I  have  discovered 
diat  three  companies  of  Colonel  Arnold's  detachment  are  rerj 
averse  to  a  coup-de-main.  Captain  Hanchel,  who  has  inctmed 
Colonel  Arnold's  displeasure,  is  at  the  bottom  of  it :  a  field  officer 
15  concerned  in  iu  This  dangerous  party  threatens  the  ruin  of  our 
afiiurs.  I  shall  at  any  rate  be  obliired  to  chans:e  my  plan  of  attnelc. 
I  am  afiraid  my  friend  Major  Brown  is  deeply  concerned  in  diii 
affair :  he  wishes  to  have,  and  they  wish  him  to  have,  the 
command  of  those  companies.  The  ofiicers  have  offered  to 
provided  they  may  join  some  other  corps.  This  is 
against  Arnold. 

Send  a  lar^e  corps  of  troops  down  as  soon  as  the  lake  is 
ble.  I  am  distressed  for  money.  Paper  will  not  pass  in 
Mr.  Prictn  of  MmUreal^  has  been  a  most  faithful  and  Faloabk 
fiiend  to  our  cause.  I  have  had  X5000  York  currency  cash  fron 
him.  I  take  it  (or  granied  measures  are  taken  to  supply  my  place, 
as  I  am  determined  to  return  home.  If  this  business  sliouM  ter- 
minate in  a  blockadt^  I  shall  think  myself  at  liberty  to  retiun ; 
Aoifvrer,  if  possible^  I  s/udl  jirtt  make  an  tffort  for  the  redmclum  t/ 
tketouM.^' 


J0H]|90ilS.  96 


CHAPTER  n. 

IV^Afanow — Bnmi — Sckmyler's  Eiptditkm  to  Johuimm^^ 

fftht  mlify  €f  ike  IVbAairl. 


1774  SiK  William  Jobxsox  bad  filled  offices  aod  peribrmed 
actioiis  in  the  province  of  New  Yorii  of  too  much  impoit* 

to  permit  the  historiam  to  pass  ov^  his  death  unnoticed.  He 
made  a  vojasre  to  £n£:landf  in  1773«  and  returned  prepared 
l»  take  part  in  the  struggle  which  was  anticipated  between  tbe 
nfin^  countrr  and  her  provinces.  He  had  assembled  his  Indian 
fcirads»  and  prepared  the  Iroquois  to  raise  the  tomahawk  agaiast 
cokxiists  :  but,  on  the  24th  of  June*  he  died  of  apoplexr*  at 
bouse  near  Johnstown.  His  son  John  succeeded  to  his  estate 
tide.  His  effims  against  the  American  cai»e  will  be  foimd  in 
seqaeL  The  friend  of  Brant,  without  some  of  lus  good  quali-* 
Ss  tbej  were  both  scourges  and  dealers  in  mischief  to  tbe  western 
aad  ooftbem  part  of  this  state,  even  before  she  took  that  proud 
tzie.  Guy  Johnson,  the  son-in-law  of  Sir  William,  succeed^  bin 
as  Enslisb  agent  for  Indian  adairs :  Brant  was  adranced  to  tbe 
afice  of  secretanr ;  these  with  Miss  MoUv — Brant^s  sister,  and  tbe 
larooec  Sir  William's  concubine — added  to  the  hereditary  noblet 
Sr  John,  moved  every  engine,  and  exerted  all  their  power  to  op> 
tbe  spirit  of  libert}*  which  was  aroused  in  the  east  and  spread 
heoi^n  induence  even  to  the  \~aIleT  of  liie  Mohawk.  Heixirick 
John  Frey,  Christopher  P.  Yaies  aod  Isaac  Ferris,  names  un- 
to the  officials  of  Britain,  fanneii  tbe  dame  of  freedom  | 
in  the  &ce  of  tbe  Johnsons  and  Miss  Molly,  published  a  de» 
of  rights  and  echoed  the  voice  of  the  patriots  of  the  dxj 
York. 

Builers.  John  and  his  son  Walter  N.,  (famous  for  their 
subseouently,  in  conuection  with  Brant  and  his  Inditos) 
early  coadjutors  with  the  Johnsons,  in  opposition  to  the  colo* 
They  were  all  bound  to  England  by  offices,  and  by  the 
belief  that  she  was  the  stronger  party  in  the  contesL 

1775  The  tones  of  Tryon  county  assembled  at  Johnstown,  at 
the  time  of  holding  court,  and  procureil  the  signatures  o[ 

to  an  addresis  in  opposition  to  tliat  of  the  coogress.     The 
tv  named  after  Tryon,  embraced  all  the  seulomcnts  west  and 
sooth  west  of  Scbeecctady*     This  etTort  of  the  torie*  aroeaed 
n.  4 


26  GUT  JOHNSON* 

the  friends  of  reform  ;  and  meetinss  were  called,  and  commidees. 
appointed  in  erer}'  district.  At  Caughnawaga  they  proceeded  to 
the  erection  of  a  liberty  pole ;  but  the  Johnsons,  with  other  offi- 
cials, attended  by  their  associates,  tenants,  and  followers,  armed, 
made  their  appearance,  to  oppose  this  demonstration.  Guy  faai^ 
rangued  the  multitude,  and  told  them  of  the  irresistible  power  o( 
Britain,  her  justice,  and  the  insolence  of  her  opponents.  The 
whigs  interrupted  his  oratory,  and  a  scuffle  and  bloodsbed  by 
bruises  ensued,  principally  endured  by  the  liberty  boys.  Id  Cherry 
Valley  the  whigs  held  their  meeting  at  the  church,  in  the  month  of 
May,  and,  with  enthusiasm,  signed  an  address,  approving  the  pro- 
ceedings of  Congress.  But  in  the  Palatine  district  the  Johnsons 
overawed  the  people  by  show  of  force,  and  prevented  thor  assem- 
bling. Sir  John  fortified  his  house,  armed  the  Highlanders  of 
Johnstown,  and  with  his  family  and  the  Buders,  prepared  the  In- 
dians to  act  against  the  colonies.  Brant  was  secretary  to  Coloiiel 
Guy,  and  an  influential  agent  with  the  Mohawks.  The  Oneidas, 
influenced  by  the  Kev.  Mr.  Kirkland,  espoused  the  American  part, 
and  Brant  was  active  in  opposition  to  liim.  Guy,  in  the  name  of 
the  British  government,  ordered  away  the  missionary. 

In  June,  Gen.  Washington  wrote  to  Schuyler  to  keep  a  witch- 
fnl  eye  upon  Guy  Johnson,  which  that  patriot  was  already 
to  do ;  and  Colonel  Guy  was  in  an  uneasy  position,  which  be 
deavoured  to  mitigate  by  addressing  a  letter  to  the  people  of  Cana- 
joharie  and  others,  professing  hb  desire  to  keep  the  Indians  quiet, 
hinting  dangers  to  himself  from  the  New  England  people,  and  the 
vengeance  of  the  Iroquois  upon  those  who  injured  their  agent — 
himself. 

The  committee,  however,  denounced  Johnson,  as  taking  upon 
himself  unauthorised  powers,  arming  those  around  him,  stirring  op 
the  Indians  of  the  upper  country,  and  cuttine  oflT  commnnicatioo 
between  the  districts  favourable  to  Congress  with  the  city  of  Albuiy. 
The  Albany  commiuee  advised  the  people  thus  oppressed  by 
Johnson,  to  procure  arms  and  ammunition,  act  on  the  defensive, 
and  coiuteract  Johnson^s  intrigues  with  the  Indians.  These  fron- 
tier whigs  showed  a  determined  spirit ;  at  the  same  time  they  acted 
with  praiseworthy  caution. 

Guy  Johnson  likewise  addressed  the  people  of  Albany  and 
Schenectady  by  letter,  of  a  tenor  similar  to  that  sent  to  the  people 
of  the  Mohawk  valley.  The  leaders  at  Albany  replied,  that  die 
report  of  danger  threatened  to  the  colonel,  was  an  artfid  ramonr 
raised  to  enlist  the  feeling  of  the  Indians  on  his  part,  and  against 
the  colonists.  They  assured  them,  however,  of  their  vnah  to 
preserve  peace  and  friendship  with  them,  and  the  tribes  in  Us 
charge. 

The  seat  of  Colonel  Johnson,  was  caUed  Guy  Paik,  tad  Ae 


vnmmvmm  axd  xsGoniLTioNs  with  the  ixdians.    97 

OQ  die  ktnk  of  the  Mohawk*  m  indicates  the  sub- 

5(4eBdoMr  of  the  a^Mit  who  ^deti  the  Iruquok  for  the  bene- 

ot  Brauft.     At  this  place  Johu^oo  held  a  council  of  Mohawks» 

tbe  piupotfe  of  onkuur  known  the  iuiention  of  supporting  and 

pcvKctiaur  Johasown*     He  had  iu%  ited  the  other  trib(»>  but  ther 

i  HOC  appear.      He  called  a  ;kX'oad  council  to  remedy  thtt 

acmcT,  and  appealed  with  his  followers  at  the  Oennan  Flats* 

1>B  the  dd  of  June*  a  full  meeting  of  the  Tryon  county  com* 

0MC»  in  desstpite  of  the  e&ns  of  the  Johnsons  and  Buders. 

Paer  echoed  the  sentiments  of  the  people  of  the  colonies  cene- 

niy,  who  ptedaeed  themse^es  to  delend  the  liberty  of  their  coim- 

«T.      Tner  addressed  the  Indian   a^nt :   rebuned  the  charges 

Maehc  asaixKt  cbem :  they  called  u|K^n  him  to  keep  the  Indians 

innfrtipfing  in  the  quarrel  between  the  colonies  and  En^rland; 

y  nseetied  their  ri^rfat  to  meet,  and  reprobate  his  iuterierence.  The 

€iiinnci  answered  their  address.     He  treated  their  iK^ars  of  the  In- 

OKK  k»  oaty  pn>paj:ated  tor  bad  purposes :  tus  political  opinicai 

K  an»w^  aind  his  belief  that  the  kin;?  ot'  En«:land  would  recdAr  all 

Hsst  cvtcnpiiaints  :  he  considers  his  frequent  meeting  with  the  In- 

tfiaofr  benencial  to  the  country :  and  char^ces  the  whifs  with  inter- 

cceCBti:  the  ciits  to  the  indiatts. — He  acknowledges  that  he  had 

ixtitted  hti^  hotsse*  and  considers  the  re(H>rts  as  true«  which  induced 

ut  S9  w>  do.  he  bein^:  threaceuoil  with  captivity,  which  if  accom- 

Mihfd»  would  bcave  raised  the  ire  of  the  IrvH)uois«  and  of  course 

:Mr  veo^ceaEMTe.     He  assures  tiK^  (veople.  dtat  they  hare  iKUhin^ 

)>  xar  ttixn  him  :  but   tiiat  he  wishes  to  proaiote  their  true 


At  tbf  i^ennan  Flats  no  cv^uckuI  of  Indians  took  pbce.  and  John- 
his  companions  pr\x*eeded  to  Fort  Stanwix*  which  sail  fur* 
cscittd  the  a^tprehensions  of  the  colonists,  who  saw  him 
^  op  the  Indcm  country  attended  by  hts  £&mity.  bis  depen- 
and  a  body  of  the  Mohawks.  These  apprehensions  were 
by  the  pcorincial  con^^ress  of  Massac hissects,  who  laid 
the  prv»TiR\*rjiI  c\>:*cr^">s  of  New  Yv^rk.  and  the  conti- 
eoojTestjK.  It  wjs  beLte\e\i  ihac  (he  huiian  s^^nc  persuaded 
ie  Iniquofts  that  the  coloi;i^ts  h*:eui{t\l  ;o  c\iinvi:e  ihetn.  and  hy 
i«  cneaiis  attached  iheiu  to  Kr^ilasul  as  a  prv^ev-iress. 

The  thends  of  iifc»erty  and  ih^*  ivv>i>Io,  nuiie  eiTorts  on  their  part 
)>cvxsanact  the  schen^es  of  the  Johnsotis  :  anvl  the  Oueidas,  and 
met  depuaes  frvMU  TrvvM^  c\>i:ntY  and  Albany,  on  the 
01  June,  at  the  iicryviii  F'.Jit>.  i:v.  i  i^U\i^"  of  ncuuulirv  was 
^NKiiaed  ttoc*  tiHxse  tribes. 

U  the  meantiine.  iiuv  Johcso::  prvvt'evicvi  from  Fort  StanwLx  to 
OiOn(K  ooc  without  ex;x*rie:K*hic  s<>:re  tokens  of  uie  iejiU>a<v  of 
iohalHCanss  of  the  rilLev  of  :;to  Mohiwk.  ^\ho  seizevl  some 
on  dieir  way  to  his  troops.     Frv>m  Ontario  he  iotormed 


98     nnpRiatmt  and  nbgotiatioks  wiTfit  tun  niBiAirs. 

Ae  committee  at  Albany,  that  he  was  finiahing  his  business  with 
the  Indians,  having  1,340  warriours^  with  him.  That  he  disclaimed 
the  orders  of  congresses  and  committees,  as  not  consistant  with  his 
lojnal^—- again  threatens  the  vengeance  of  the  Indians  if  he  is  injured ; 
and  professes  too  much  humanity  to  promote  the  destruction  of  the 
colonists. 

Ouy  Johnson  was  accompanied  into  Canada  by  the  two  Buders 
and  Brant.  The  Oneidas  and  Tuscaioras  remained  at  home  :  as  did 
Sir  John  Johnson,  who  had  as  stated,  fortified  his  house  at  Johnstown^ 
and  was  a  brigadier-general  under  the  king,  and  had  at  his  com- 
mand a  great  number  of  armed  followers.  Colonel  Herkimer 
wrote  to  Albany  for  succours,  as  he  expected  Guy  and  his  Indians 
would  return  and  carry  desolation  through  the  valley,  aided  by  Sir 
John.  Guy  held  another  council  with  the  Indians  at  Oswego,  and 
«cill  further  set  them  against  the  colonists.  He  thence  joined  Carle^ 
ton  and  Haldimand  in  Canada.  Carleton,  the  comiranding  officer, 

E posed  Co  the  Indians  to  enter  the  king's  service.  At  Montreal, 
Idimand  addressed  the  confederated  Indians,  and  engaged  them 
to  serve  against  the  Americans. 

In  1775,  congress  appointed  commissioners  with  instructions  to 
endeavour  to  keep  the  Iroquois  and  their  allies,  in  a  state  of  neutrality : 
Philip  Schuyler  was  one  of  these.  In  August,  two  of  the  commis^ 
sioners  assembled  as  many  as  they  could,  at  the  German  Flats  for 
thb  purpose,  and  proposed  a  more  full  council  at  Albany.  The 
chie&  of  the  Iroquois  present,  agreed  to  meet  at  Albany,  but  de- 
clined sending  to  their  allies  or  to  the  Caughnawagas :  among  the 
the  latter  they  said,  Guy  Johnson  was  present,  and  carried  them 
in  an  opposite  course.  The  Iroquois  likewise  required  assurance 
of  safe^  in  coming  to  Albany,  which  was  given  them;  and  on 
the  23d  of  August,  the  chiefs  assembled  at  Albany,  and  the  magis* 
trates  joined  with  the  commissioners  in  a  formal  visit  to  them  at 
their  quarters,  in  which  visit  the  Albanians  called  themselves  the 
descendants  of  Quidder^  or  Peter  Schuyler,  by  way  of  claiming 
fiiendship  with  the  Iroquois. 

Previous  to  a  council  with  the  commissioners,  the  Indians  wished 
to  have  a  talk  with  the  magistrates,  and  head  men  of  Albany,  and 
accordingly  a  committee  consisting  of  Walter  Livingston,  Jeremiah 
Van  Rensselaer,  and  Samuel  Stringer,  was  appointed  to  make 
arrangements,  and  the  meeting  took  place  in  the  evening.  The 
Oneidas  professed  tlieir  pacifick  disposition,  and  said,  Guy  John- 


*  Accordin/^  to  Mr.  Stone,  the  historian  of  Brant,  Sir  William  Johnson  made  the 
aamberof  Mohawk  warriouri  160:  Oneidas  850:  Tascaroras  140:  Onoiidiigas 
150:  Cayagaii200:  Senecas  1,050.  Total  1950.  And  during  the  American  re- 
Tolution,  the  English  had  in  their  service  300  Mohawks,  150  Oneidas,  800  Tusca- 
fMif,  dOO  Oaondtgas,  830  Cajrugas,  tiid  400  Seneca*. 


■UBTIAin  OF  THB  IBOQIIOIS.  99 

«i  bttd  todattoured  lo  engage  tbem  agamsc  the  colonists,  and 
Wdaaeaolqr  reqoest  of  Gcnml  Gage.  On  the25ih  of  Augiat, 
fe  jiand  oovacil  with  the  commiseaoners  took  place.  It  was  not 
the  bflC  day  of  August,  that  the  Mohawk  chief,  Liitk  Abra- 
gaw  the  determination  of  the  Iroquois,  which  was,  for  a  neu* 
tiBqr,  bat  is  supposed  to  haTe  given  a  ftise  gloss  to  the  conduct 
rf  Cartf  lun  and  Guj  Johnson  on  the  subject.    The  next  daj  the 

■Bade  their  reply  in  confonni^  with  the  iitteotion  of 


Philip  Schujier  and  Volkirt  P.  Douw,  w«re  appointed 

to  ksep  up  the  amicable  couTention  with  the  Iroquois,  umI  hold 

ctaacBs  anth  them  at  Albany ;  but  this  was  the  last :  the  hostihtf 

rfthe  IndJans,  and  their  attachment  to  England,  and  the  Johnsons 

after  aTowed. 

this  council  the  Iroquois  returned  home,  satisfied  with  gocMl 

and  abundant  presents,  but  soon  after  an  epidemick  broke 

them,  and  swept  off  great  numbers.     The  Mohawks  of 

were  almost  exmrnmated.     The  agents  of  England 

■Bade  the  Indians  beliere,  that  disease  and  death  were  a  proof 

rf  God's  anger  against  them  for  not  joimngthe  king  and  the  John* 

toak    In  thtt  bdief  they  took  up  the  hatchet  against  the  colonists  ; 

tad  ijhe  tiftes  that  had  most  suffered,  were  the  most  cruel  enemies 

rfAe  people  of  die  ralley  of  the  Mohawk,  and  said  to  be  pre-emi- 

aent  in  atrocitr.     It  will  likewise  be  recollected  that  with  the  ex* 

ception  of  the  Oneidas,  and  the  tribe  of  Mohawks  nearest  to  Sdw- 

BsctHly,  the  other  Iroquob  were  already  led  away  by  Brant  and 

Ui  impbyii,  Guy  Johnson. 

To  prof  e  that  Brant  was  right  in  ]»eferring  the  party  of  Eng-> 

10  that  of  America,  his  eulogist  tells  us  that  the  Indian  being 

by  Doctor  Wheelock,  his  former  instructor,  to  join  the 

of  the  colonists,  or  to  remain  at  peace  as  neutral,  repliedY 

ho  only  followed  die  Doctor^s  maxims,  in  attaching  himself  to 

,  as  his  preceptor  had  taught  him  to  **  fear  God,  and 

the  king.** 

If  ihb  justified  Brant,  how  vile  roust  appear  the  Waahingtoos, 

Jeftfsons,  Franklins,  Schuylers,  and  the  thousands  of 

patriots,  who  set  themselves  in  opposition  to  die  king 

oflkers.     The  writer  well  remembers  that  he  was  taught, 

(md  such  was  the  teaching  of  Americans  generally,  until  I77fi,) 

aK  tnlT  ^  to  fear  God  and  honour  the  kinii:,*'  but  to  honour  qU 

ta  oMikonhf  under  his  most  sacred  majesty.   But  those 

we  owe  iHir  liberties,  and  the  world  a  br^t  example, 

justice  more  than  the  kingt  and  despised  those  put  in 

imder  him,  when  they  prored  to  be  blind  or  selfish  tools 

if  the  naster  who  paid  them.     In  childhood  I  was  taught  to  *'  fear 

C^  «9d  hoaonr  the  kina.  and  all  those  out  in  antboritv  imdar 


30  PnCBXBOIGS  ox  THE  MOHA 


knn  ;**  but  three  score  and  ten  rears,  with  a  stud j  of  die  acr^iCnres. 
their  oofBineiitators  and  the  philoisopby  of  histofj  has  taaelit  me  to 
^  toie  God,  and  to  honour  most  hiffaly,  such  of  h»  ueatiues  as 
appear  to  do  fab  wilL"  If  this  is  a  digression,  I  wiQ  porsoe  ii  no 
finther  than  to  remark,  that  the  Brants,  the  Johosoos,  ot  JoIbb* 
i9ini  and  Trvon  conntr,  and  the  hundreds  of  eoremoiirs  and  odier 
piace-men,  who  bonoored  the  kinzy  and  joined  his  standard,  m 
oppositioo  to  the  colonists,  were  serrants  of  the  kin^  and  of 
senrants,  and  were  interested  to  support  the  power  that  paid 
The  Ifoqoois  were  no  hmger  the  independent  repnbEoDs  of  the 
aeventeenth  centorr,  ther  were  led  far  Brant  and  Johnsoo  to  tt 
the  hatchet  on  the  part  of  those,  who  were  most  likrijr  to  9Bfftf 
theat  most  pleotifuUT  with  euns,  powder,  and  blankets. 

In  speaking  of  the  Iroquois  ^nerally  as  inimiral  to  Americm,  1 
do  not  speak  of  the  year  1775,  for  at  the  time  of  the  last  cooril 
at  AInny  such  was  not  the  case,  and  the  friendly  meetine  of  Ao- 
gQSt  restofcd  for  a  time  tranqoility  to  the  dwdiers  oo  our  froaticck 

A  libeity  pole  had  been  erected  in  the  Mohawk  VaDeT,  at  the 
German  Flats.  The  Dutch  inhabitants,  (hich  and  Urn)  weie 
geaetally  patriots.  The  Scotch,  and  other  tenants  ot  the  Jobs- 
aoos,  were  tories.  The  king's  sheriff^  Alexander  White,  was  a 
leader  in  catting  dcywn  the  detestable  emblem  of  rcbrlBng 
•H  thoae  put  in  authority  onder  majesty.  The  people  by 
cammittfe  remored  Mr.  White  from  office  and  appoiitfed  Colond 
John  Frey,  one  of  the  people. 

White  had  rendered  himself  nnpopolar  by  other  violent  acti, 
and  had  been  engaged  in  a  riot  which  produced  the  first  dmrhMt^ 
of  fire  arms  with  intent  to  kill,  in  tins  part  of  \ew  York  ;  and 
which  was  turned  to  the  disadrantaee  of  the  whigs  br  a  aienal 
from  Johnson  Hall,  which  was  known  to  be  for  calling  oat  Ae 
knight's  tenants  in  martial  array. 

Diimigped  by  the  people.  White  was  re-commissioned  by  Tiron ; 
bat  finding  the  committee  more  powerful  than  the  goremoor,  he 
Aed  to  Canada.  The  whiz  committees  ^oFemed  the  coantrrwidb 
Tigoor  and  prwlence.  Still  Sir  John  and  his  armed  tenantry  were 
at  hand,  and  to  be  carefully  watched.  The  partisans  wete  neigh- 
boars,  but  litde  of  neiriibourly  lore  dwelt  amooe  them.  Of  Ae 
whig  committeemen  Christopher  P.  Yates  and  Nicholas  Heridmer, 
are  names  subsequently  distinguished  in  oor  annals. 

The  agents  of  England  felt  themsdres  strcme  enough  to  inqaire 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Schoharie  Valley  lo  arm  in  opposition  to  the 
canse  of  liberty,  which  was  spreading  in  erery  dirnrtion,  and  the 
people  were  summoned  to  meet  at  the  boose  of  Captain 
and  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  kin?.  Mann  was 
in  his  exertions,  and  many  took  the  oath  required,  some  wilfingiyv 
othco  Ofawufed  by  armed  toiies  and  Ifwi«»a^     Some  bolder 


FS00EEDIN6S  ON  THE  MOHAWK.  81 

the  rest  refused,  and  retired  to  their  homes  prepared  for  defence  or 
sufiertng.  Mann  paraded  his  forces  with  red  cockades  and  caps, 
indicative  of  loyalt}%  day  after  day,  and  was  perfecting  them  to  the 
amount  of  one  hundred  before  his  door,  when  a  troop  of  horse 
under  Captain  Woodlake,  arrived  from  Albany,  for  the  purpose 
of  putting  down  the  tories  of  Schoharie.  At  the  sight  of  this 
troop,  Mann  fled,  and  his  soldiers  threw  away  their  red  badges. 
Pursuit  was  ordered  for  the  purpose  of  securing  Mann ;  but  it 
failed,  and  he  escaped.  The  horsemen  however  fell  in  with  a 
Mohawk  chief  called  Neckus,  one  of  Johnsons  warm  partisans, 
who  had  attended  Mann's  parade,  and  with  tomahawk  in  hand 
threatened  diose  who  refused  the  oath  and  badge  of  loyalty. 
Neckus  was  killed  with  wanton  cruelty,  as  is  stated,  and  may  easily 
be  credited,  and  his  death  may  have  caused  some  of  the  subsequent 
cruelties  exercised  by  the  Iroquois  in  this  devoted  district. 

While  Tryon  was  on  board  the  Duchess  of  Gordon,  in  the 
haibour  of  New  York,  he  on  the  Sd  of  January  1776,  wrote  to 
the  British  government  that  he  was  informed  by  the  person  bearing 
his  letter,  that  Sir  John  Johnson  could  muster  500  Indians  to  sup* 
poit  the  English  government,  and  these  with  some  regulars  mi^t 
retake  the  forts.  The  letter  of  Sir  John  enclosed  was  to  Gover- 
Dour  Tryon,  informing  him,  that  having  consulted  with  all  his 
friends  in  that  quarter  of  the  country,  among  whom  were  many  old 
and  good  officers,  he  had  resolved  to  form  a  battaUon,  had  named 
the  officers  and  engaged  many  of  the  men.  That  he  waits  till 
support  and  supplies  are  at  hand,  before  openly  avowing  this  plan* 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  General  Schuyler's  expedition  was  not 
too  early  or  too  rigorously  executed. 

At  length  the  committee  in  September,  informed  the  provincial 
congress  of  those  proceedings  on  the  part  of  Sir  John  Johnson, 
which  produced  the  movement  of  General  Schuyler  in  arms  upon 
Johnstown,  and  resulted  in  Sir  John  Johnson's  flight. 

Sir  John  bad  fortified  his  house,  armed  his  Scotch  tenants,  and 
cairied  on  a  correspondence  with  Guy,  by  means  of  Indian  run* 
Ders,  who  secreted  leners  in  the  heads  of  their  tomahawks,  and 
passed  to  and  fro  with  impunity. 

On  the  26th  of  October,  the  Tr)'on  county  committee  sent  a 
deputation  and  letter  to  Johnson,  requiring  to  know  from  him 
whether  he  would  allow  die  inhabitants  of  Johnstown  and  Kingsbo- 
rough  to  form  themselves  into  companies  as  directed  by  congress, 
ibr  the  defence  of  the  country ;  whether  he  would  assist  in  the 
ame ;  and  whether  he  would  resist  the  committee  in  any  use  they 
ibould  make  of  the  court  house  or  jail  f 

The  deputies  reported  in  answer,  that  he  considers  the  buildings 
in  question  as  his  property  until  he  shall  be  paid  j£700,  paid  by 
him  in  building  tbem.     That  he  has  not  forbidden  his  teoants 


loio  couipAiiiBS  M  dfavdBd  Djr 
he  kaev  that  tiiej  would  not    As  to  ISmiadit  he 
iKftd  befiBve  he  wvnild  M  his Iniid  agamrt  lu  Idag.     Tbiiif 
OBkvfol  see  is  nude  of  die  jaO,  be  would  oppoK  k.     That 
diMs  of  die  Canqdnrie  and  Gennan  Fbla  people, 
iaio  die  meiftuies  of  die  oommiaee ;  aoddnt  he  eoaadend  the 
Boafciaiian  as  in  open  lebdlioo. 

Sv  John  wcNdd  not  pennk  die  ooounhiee  to  piacr 
die  jnl;  and  diej  were  oUt^ed  to  dispose  of  dwai 
Thejr  infcnned  d»B  pcoviocial  congress  of  die  stale  of 
Aev  coBtiBiinirafion  it  was  replied  by  Nadnmel  Woodfanfl^ 
dene,  dm  diej  should  not  cany  nntteis  to  extremes  widi  Ji 
but  q»peal  to  the  gorernoor  of  the  cohmj. 

In  the  meantoDe,  (jeneralSdin^lerbaTingbeeBobfiged 
the  annj  against  Canada  to  Montgomefj,  and  retnro  in  31 
ABnnjr,  his  attention  was  paiticiilarfy  called  to  the  Indiasv  bf  an 
net  of  boslilitjy  the  first  commiaed  by  them  in  this  ecnlHtt  whidi 
had  been  pcipetiJted  bj  the  Mohawks  near  St.  Johns  8>ise  of 
the  Indians  cngagnd  in  this  affiar  retnnied  to  the  town  of 
hariet  the  Mobwks  castle,  and  boasted  of  killing  Anericai 
cniariy  one  called  Wilham  Jdbnaon,  (probabl j  the  aon  of  Sk 
Wllism,  who  defined  a  gentleman  to  be  one  who  drank  Madeira 
and  kept  race  hones,  as  Sir  Williara  did,)  who  had  fiva^ 
Montgomery.  In  conaeqocnoe  of  this  the 
duBsed  the  Mohawks  of  Canajobaiie,  remonstrating 
breach  of  the  laie  treaty  at  Aktny.  The  IndianB 
they  had  not  ibcgotlen  their  agrecmeats;  bat  said 
young  men  had  been  seduced  to  Canada,  and  if  they 
they  care  not — some  have  come  back — and  the  "^^"ifrr  hape  the 
arintos  will  take  no  finther  notice  of  it.  Shortly  after  dKy^piad 
fivche  dischaigeoftwo  Indians  fitim  prison,  iHbich  itappcandny 
were  gratified  in,  in  order  to  keqi  them  quiet. 

HoaRever,  in  December,  congrem  made  known  to  Goncnl 
Schuyler  the  inlbnnation  they  had  reoeired  respecting  Sir  Ji 
Johnson^s  preparations  far  annoyance,  and  lequired 
the  tories,  secure  their  leaders,  and  secure  die  tiannnility  of 
frontier.    Congress  appropriatod  ^^rty  hard  doDan  fiw  dna 
and  ordered  tUi  treasure  to  be  sent  to  the  general  undrr  a 

General  Schuyler  having  no  troops  wheliewitb  to  cmocii 
oraers  of  congress,  and  knoamg  thai  soticcy  and  de^iaftch 
f  cfssaiy  tohai  success,  communicated  his  phn  to  a 
of  Albany  county,  adminiwtrring  an  oath  ef  seareey  ;  bnl 
nrired  fiom  Tiyon  county  respecting  die  hoatle  prepasslions  of 

hiiFiiiiiilii Ill  sail  iiliiiiiiili.  ■iiaiH  ai  lliii  MidMnli. 

secrecy  unueceaaaffy,  and  aeten  hundred  of  the 
called  not  with  the  annped  pmpoae  of 


WCKCTtMWL^  SXFKDinoX  TO  JOHKSlOWH>  tt 

ciwniT.  With  this  force  the  sreneral  marched,  but  before  be 
lemched  Cauttinawiura«  his  annv  had  increased  to  three  thousand* 
At  Schenectady  a  deputation  from  the  Mohawks  met  him.  Schuy- 
Wr  bad  $eot  them  a  mes^crc  inforniin^  them  of  hi^  intention  to 
■«rch  into  their  countrv.  but  ii:ith  no  dc^i^rn  of  hostiliir  to  them. 
At  thetr  meeting  the  u^ual  fonn  of  making  :^^>eeche5  took  place. 
Tbey  ackiiowteiipHi  the  receipt  of  his  mes^:;e,  and  his  intorroa- 
&OQ  that  a  cumber  of  men  were  eniboiiit^  about  Johnstown  and 
:Hr  Jc^hnak  and  intended  to  commit  hi><tili:ie5  down  the  river ;  and 
caat  be  vas  coniinjT  to  inquire  into  the  matter.  Tliey  acknoirledsied 
ant  be  bnd  a^ured  them  no  harm  wa^  intended  to  tiiem  :  as  ther 
ad  the  Inst  summer  publickly  en^:reii  to  take  no  part  a«rainst  him 
iii  tae  dispute  with  tlie  jrreat  kins:  over  the  water.  They  proposed 
19  Schuyler,  that  instead  of  marvhin^  his  trooj^  to  Johnstown,  he 
«ao(x;d  send  up  si^  men  to  inquire  into  the  truth  of  what  he  had 
Wtni.  and  send  his  soldiers  home.  Thev  said  that  the  council  of 
teir  natiuo  had  sent  them  to  meet  him.  and  warn  him  to  take  care 
viot  be  was  about.  Thev  remind  him  n^ln  of  their  asreeniem  to 
km  peace,  and  that  he  had  said  **  if  any  person  was  found  in  jheir 
acietuboarbood  inimical  to  peace,  he  should  consider  such  person 
as  an  enemv  ;**  and  the  Six  Nations  thouirht  he  meant  tlie  son  of 
Sir  WnUam.  and  they  particularly  desire  that  he  should  not  be 
They  repeaietily  warn  the  ^neral  not  to  spill  blood,  and 
thev  intend  to  observe  the  treatv  made  with  him.  and  re- 
■ala  at  pence.  They  say  their  chiefs  had  berrced  Sir  John  not  to 
It  the  a^zressor:  that  he  had  promiseil  he  would  not.  That  he 
W  but  a  handful  of  men.  and  could  not  be  the  airtnressor :  there* 
if  Schuyler  and  his  men  should  come  up  ami  any  evil  happen, 
ij  should  look  ufK>n  him  as  the  atreressor.  or  as  shutting  up  the 
padi  of  peace.  They  denied  that  >ir  Joim  was  making  military 
or  fortifvinj  his  liouse.  and  ascserted  tlmt  everv  thinir 
in  the  time  of  Sir  William.  They  profess  a  sincere 
for  peace,  but  acknowledj;:e  that  some  anion c  them  are  dis- 
lo  boetiliiies.  They  insinuate  that  if  this  hostile  array  pro* 
ther  mav  not  be  able  to  restrain  their  narriour^.  wiw  are 
if  Schuyler  persists  in  iroin::  to  Johnson-Hall,  to 
at  his  meeiins:  with  Sir  John,  ard  tite  connsellors 
coiild  not  he  answerable  for  what  mrrhi  happen* 
The  orafior  concludes,  by  saying,  t:  at  he  had  persuaded  the  iiar- 
lo  sit  still,  and  await  his  reuirn  with  the  answer  Schurler 
pT9  him. 
Sehnvler  answered  tliem  in  their  own  fashion.  The  substance 
«ik  that  he  bad  hopeil  a  previoirs  message  sent  by  him  to  the  Six 
had  convinced  them  no  hostile  intentions  were  enterained 
then  :  and  is  sorry  tl^e  Mohawks  had  not  sent  that  mea- 
That  ho  hnd  Ml  proof  that  many  peo{rie  in  Johnsiowvtnd 


B  FSOGBXDIlf  €MI  OH  THB 

fonaing  themselTes  into  companies  »  directed  bj  tmigmmt  fcci 
he  knew  that  thejr  woold  not  As  to  binMeU^  he  woold  low  Ue 
head  before  be  would  lift  his  hand  against  bis  king.  That  if  wmf 
onlawfol  use  is  made  of  the  jail,  he  would  oppose  iL  That  two* 
dufds  of  the  Canajobaiie  and  Gennan  Flats  people,  were  coetced 
mto  the  measures  of  the  committee ;  and  that  he  considered  the 
Bostonians  as  m  open  rebellion. 

Sir  John  would  not  permit  the  committee  to  place  prisoaeri  id 
die  jail ;  and  they  were  obliged  to  dispose  of  them  elsewhere* 
Thqr  informed  the  provincial  congress  of  the  state  ofaflUn :  to 
communication  it  was  replied  hj  Nathaniel  Woodbull,  prest* 
that  they  should  not  carry  matters  to  extremes  with  Johosoo; 
hot  ^peal  to  the  govemour  of  the  ccdony. 

In  the  meantime.  General  Schuyler  baring  been  obliged  to  leave 
the  army  against  Canada  to  Montgomery,  and  return  in  ill  health  to 
Albany,  his  attention  was  particularly  called  to  the  Indians  by  ao 
act  of  hostility,  the  first  committed  by  them  in  this  contnstf  irinch 
had  been  pcipetiJied  by  the  Mohawks  near  St.  Johns.  Seme  of 
the  Indians  engaged  in  this  affiur  returned  to  the  town  of  Caaayo* 
haiie,  the  Mohawks  castle,  and  boasted  of  killing  Americans,  parti- 
eahrly  one  called  William  J(rfmson,  (probably  the  soa  of  Sir 
William,  who  defined  a  gentleman  to  be  one  who  drank  Madeira 
wine  and  kept  race  horses,  as  Sir  William  did,)  who  had  foeghc 
agamst  Montgomoy.  In  consequence  of  this  the  committee 
duaaeid  the  Mohawks  of  Canajobarie,  remonstratiag  against 
breach  of  the  late  treaty  at  Albany.  The  Indians  replied^  that 
they  had  not  forgotten  their  agreements;  bat  said  some  of  Adr 
young  men  bad  been  seduced  to  Canada,  and  if  they  are  fciOed 
they  care  not — some  have  come  back — and  the  sachenv  hope  the 
■fa^  will  take  no  further  notice  of  it.  Shortly  after  they  applied 
far  die  discharge  of  two  Indians  from  prison,  which  it  appears  tiny 
were  gratified  in,  in  order  to  keep  them  quiet. 

However,  in  December,  congress  made  kaowe  to  Genenl 
Schuyler  the  information  they  had  recdlved  respecting  Sir  J< 
Johnson's  preparations  for  annoyance,  and  required  him  to 
the  tories,  secure  their  leaders,  and  secure  the  tranqoilitf  of  the 
frontier.  Congress  appropriated,^^  hard  dollars  for  this  auikat 
and  ordered  tins  treasure  to  be  sent  to  the  general  under  «  gnstd* 

General  Schuyler  having  no  troops  wherewith  to  eiccua  die 
orders  of  congress,  and  knowing  tlttt  secrecy  and  despatdi 
f ceMary  tohis  success,  communicated  his  plan  to  as 
of  Albany  county,  administering  an  oath  of  aeore^  ;  bet  advices 
arrived  from  Tryon  county  respecting  the  hostik  prepaiathma  ef 
Johnson,  his  Scotch  tenants  and  adherents,  aswell  as  the 
that  made  seciecy  unnecessary,  and  seven  hundred  of  ihe 
i' called  out  with  the  avow^  purpose  of  diaaimingAii 


BGmJTtMaL*9  BZPEDITIOK  TO  JOHNSTOWH.  tt 

cneniT.     With  this  force  the   general  marclied,  but  before  be 
tenched  Caugrhnawaga,  his  amiy  liad  increased  to  three  thousand. 
At  Schenectady  a  deputation  from  tlie  Mohawks  met  him.    Schuy- 
ler had  sent  them  a  messa«re  informing:  them  of  hi:<  intention  to 
■«rch  into  their  countrv,  but  with  no  desis^n  of  hostility  to  them. 
At  their  meeting  the  usual  fonn  of  making  speeches  took  place. 
They  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  his  message,  and  his  informa- 
tion that  a  nutnber  of  men  were  embodied  about  Johnstown  and 
Sir  Johns,  and  intended  to  commit  hostilities  down  the  river;  and 
that  be  was  coming  to  inquire  into  the  matter.     They  acknowledged 
that  he  had  assured  them  no  harm  was  intended  to  them  ;  as  they 
had  the  last  summer  pubhckly  engaged  to  take  no  part  against  him 
in  the  dispute  with  ilie  great  king  over  the  water.     They  proposed 
ID  Schuyler,  that  instead  of  marching  his  troops  to  Johnstown,  he 
should  send  up  six  men  to  inquire  into  the  truth  of  what  he  had 
beard«  and  send  his  soldiers  home.     Thev  said  that  the  council  of 
their  natioD  had  sent  them  to  meet  him,  and  warn  him  to  take  care 
vbat  he  was  about.     They  remind  him  again  of  their  agreement  to 
keep  peace,  and  that  he  had  said  **  if  any  person  was  found  in  |heif 
aetghbourhood  inimical  to  peace,  he  should  consider  such  person 
as  an  enemy  ;**  and  the  Six  Nations  thouirht  he  meant  the  son  of 
Sr  William*  and  they  particularly  desire  that  he  should  not  be 
iajnred.     They  repeatedly  warn  the  general  not  to  spill  blood,  and 
mr  that  thev  intend  to  obsen*e  the  treatv  made  with  him,  and  re- 
■ain  at  peace.     They  say  their  chiefs  had  begced  Sir  John  not  to 
kt  the  aggressor :  that  lie  had  promised  he  would  not.     That  he 
kad  but  a  handful  of  men«  and  could  not  be  the  ag<rressor ;  there^ 
ibre,  if  Schuyler  and  his  men  should  come  up  and  any  evil  happen, 
diej  should  look  upon  him  as  the  aircressor,  or  as  shutting  up  the 
path  of  peace.     They  denied   that  isir  John  was  making  miliiaij 
preparations  or  fortifying  his  liouse.  and  asserted  that  every  thing 
lennincd  as  in  the  time  of  Sir  William.     They  profess  a  sincere 
ibr  peace,  but  acknowledge  that  some  among  them  are  dis- 
to  bosuHiies.     They  insinuate  that  if  this  hostile  array  pro- 
ceed, ther  mav  not  be  able  to  restrain  their  warriours,  who  are 
•eiennined,   if  Schuyler  persists   in   goinir  to  Johnson-Hall,   to 
ke  present  at  his  meeting  with  Sir  John,   and  the  counsellors 
mi  chieb  could    not    he   answerahle   for  what    mirht    happen. 
The  orator  concludes,  by  saying,  tl.at  he  had   persuaded  the  war- 
ntHirt  to  sit  still,  and   await  his  return  \\\\h  the  answer  Schuyler 
■igfal  giro  him. 
SchaTler  answered  them  in  their  own  fashion.     The  substance 
that  he  had  hoped  a  previoirs  message  sent  by  him  to  the  Six 
bad  convinced  them  no  hostile  intentions  were  entertained 
them  ;  and  is  sorry  the  Mohawks  had  not  sent  that  mes- 
Tkaa  ba  kad  fell  proof  that  many  people  in  Johascownrand 


SA  SCHUTLX&'S  EXPKDrnOSr  to  J<»DrSTOWM. 

the  oeigUworfaood  had  been  makino:  preparations  to  cairj 
execution  the  wicked  designs  of  die  kin^':s  e^ii  counsellors.  Tbat 
the  force  be  commands  is  not  brought  for  war  with  the  Six  NatHMH, 
but  to  prevent  it,  by  seeing  that  the  people  of  Johnstown  do  noC 
interrupt  the  harroony  of  the  colonies  with  the  Indians.  That  be 
will  not  injure  the  people  of  John^towny  if  they  airree  lo  sneh 
terms  as  sbdl  give  assurance  of  security  to  their  nei^rhbours.  Tbat 
be  will  not  permit  any  of  his  followers  to  set  foot  on  the  Mohawk 
famds ;  all  he  requires  of  them  beins:  that  they  do  not  interfere  in 
the  family  quarrel  of  the  whites.  He  reminds  them  that  notwith- 
standing tbeir  treaty  of  peace,  some  of  their  warriour?  bad  attack* 
ed  the  Americans  at  St.  Johns,  and  had  been  killed  there  ;  which, 
be  says,  you  did  not  complain  of,  as  you  knew  it  was  right  to  kill 
tbem  in  self-defence.  He  says,  in  a  little  time,  I  and  my  frieodi 
may  be  called  to  6?ht  our  enemies  to  the  eastward,  and  will  it  be 
prudent  to  leave  our  wives  and  children  expoe^ed  to  enemies  here 
at  band  ?  We  shall  send  a  letter  to  Sir  John  invitinrr  hira  to 
us  on  the  road,  and  if  every  ih'mz  is  not  settled  he  shall  return 
to  his  own  house.  He  wished  the  Indians  to  be  present  at  the  in- 
terriew ;  but  added,  that  if  he  is  oblio:ed  to  resort  to  iorce,  and 
tbey  join  his  enemies,  they  must  take  the  consequence.     He  begs 

tbem  to  repeat  all  this  to  their  council. 
1776  The  16th  of  January  the  sreneral  despatched  a  letter  to 

Johnson,  sayin^:  that  information  havin;x  been  received  of 
designs  dangerous  to  the  liberties  of  his  majei^ty^s  subjects  in  the 
county  of  Try  on,  he  had  been  ordered  to  march  thither  to  cootrareae 
tbem,  and  wishing  that  no  blood  might  he  shed,  he  requests  Sir  Joho 
to  meet  him  the  next  day  on  his  way  to  Johnstown,  pled^ng  his  ho- 
nour for  his  safe  conduct  back  and  forth;  concluding  with  a  roessaee 
tending  to  quiet  any  apprehensions  in  the  mind  of  Lady  Johmctt. 
Accordingly,  the  next  day  Johnson  met  the  general  on  bis  march, 
and  received  terms  recpjiring  the  delivery  of  all  the  cannon  and 
military  stores  under  his  control,  except  his  personal  arms  and 
ammunition  therefor.  That  he  should  remain  on  parole  in  Tryon 
coun^.  That  the  Scotch  inhabitants  immediately  deliv^-  op  tbeir 
arms  and  give  hostages.  That  all  presents  Intended  by  Engiand 
ibr  the  Indians  be  delivered  to  a  commissary  appointed  to  receive 
tbem.  If  these  terms  be  aa:reed  to,  Schuyler  pledges  himself  (or 
the  protection  of  Sir  John  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  county. 

At  first  he  blustered  a  little,  and  said  the  Indians  would  sopport 
bim,  and  that  some  were  already  at  Johnston-Hall  for  the  purpose. 
To  this  the  answer  was,  force  will  be  opposed  to  force,  and  blood 
must  follow  ;  on  which  Sir  John  asked  time  to  consider  untO  nest 
evening,  which  was  granted.  Another  Mohawk  chief  waited  on 
Schuyler,  and  assured  him  that  the  Indians  would  not  interfere 
acept  as  mediators.    The  general  then  marched  ferward 


9cmm.Ba*s  expeditiox  to  johxstowh.  SS 

fathed  within  four  miles  of  Johnstown,  where  he  received  propo- 
5i»n<  &tMH  Johnfi^m  for  himself  anil  the  |K*ople  of  Kinsr4K>rough» 
w*iich  WTTP,  thai  all  anns  holon::i  ::  to  Sir  Jolm  and  the  oilier  cren- 
wmen  should  remain  with  ihenn  all  others  to  l>e  given  up.  Of 
raiiitu^  stores  belon<rin<r  to  the  cmwn  he  savs  he  has  none.  He 
rinects  to  CO  whore  ho  pleases.  Tiie  Scotch  inhabitants  will  de- 
arer up  their  aniis«  and  pminise  not  to  take  any  without  }>emiission 
Rx*ra  thect^iiiinenial  con^n^ss  :  hut  tliey  canni^t  command  hostasres* 
Tsis  is  s:>ne\l.  J.  Johnson.  Allan  Mc  Dousrall ;  and  dated.  John- 
9c»-Hail.  I<;h  Januan*.  1770.  Schuyler  answers,  that  this  pro- 
wiiioQ  cannot  be  accepted,  and  he  must  obey  his  orders.  He 
•:  lf»  same  time  sends  a  passport  to  I-ady  Johnson,  with  a  request 
Gnt  she  would  retire.  Tiuiv^  is  allowed  until  midni::hi  for  another 
a::*swer.  ami  renilenien  si^nt  to  rt»coive  it.  Sixni  al^ter,  the  sachetns 
of  rv  MoMaw  ks  wail  upon  Sclujyler  and  ask  more  lime  lor  Sip 
Jo'-'s  answer.  This  is  cranicd  for  their  sakes,  and  within  the 
>pfKxi  t?\ed  the  knight  a^nvs  for  himself  and  ihe  inhabitants  of 
KlttirsK^roi'.irh  to  cive  uj>  their  anus,  and  that  he  would  not  go 
wejTwarvi  of  tie  man  Flats  and  Kinsland  district ;  likewise,  that 
six  Scotch  inhabitants  mav  be  taken  as  hosla;res.  Sir  John  md 
ae  Scotch  centJemen  pkNli^*  liiemselves,  as  far  as  their  influence 
rw^  K>r  i!>e  deli\er}'  of  the  arms  of  the  inhabitants,  and  Johnsoa 
ries  assuratice  that  he  has  no  stores  in  his  |H^ssession  as  presents 
IP  :he  Indians.  I'jhmi  i\H^:^i\  inc  tlie  last  answer.  Schuyler  told 
r>*  lir:^iins  iliat  all  woviKl  be  settled,  and  ihev  micht  !rt>  home.  On 
rw  l^•Tn  liie  iri^:ieral  marched  into  Johnstown  and  drew  up  his 
men  i:^  a  line  :  the  Hi^ildandeT^  were  drawn  up  facinc  them,  and 
r^-"»xied  ihcir  arms.  Tiie  miiiiarv  stores  uen»  surrendered:  aiKl 
i!:i*  jerrice  bcii^ir  jH^rfonuctl.  S*hu\  ler  and  his  militia  relumed. 
It  w»*  found  atV^rwanl  tliat  the  Ili;:Itlanders  had  not  delivered  up 
x^eir  brxwdswortls  or  their  a! n munition. 

It  was  tound  that  Oonneli  who  had  informed  cons^ress  that  arms 
w^je  burie*!  near  Johnston-Hull  was  an  imposier.  Schuyler  re- 
tcmed  with  his  motlev  armv  to  Oaiiirhnawaia.  and  the  davs  iinme- 
c-it^lv  lo":towi!V  a  ni;nil>or  of  lories  were  secured.  Colonel 
HeTk"»ri>er  ua-*  left  bv  Sciu:\ler  to  complete  the  disamiiu;:  of  the 
^vtiie  inhal»i:a::ts,  ard  ii,e  iiencral  mun^liod  back  to  Albany. 
Co3,:Tess  rt" uirot  d  liiai^ks  to  tiio  ::eneral,  and  to  the  militia  who 
»«oinpanie\i  liim.  but  iuv^cd  liicy  would  not  demand  pay  while 
$w?:^res>in '  a  riiis^Miief  wi,i'.':i  oo;^v\  r.u\l  i!:om>elves  so  nearlv. 

Nomiiiisranilinj  liis  word  oi  ho:io;ir,  il)e  banquet  continued  his 
^c«iie  intrigues  with  the  lndian<,  and  otherwise  lorleited  his  pro- 
mise. It  was  I'oiind  n«vessary  to  seiuiiv  Johnson,  and  in  May 
I77d,  Colonel  Davton  was  sent  bv  Schuvlcr  on  this  duiv.  The 
of  AJImldv  c^ve  noiice  to  Sir  John  of  Davioa*s  inarch  frith 


W  aOBUTLBR^S  SXPEDITI09  TO  JOHK8TOWH. 

this  regiment,  and  the  knight  with  his  followers  Bed  to  the 
and  escaped  to  Canada ;  arriving  at  Montreal  after  nineteen  dajs 
suffering  and  starvation.  It  seems  strange  that  he  should  bnve 
•opposed  the  Americans  would  permit  him  to  remain  plotting  and 
executing  mischief  against  his  country  witliout  interruption ;  vet 
such  appears  to  have  been  Johnson's  expectation,  for  he  made  no 
preparation  for  flight.  An  iron  chest  with  the  family  bible  and 
papers  was  buried  in  die  garden.*  On  arriving  in  Canada,  the 
baronet  was  commissioned  a  British  colonel ;  raised  a  regiment  of 
tones,  and  did  all  the  mischief  he  could  during  the  war  to  the 
state  of  New  York.  By  taking  part  with  Great  Britain  he  forfeited 
an  immense  estate,  but  no  part  of  his  conduct  leads  us  to  belieTe, 
that  in  his  choice  he  wa^  governed  by  any  motive  that  was  nol 
selfish ;  by  breaking  his  parole  he  forfeited  claim  to  the  character 
of  a  gentlemen  ;  and  his  subsequent  conduct  through  life  was  in 
unison  with  the  last  forfeiture. 

Brant  went  to  England  in  1775,  and  Guy  Johnson  was  sof>- 
posed  to  have  gone  with  him,  but  the  Mohawks  returned  in  time 
to  take  part  in  the  affair  of  the  Cedars,  not  strictly  witliin  any  pro- 
vince, but  mentioned  in  connection  with  Arnold.  This  affair,  die- 
graceful  to  the  American  arms,  and  to  English  good  £iith,  had  the 
^Sect  of  rendering  exchange  of  prisoners,  which  is  one  chief  soften* 
ing  feature  in  grim  visaged  war,  more  difficult,  and  in  causing  con- 
gress to  resolve  upon  the  employment  of  Indians  on  their  part. 

The  situation  of  the  army  of  Canada  when  driven  thence,  and 
met  by  Gates  on  Lake  Champlain,  is  fully  and  truly  given  by 
Stone, t  and  the  conduct  of  Mr.  John  Trumbull,  the  acting  adjiiuni 
general  to  Gates,  was  wise. 

The  preparations  for  defence  made  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Mohawk  valley,  were  in  proportion  to  their  exposed  situation  as 
far  as  their  limited  means  permitted.  Clierry  Valley,  the  principal 
settlement  south  of  the  river,  and  between  the  Mohawk  castles  and 
the  Indian  post  of  Oghnwaga,  was  much  exposed.  Here  a  com- 
pany of  rangeiB  was  organized,  but  being  marched  elsewhere,  the 
destitute  inhabitants  earnestly  remonstrated,  and  at  length  obtained 
Captain  Wirm^s  company  of  rangers  for  their  defence.  Their 
committee  were  men  of  energy ;  and  the  names  of  Moore,  Clyde, 
Campbell,  Dunlop,  Scott,  Wells,  and  Ritchy,  deserve  a  placo  in 
New  lork   histor}-.     They   had  intimation  of  the   preparations 


*  Mr.  8u»M,  in  his  bifSorr  of  Bnat,  tclk  iu  u  a  note,  that  Mr.  Tavloi, 
wmrd  Ueatenant  Govemoor  of  the  state.  pDrcha«ed  at  anction  thb  B.ble,  i 

other  cos^?«aled  property,  and  with  proper  feelnij^  let  Bir  John  JobwoD 

tlHt  the  hook  va*  at  htf  service :  die  in^heh  baiooet  aeot  a  perMB  lor  it  wiA 
nnmj  to  pajr  for  the  porcfaaie.  with  ao  other  dircctioa,  bm  **  pat  fot  ib«  book 
and  take  iL^ 

t  Vot  J,  p.  164. 


mSSGLTXDw  S7 


making  bj  Jobason  and  Butler  (or  tbeir  desmictiofi.  and  ere* 
those  who  from  aee  or  in&nnitv  were  eieninied  iroai  milisarr  si 
vice,  or^Dized  aod  armed  tbem^elres  ibr  seir-deieace. 

Fort  Stanwix  was  tbe  citp  ofSchoyier.  Situare.i  in  ibe 
sent  viUa^  of  Rome,  at  tbe  bead  iraier$  of  the  Mobawk,  and  of 
Wood  Creek,  it  bad  been  cbo^eo  in  tbe  ibniier  Freocb  war,  as  a 
post  for  tbe  command  of  tbe  carry  ine  place  beiween  tbe  river  and 
tbe  cfE^  leading  to  Lake  Ontario,  tbrouf h  tbe  IHieida  Lake  and 
Oswego  River.  Colonel  Dayton,  wbo  bad  been  staiiooed  witii  bb 
regiment  at  Jobnstown,  was  ordered  lo  repair  and  fit.isb  tbe  works 
at  F'ort  Stanwix,  and  tbe  Tnroo  countr  militia,  were  called  out  to 
assist  bim.  Colonel  Van  Scbaick  witb  bis  regiment  was  quartered 
at  German  Flats. 

Fort  Stanwix  bad  been  erected  bv  tbe  seneral  of  tbat  name,  is 
1758,  at  an  enormous  expense  for  tbo^  days,  upwards  of  oae 
bundred  thousand  pounds.  It  was  at  this  time  in  a  ruinous  state, 
but  was  put  in  a  state  to  sustain  tbe  siege  wbicb  1  sbaU  bare  to 
record. 

Tbe  narrow  piece  of  land  between  tbe  waters  flowing  to  the 
Hudson  and  tbose  running  to  tbe  St.  Lawrence,  was  likewise  for- 
ti6ed,  by  tbe  redoubts  of  Fort  Ball  and  Fort  Newport,  naned  Gnoa 
officers  of  1755,  but  Fort  Sunwix  was  a  great  gtiardian  of  this 

important  pass  (lom  Canada  to  tbe  «^alley  of  tbe  Mobawk. 
1777  1  bave  previoiisly  meniiooed  tbat  the  emt  council  of 
tbe  Iroqtiots  was  beld  at  Onondagi.  Here  tlie  cnieGi  of 
tbe  confederated  nations  met  at  stated  times,  to  consult  and  detcr- 
oiine  on  peace  or  war,  alliances  witb  die  Enelisb  or  French  cola* 
nists,  and  all  tbe  affairs  tbat  concerned  ihr  union.  In  tbe  figurative 
language  of  the  Indians,  here  tlie  $n^at  council-6re  was  kept  ever 
burning ;  but  it  appears  by  a  speech  of  tbe  Oneida  duefs  to  Colo- 
nel Emore,  delivered  at  Fort  Stanwix,  in  January.  1777,  tbat  tbe 
council-fire  was  now  extinguished,  which  as  I  understand  it,  is,  tbat 
tbe  confederacy  was  dissoUed.  Never  after  did  the  cbiels  meet 
in  council  at  Onondaga.  The  O.ieiJa^  adhered  in  part  to  tbe 
American  cause,  the  other  tribes,  under  tbe  name  of  Mohawks  go* 
rally,  were  tbe  followers  of  Brant,  Butler,  and  Johnson. 

Mr.  Stone  tells  us,  that  this  dissolution  of  tbe  confederacy 
announced  by  tbe  Oneidas,  with  tbeir  desire  tbat  it  should  be 
rounicated  to  General  Schuyler,  and  to  such  of  tbe  Mohawks  as 
remained  in  tbe  lower  castle.  How  this  dissolution  took  place  we 
are  not  informed,  but  it  would  appear  tbat  many  of  tbe  Onondaga 
tribe  tlien  suffisred  death,  either  by  violence  or  disease. 

In  the  month  of  Februar}',  the  inhabitants  south  of  the  Mohawk 
were  alarmed  by  the  gatliering  of  the  Indians  at  Oghkwo^a,  and 
Colonel  John  Harper,  of  Harpei^field,  was  directed  by  the  pro- 
vincial congreas  of  New  York,  to  ascertain  tbeir  intentioos*     Thia 


88  ATROCITIJS8  OF  BRANT. 

gendemen  was  one  of  four  brothers,  who  with  a  few  companions 
settled  in  176S,  in  this  tract  of  country.  He  visited  the  Indians 
as  directed,  and  they  professed  the  moat  friendly  intentions,  by 
which  he  was  deceived. 

The  Indians  left  the  Susquehanna,  and  joined  Johnson  and  But- 
ler, who  were  collecting  their  forces  at  Oswego.  Here  by  the 
orders  of  the  British  commander  in  Canada,  a  great  council  of  the 
Iroquois  was  convened,  and  such  of  them  as  had  engaged  with 
Schuyler  at  the  German  Flats  and  Albany,  to  hold  the  chain  of  friend- 
ship inviolate  with  the  colonists,  were  induced  by  the  presenu,  the 
representations  of  the  English  agents,  formally  to  enter  the  service 
of  Britain,  for  the  purpose  of  inflicting  misery  and  murder  upon 
the  Americans.  Each  Indian  received  a  kettle,  a  gun,  a  tomahawk, 
a  scalping  knife,  plenty  of  ammunition,  money  in  advance,  and  a 
promise  of  more  for  every  scalp  brought  in. 

Soon  after  this  engagement.  Brant  led  his  warriours  upon  the 
settlements  of  the  valley,  breathing  death  and  destruction  ;  but  as 
he  lurked  in  a  wood  watching  his  destined  prey,  he  saw  a  com- 
pany of  boys  with  wooden  guns,  parade  in  imitation  of  their  fathers, 
and  deceived  by  distance,  mistook  the  children  for  soldiers  ready 
to  receive  him.  He  drew  off  his  redoubted  Mohawks,  and  linger- 
ing in  ambush  between  Cherry  Valley  and  the  Mohawk,  perform- 
ing no  other  exploit  or  mischief,  but  way-laying  and  murder- 
ing by  a  volley  from  the  covert  of  bushes,  a  young  man  who  had 
been  sent  to  assure  the  people  that  succours  were  at  hand,  and  a 
regiment  ready  to  garrison  the  place  next  day.  This  youth  and 
an  attendant,  were  shot  down  by  the  warriours  unseen,  and  Brant 
carried  off  the  young  man's  scalp  in  triumph.  This  young  officer 
was  well  known  to  the  chief,  and  had  been  a  neighbour.  They 
were  not  only  acquaintances,  says  Mr.  Stone,  but  friends :  and  he 
further  tells  us  emphatically,  that  this  gallant  officer  was  scalped 
by  Brant's  own  hand,  he  had  fallen  from  liis  horse  wounded.  The 
attendant  messenger  escaped. 

On  the  17th  of  July,  General  Herkimer  seeing  that  the  enemy 
were  about  to  invest  Fort  Stanwix,  issued  a  proclamation  calling 
upon  all  the  inhabitants  to  arm  and  repair  to  the  6eld :  except 
those  above  sixty,  and  they  were  ordered  to  take  arms  for  the  de- 
fence of  homes,  women,  and  children.  Those  refusing  or  disaf- 
fected, were  to  be  disarmed  and  secured.  Committee  men  and 
other  exempts,  were  called  upon  to  repair  to  the  rendezvous.  This 
call,  and  immediate  approach  of  danger,  from  which  there  was  do 
escape,  produced  their  effects,  and  the  militia  turned  out  with  some 
show  of  spirit. 


B0EATIO  OAT8S.  99 


CHAPTER  m. 

Gtte$^  a  Brifish  opictT — Am  Amrrican  o^ctr — At  Cambridge 
Af  Xfw  York — Dujmfes  iAe  command  wttA  ScAmylcr — Hancvck'$ 
kuer. 

Horatio  Gates  was  born  in  England,  and  was  the  son  of  Cap- 
uin  Robert   Gate^v*   of  tlie    British   army  ;    so   that   both    Lee 
and  Gate^  were  not  only  Englishmen,  and  in  the  British  army,  but 
ams  of  his  majesTv's  officers*     Gates  received  his  first  name  froin 
his  jTodfather,  the  celebrated  Horatio  or  Horace  Walpole ;  who 
c  e  ttioRS  him  as  his  srodson,  on  an  occasion  hereafter  to  be  do- 
DDed.     What  farther  connexion  Gates  had  with  the  iamily  of  the 
Eari  of  t>rford,  I  do  not  know ;  certainly  he  was  in  early  life  pro- 
lected  by  high  aristocratick   indiience,  and   had  hopes  from  that 
dass«  of  promotion  of  no  ordinary  character,  until  1773.     That  he 
rereired  a  liberal  education  is  evident  from  his  letters.     As  earlj 
a?  17-19,  he  serveti  as  a  volunteer  under  General  Edward  Corn- 
Tallis,  who  comman  Jed  in  Nova  Scotia  as  <rovemour  of  Halifax. 
By  him  Horatio  was  appointed  a  captain-lieutenant  in  Warburton's 
irgiment.  and  Cornwallis  esjwused  his  interest  very  warmly,  oflfier- 
mg  by  letters  to  his  father,  an  advance  of  money  for  the  purchase 
of  a  company  for  the  young  man.     In  this  letter,  directed  to  Cap- 
ttm  Gates,  Southampton  street,  l^ondon.  he  further  says,  that  he 
be  eiven  his  son  an  employment  that  will  bring  him  in  two  hun- 
dred pounds  a  vear.     Four  vears  after  this,  vouns:  Gates  wis  in 
Eh^ikI.  busily  en<!a<!ed   in   pun^hasing  promotion  in  the  armj, 
and  on  tlie  13th  of  Septeml>er,  1751,  is  dated  his  commission  as 
aptain  of  an  inde|>endent  comjvany,  at  New  York,  late  Clarke^ 
This  is  siirned  "  Holderness,"  hv  order  of  Geors^e  II.     In  1755. 
Captain  Horatio  Gates  had  returneti  to  America,  and  shared  with 
Braddock  in  the  disasters  of  Monongahela.     Here  the  British  oF- 
Seer  was  wounded  in  tlie  shoulder,  and  conveved  to  Mount  Ver- 
BOQ  to  be  nursed  and  cured,  as  liis  friend  Lee  had  been  to  the 
Bansxm  of  Schuvler. 

Previous  to  leaving  England,  the  young  captain  had  married 
Miss  Phillips,  the  daughter  of  an  English  officer.  In  the  years 
1756,  *7  and  'S,  Gales  ^*as  on  serxice  in  the  western  part  of  the 
province  of  r^ew  York,  and  in  the  last  of  these  years  received  !!» 


M  HOEATIO  GATBS* 

mppoinuneot   of  briride-major  froTii  General  Sfamrix. 
tbe^  year^  M^ijor  <i3!e5  belJ  lise  in.JepeDdeDt  cofD|anj 
at  New  York,  w:/icb  iie  r-"jrcii3-ed  oi'Cap!aio  Clarke. 

Jame?  AbercromSie  writer  to  hi:n.  si%in?  some  incideiits  oTtbe 
war.  and  sayinz  i^^a*  ii:€r  proi  inciaU  ii:rouzb  isnoraoce  misEed  si  op- 
ponuuity  of  ^etimlnz  the  French  force  near  Fort  Edward.  He 
says,  they  are  a\  er-e  to  **  a  junction  wiib  the  Lin^'*s  troopft.'^ 
**  ^^]nce  tiiev  are  u.'^'.^iiiiiiz  to  take  our  a^sbtance,  I  would  e'tm  kt 
them  try  it  iheinseU  e:^.  but  have  regulars  lo  secure  the  fook  in  case 
ibey  should  be  rep^il.se.i." 

In  170(1.  General  Robert  Monckion  was  ctmtamodfTAm  chitf  of 
the  trc*'-  '  a:  New  York,  and  he  aj^pointed  Major  Gates  ooe  of  bis 
aid?.  T:.e  major  bein^  in  PhlhJelphta  in  October  of  tins  j 
Gorcmojr  Boo.ie  of  New  Jer.^ev  uToieto  him. 

*•  October  l^J'h.  17GJ.     Poor  Delancev  !  ha%-e  I  writftoi  to 
since  his  death  r     General  Monckton  is  talked  of  far  the 
ment.   (of  New   York,)   and  desired.     Pownal  is 
dreaded.     General  Gaze  is  said  likewise  to  bare  applied. 
iDZ  of  the  coionlsis,  be  says,  their  politicks  are  coniboiHlodt 
their  society  is  worse,  by  the  loss  of  the  best  cximponioo  ia 
Oliver  is  in  the  council,  and  Jemmy  Delancey,  iio  kmger  a 
dier,  is  a  candidate  for  tiie  cit%'.*' 

Tiie  troops  destined  to  attack  Martinique  were  eocaapei 
Staten  Kland,  under  Moockton's  command :  and  Geoeial  Ai 
came  o.i  from  the  nonh  to  succeed  Monckton  as 
chief.  >tnnse  a^  it  may  appear,  on  Suten  Island,  Ambttsi  via 
invested  with  ti:e  insi;:n}a  and  title  of  a  knight  of  the  BariB*  hf 
Monckton ;  due  autlsoriiy  having  been  received  from  pnetmmta^ 
Monik'jon  and  Gates  o^'iarted  (ot  the  West  ladies,  and  Sr 
Jefienr  remained  commander  of  the  trooDS  io  the  paaviara. 
'3Ioncktoa  took  Martinique,  and  despatched  Gates  with  ihe  ai- 
umphant  news  to  London,  w  hich  of  course  caiaed  hiia 
and  on  the  2Gih  of  Apiil.  1702,  Mr.  Townsend  lafemia 
he  is  appointed  to  be  major  to  the  forty-fifth  re^iDent  of  loot.  It 
was  on  this  occasion  that  Horace  Walpoie,  bj  way  of 
claimed  credit  for  the  capture  of  Martinique,  as  hb 
namesake  broujrLt  the  news.  The  connexion  of  Galea  aad  Larf 
Oribrd  appears  mys:enou^.  Major  Gates  remained  seven 
in  London,  much  di^saiis£ed  with  the  promolioo  be  had 
and  as^id'jou^ly  endeavouring,  by  petition  and  die  ioii 
friends  anK>ng  tiie  iK>bility,  to  obtain  somethini;  niore  li 
but  his  success  was  not  equal  to  the  efforts  made,  and  ha j 
to  America  as  major  of  the  forty-fifth.  He  had  bcea 
disposins  of  his  company  of  independents ;  for  ia  Au^aai,  1701^ 
those  companies  bad  been  disbanded,  and  Gales  it 
aa  baias  ^*  oat  of  the  acrape.*' 


mOMATtO  OATBS.  41 

He  nade  freqpeot  tppUoLtioiis  to  the  war  office,  and  in  August^ 
1T63«  ffained  Ambersi^s  very  reluctant  leare  of  absence  to  go  to  Lon- 
doo.  He  does  not  appear  to  have  been  a  bvourite  with  Sir  Jefieiy, 
wix>  frirhr  iriis  him  that  hu  desire  to  leave  his  station  appears  to  be  onlj 
**  dktaied  br  hb  own  interest^*  His  hopes  were  with  Monckton, 
aad  be  was  assured  by  one  of  his  correspondents  that  the  general 
bad  oDdeitakeo  his  al&ir.  The  leave  oi  absence  was  communi- 
caaed  in  ibese  ungracious  words  :  *^  If  you  are  determined  to  go, 
TOO  have  bis  leave  to  setde  accordingly.^^  And«  accordingly,  the 
■ajor  was  in  England  before  November  22d,  1763.  At  which 
ttne  the  historian  of  New  Yoiky  writes  to  his  friend  Gates  : 

**  Soch  a  retreat  as  that  in  which*  he  savs,  *  with  the  aid  of  Bac- 
chw;.  and  in  the  pride  of  philosophy,  we  laughed  at  the  anxieties 
«f  the  greiaL'     He  says,  we  in  America  want  aid,  *  not  to  maintain 
^  dc^ndency  of  the  colonies,  for  you  know,  saucy  as  we  are, 
diere  is  nothing  to  fear  on  that  account/     *  Sir  AMliiam  Johnson 
k  coodnuallv  terrifvinf  us  with  the  defection  of  the  Six  Nations : 
bsL  thank  heaven,  those  barbarians  love  themselves  too  well  to 
dvow  off  the  mask  of  friendship.  Amherst  has  left  New  York.*  He 
praises  Boone,  and  reprobates  the  cowardly  expedient  of  the  Eng- 
Esh  ministry  in  removing  govemours  because  the  people  dislik^l 
ihem.     He  says«  Colden,  for  want  of  purse,  and  more  for  want  of 
flfirit  to  imitate  Monckton,  has  retired  to  Flushing.     The  little  star 
4oes  not  yet  appear,  the  twilight  of  his  predecessor  is  still  too  strong 
i»  peonit  such  a  twinkling  luminan'  to  glitter.  In  another  letter  to 
ibe  same,  he  continues  in  the  like  strain.     Mentioning  Morrises 
death,  on  the  27th  of  Januar\%  17i>4,  he  says,  *  Gay  in  the  morning 
— dend  in  the  evening.     He  came  out  to  a  rural  dance,  be  took 
«t  the  parson^s  wife,  danced  down  six  couple,  and  fell  dead  on  the 
lM)r,wi£boutaword,agroan,  or  a  sigh."    Hethen  goeson  tomention 
ife  prominent  men  of  the  time  in  New  Jersey,  where  this  happened. 
'FiaaUin  has  put  Charles  Reade  in  his  (Morrises)  place  on  the 
ksch,  and  filled  up  Readers  with  John  Berrian,  a  babbling  coun- 
av  snrrevor.     Franklin  after  Boone — after  Morris,  Reade !'  He 
diEfwards  says  *  the  first  errour  is  on  your  side  of  the  water/  (Eng- 
had.)     That  is,  as  he  says,  in  recalling  Boone  because  of  his  con- 
tat  with  a  proud,  licentious  assembly.     We  are  a  great  garden — 
cultivation  will  keep  down  the  weeds ;  remember  they 
planted  by  liberty  and  religion  near  a  hundred  years  ago ; 
are  strong  roots  that  will  soon  despise  the  gardener^s  utmost 
■rength.     When  Great  Britain  loses  the  power  to  regulate  these 
dependencies,  I  think  ^tis  clear  she  will  have  no  other  left.     He 
coachides  by  ^calling  for  govemoiu^  and  judges  of  spirit  and 


hi  ^member,  1764,  he  was  appointed  to  a  majority  in  the 
Aijal  Ammran%  as  a  special  ma^  of  his  majestj^s  fit voor,  as  it 

n.  6 


49  HOEATIO  0ATB8. 

tnnounced  to  him  from  the  war  office ;  and  in  December  he 
received  permission  to  remain  four  months  in  England.  Soon 
after,  through  his  agent,  he  received  proposals  from  a  captain  of 
dragoons,  ofiering  j£d,000  for  his  majority  ;  and  not  long  after,  in 
a  letter  written  by  a  relative,  it  is  mentioned  that  he  falid  sold  oot 
on  halfpay.  He  still  remained  in  England,  evidently  expecting 
promotion  through  the  interest  of  General  Monckton,  and  bis  bro- 
ther. Lord  Galloway,  and  probably,  by  the  influence  of  his  god- 
fiither.  His  friends  in  New  York  point  out  offices  for  bim  to  ap- 
ply for,  particularly  that  of  paymaster-general,  as,  says  one,  *'  Abra- 
ham Mortier  goes  to  England  next  spring,  with  his  fat  lady  ;  mj 
friend,  could  you  not  contrive  to  g^t  his  place — ^be  has  made  a 
fortune." 

Mortier  built  a  house  which  once  was  the  head-quarters  of  Wash- 
ington, called  Richmond  Hill,  at  that  time  surrounded  by  a  park, 
and  situated  on  an  eminence,  now  the  comer  of  Varick  and  Chariton 
streets,  on  a  level  with  its  neighbours,  surrounded  by  bouses,  and 
called  the  Richmond  Hill  theatre.  Thb  place  was  then^  and  untfl 
ft  few  years,  far  out  of  the  city. 

In  1766,  the  major's  father  died ;  and  by  the  letters  of  General 
Monckton,  it  appears,  that  the  hopes  of  the  general  are  deferred, 
and  of  course  those  of  Gates ;  who  now  looking  for  an  appointment 
under  his  friend,  resided  with  his  family  in  retirement 

In  1768,  Major  Gates  was  in  London,  and  waiting  the  resah  of 
Monckton's  expectations ;  and  Gates  about  this  time  sold  his  hatf> 
pay  and  commission  to  Monckton's  younger  brotlier :  and  was  in 
expectation  of  accompanmg  the  general  to  the  East  Indies ;  but 
delays  occurred,  and  the  years  1769  and  '70,  we  Gnd  the  Major  stifl 
living  in  retirement,  and  expectations  of  a  post  under  Monckton, 
who  being  disappointed  in  his  East  India  scheme,  receives  the  of- 
fice of  a  reviewing-general,  and  endeavours,  in  the  latter  part  of 
1770,  to  obtain  the  post  of  town-major  for  Gates,  and  this  failing, 
Monckton  (having  his  hopes  revived  as  to  the  East)  renewed  1m 
promises  to  his  expectant  protegee ;  as  late  as  Jnly,  1771,  be 
writes  thus,  in  answer  to  Gates :  *'  You  know  it  has  not  been  in 
tbie  least  in  my  power  to  serve  myself,  and  therefore  could  not  do 
what  I  wished  by  you.  What  you  have  heard  about  the  East 
Indies  is  partly  true ;  but  whether  or  not  I  shall  succeed  is  rerj 
uncertain.  I  can  only  assure  you,  that  should  it  succeed,  you  are 
the  only  one  I  have  as  yet  thought  of."  And  in  December,  "  I 
am  sorry  to  iuform  you  the  East  India  matters  do  not  go  on  so  well 
as  I  could  wish.  You  need  not  hurry  yourself  to  come  up  tiD  you 
hear  from  me  agnin."  In  1772,  Major  Gates  having  riven  up  all 
hopes  of  a  place  under  the  king's  government,  and  hb  k^rmer  com- 
missions having  been  sold,  resolved  to  emigrate  to  Virginia ;  wberet 
b  Blakely  countyi  be  purchased  and  resided  in  1778 ;  vid  adt 


BOEATIO  QATS8.  48 

as  we  have  seen,  he  and  his  friend  Charles  Lee,  likewise  a  pur- 
chaser in  the  same  counQr,  visited  General  Washington  at  Mount 
Vernon. 

We  have  seen  that  General  Lee  was  sent  on  to  prepare  New 
York  for  defence,  and  while  he  was  thus  employed,  the  comman- 
der-in-chief thought  of  him  as  a  fit  person  to  supply  the  loss  of  the 
brave  and  generous  Montgomery,  in  Canada.  About  this  time 
General  Gates  wrote  to  Lee  from  Cambridge.  Some  extracts 
from  the  letter  will  be  of  service  to  us.  It  is  dated  fr6m  Head- 
Quarters,  February  26th,  1776.  Speaking  of  Fort  George,  at  New 
York,  he  says,  *'  I  like  your  intention  of  making  the  fort  an  open 
redoubt ;  I  think  some  heavy  guns  upon  the  south  and  west  sides, 
with  good  sod  merlons,  will  make  the  men-of-war  keep  aloof.  It  is  a 
pret^  high  situation,  and  battering  it  at  a  distance,  over  the  lower 
batteries,  would  have  but  little  effect.  Clinton,  I  am  satisfied,  went  * 
to  see  how  affairs  were  circumstanced  at  New  York,  to  consult 
with  Tryon,  and  to  prepare  the  way  for  Howe's  reception.  We 
shall  march  with  the  utmost  expedition  to  support  you.  Little 
Eustace  is  well,  but  nothing  is  done  for  him  as  yet.  You  know 
the  more  than  Scotch  partiality  of  these  folks.  I  have  had  much 
to  do  to  support  the  lad  you  put  into  Colonel  Whitcomb's  reri- 
ment.  They  have  no  complaint  in  nature  against  him,  but  that  ne 
is  too  good  an  officer."  By  this  is  seen  what  Gates's  feelings 
were  towards  the  New  England  men,  yet  he  had  the  art  to  conci- 
liate their  favour  and  use  it  to  supplant  others.  Shortly  after  thiSf 
General  Lee  was  ordered  to  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  to  op- 
pose Clinton  ;  so  that  he  being  imployed  in  the  south,  and  Schuy- 
ler at  the  north,  Putnam,  as  the  only  remaining  major-general,  had 
command  in  the  city  of  New  York.  He  made  his  head-quarter^ 
in  a  house  left  vacant  by  the  owner,  Captain  Kennedy,  of  the  Bri- 
tish navy,  being  the  first  house  in  Broadway,  since  enlarged,  and 
known  as  No.  1.  But  General  Washington  soon  arrived,  and 
fixed  his  head-quarters  in  the  house  built  by  Mortier,  the  English 
paymaster-general,  who,  as  we  have  seen,  had  made  his  fortune 
and  gone  to  England. 

Gates  had  conceived  his  plan  of  overthrowing  the  commander- 
in-chief,  and  supplying  his  place,  while  at  Cambridge,  and  ad- 
jutant-general. Immediately  on  receiving  that  appointment  he 
accompanied  General  Washington  to  New  York,  with  the  two 
major-generals,  Lee  and  Schuyler,  and  the  htt^  having  been 
charged  with  the  northern  department.  Gates  proceeded  with  Lee 
and  Washington  to 'Cambridge. 

The  blockade  of  Boston  continued  until  the  spring  of  1776,* 
during  which,  Mrs.  Gates  who  was  no  beauty,  but  a  woman  whose 


•  Commnnioated  verlMUy,  l^  GoTemow  Morgan  Lswii,  who  was  prMiit 


44  HORATIO  QATB8* 

ambition  pras  as  great,  and  her  talent  for  intrigue  greater  than  her 
husband's,  saw  the  court  paid  to  the  commander's  lady  and  others, 
with  an  evil  eye ;  and  though  glad  in  England  to  see  Gates  a  fort- 
major,  now  saw  even  Israel  Putnam,  take  rank  of  him.  Gates 
applied  to  congress  for'  the  rank  of  major-general,  and  supposed 
himself  not  supported  by  General  Washington :  Mifflin  was  likewise 
disappointed,  and  both  vowed  revenge^  and  joined  in  enmity  to  the 
commander-in-chief. 

Gates  had  been  about  one  year  in  the  service,  when  congress 
appointed  him  a  major-general,  and  directed  that  he  should  take 
command  in  Canada  to  replace  Montgomery. 

These  troops  had  been  forwarded  by  Schuyler  with  the  intent 
of  commanding  them  hifnself  in  that  expedition,  but  sickness  pre- 
« Tenting,  they  had  been  intrusted  to  the  gallant  Montgomery. 
They  were  now  (under  the  command  of  General  Sullivan) 
ordered  by  the  commander  of  the  department  (Schuyler)  to 
Crown  Point ;  where,  in  the  condition  of  a  sick,  dispirited, 
and  defeated  army.  Gates  found  them  ;  he  not  only  super- 
seded Sullivan  in  the  command  of  this  force,  but  affected  to  con- 
sider himself  independent  of,  if  not  superiour  to,  Schuyler.  (Sates 
had  assumed  the  style  and  mode  beBtting  the  chief  officer  of  a 
great  department.  In  one  of  his  letters  to  Washington,  he  says, 
*^  I  must  take  the  liberty  to  animadvert  a  little  upon  the  unpre- 
cedented behaviour  of  the  members  of  your  council  to  their  com- 
peers of  this  department." 

He  had,  during  the  blockade  of  Boston  by  the  eastern  troops, 
used  those  arts  which  Montgomery  said  were  so  averse  to  his  cha- 
racter. Gates  could  '*  wheedle  and  flatter."  His  manners  were 
specious,  as  were  his  talents,  and  he  was  indefatigable,  by  writiog 
and  otherwise,  in  his  efforts  to  attach  to  himself  the  eastern  mem- 
bers of  congress,  and  other  men  of  influence.  He  was  the  booo 
companion  of  the  gentlemen,  and  the  "  hail-fellow,  well-met,"  of 
the  vulgar.  He  saw  from  the  first  that  Schuyler  was  unpopular 
in  New  England,  who  was  like  his  friends  Montgomery  and  Wash- 
ington, unfitted  for  wheedling,  flattering,  and  lying ;  and  besides 
had,  in  the  preceding  disputes  between  the  province  of  New  York 
and  New  England,  maintained  the  rights  of  the  people  who  bad 
sent  him  to  the  legislature.  Gates  knew  at  this  time  that  seve- 
ral members  of  congress  wished  him  to  supersede  Schuyler. 
Elbridge  Gerry  had,  by  letter,  declared  that  he  wished  him  to  be 
generalissimo  at  the  north.  Messrs.  Lovel,  Samuel  Adams,  tod 
others,  were  bis  adherents.  He  kept  up  a  correspondence  of  a 
firiendly  nature  with  John  Adams,  but  there  is  no  evidence  of  that 
great  man  having  appreciated  him  to  the  disadvantage  of  Schuyler. 
He  had  sounded  Adams  as  to  the  character  of  Robert  Morrisy  and 


HORATIO  GATBS.  46 

a  high  enk^um  in  aosirer.  Shoitly  after,  Robert  Morris 
VToie  to  Gales,  aod  speaking  of  the  disasters  in  the  north,  he  says, 
*  I  find  some  p«H>ple  attributing  thb  to  a  source  I  should  never 
suspected  :  is  it  possible  that  a  man  who  writes  so  welt  and 
so  much  anxiety  for  the  cause  of  his  country  as  General 
S  r  docs — I  «ay,  is  it  possible  that  he  can  be  sacri6cing  the 

itujt  of  that  country  to  his  ambition  or  avarice  ?     I  sincerely 
Inps  it  is  not  so,  but  such  intimations  are  dropped/' 

Giles  gained,  and  anempted  to  gain,  men  of  influence  as  agents 
it  his  phns  of  ambition.     Connecticut  was  then  a  roost  efficient 
*r  of  the  union,  and  Govemour  Trumbull,  as  steady  a  pa- 
as  any  on  the  continent,  was  the  friend  of  Washington  and  of 
country,  but  placing  great  reliance  on  Gates.     He  had  three 
B  at  this  time  in  the  seriice ;  if  more,  I  know  not.     One  of 
yoang  men  was  appointed  a  paymaster-general,  another  a 
r-general,  and  the  youngest  was  appointed  by  Gates, 
after  be  received  his  commission  of  major-general,  (which 
the  24ih  of  June,  1776,)  and  was  empowered  to  make  such 
M  appointment  for  the  army  in  Canada,  his  deputy  adjutant-gene- 
nl ;  and  this  young  gendeman  he  took  on  with  him  and  retained, 
iidioogh  there  was  no  longer  an  army  in  Canada,  appointed  the 
yoongest  son  of  the  govemour  of  Connecticut,  his  deputy-adjutant- 
paenl,  aod  Morgan  Lewis,  whose  father  was  a  member  of  congress, 
kii  qoanerHBaster^neral.     Mr.  Joseph  Trumbull,  tlie  commissa- 
ly-feoeral,  was  appointed  by  the  same  authority  to  furnish  supplies 
far  the  northern  department,  of  which,  as  has  been  seen,  Schuyler 
ais  the  commander ;  and  notwithstanding  that  that  general  had 
1  conunissary-general,  Mr.  Livingston,  of  his  own  choice.  Gates 
U  influeoce  enough  to  force  Mr.  Joseph  Trumbull  upon  him.  All 
das  Kcured  to  him  the  attachment  of  a  powerful  family,  and  of  the 
of  Connecticut,  where  the  good  old  govemour  was  jusdy  es- 
fer  talents  and  patriotism. 
Schoyler  issued  his  orders  for  the  relief  and  safety  of  the  army 
ii  Canada*  now  driven  back  to  his  immediate  department  and  com- 
■od.     Gates,  on  his  arrival,  refused  to  submit  to  the  authority 
af  Scbovler,  who  met  his  unauthorized  disobedience  in  the  most 
coatteons  manner,  and  althou<xh  the  commission  of  Gates  was  in 
ach  plain  terms  that  none  but  the  wilfully  blind  could  fail  to  un- 
it, Schuyler  offered  to  refer  the  mauer  in  dispute  to  con- 
I  have  had  an  opportunity  of  tmnscribins:  part  of  a  letter 
VTttini  by  Commissar}'-^neral  Trumbull,  to  his  patron,  which 
dntms  li^ht  on  the  subject,  and  on  the  characters  of  the  pardes 
CQocened.     The  letter  is  addressed  to  Major-general  Gates. 

He  mentions  letters  received  on  the  subject  of  his  department, 
^  ajs,  *  by  which  I  find  you  are  in  a  cursed  situation,  your  au- 


4ft  GATB'9  INT&I0UB8. 

thority  at  an  end,  and  commanded  by  a  person  who  will  be  willlog 
to  have  you  knocked  in  the  head,  as  General  Montgomery  was,  if 
he  can  have  tlie  money-chest  in  his  power.  I  expect  soon  to  see 
you  and  your  suite,  back  here  again.'  He  adds,  tliat  he  has  ahowo 
these  letters  from  his  deputy-commissaries  to  General  Waab- 
ington,  and  told  him  that  he  would  order  his  agents  back  again ; 
as  a  deputy,  who  could  have  no  money  from  an}  body  but  Gene- 
ral Schuyler,  could  be  of  no  use  in  that  part  of  the  world :  further* 
he  says,  he  told  the  general  he  would  '  not  be  answerable  for  the 
consequences  where  his  authority  and  the  chief  command  were  both 
disputed.' 

Such  were  some  of  the  difficulties  which  Schuyler  and 
Washington  had  to  contend  against.  The  reader  will  remem- 
ber the  extracts  from  the  letters  of  Montgomery,  and  can  judge 
how  differently  that  gallant  officer  and  good  man  thought  of 
Scbuyler,  who  is  here  charged  with  avarice  and  peculation,  if  not 
directly,  certainly  by  implication.  Yet  we  know  that '  this  high- 
iouled  gendeman  advanced  his  own  money  for  the  publick  service 
when  the  envied  chest  was  empty ;  and  saw  his  houses,  milla,  and 
plantations  at  Saratoga,  committed  to  the  flames  by  the  enemy, 
without  r^reting  any  sacrifice  for  his  country's  service.  One 
would  suppose,  that  mean  suspicion  could  not  add  to  this,  yet  I 
find  the  charge  against  Philip  Schuyler  of  intercepting  the  letters 
forwarded  by  congress  to  the  friends  of  Gates !  It  was  thus  that 
Schuyler  and  Washington  had  to  contend  against  internal  as  well 
as  external  enemies.  As  early  as  January,  1776,  this  persecuted 
patriot  wrote  to  his  friend  and  commander,  ^'  I  could  point  out 
particular  persons  of  rank  in  the  army,  who  have  frequently  declaredf 
that  the  officer  commanding  in  this  quarter,  ought  to  be  of  the  co- 
lony from  whence  the  majority  of  the  troops  came."  Ke  says,  be 
has  come  to  the  conclusion  ''  that  troops  from  the  colony  of  Con- 
necticut will  not  bear  with  a  general  from  another  colony."  Ha 
laments  the  ^*  unbecoming  jealousy  in  a  people  of  so  much  publick 
virtue."  Writing  to  the  same,  in  May,  1776,  he  alludes  to  the 
clamour  raised  against  him,  which  had  been  attributed  to  artful 
practices  of  the  tories,  and  says,  *'  I  trust  it  will  appear  that  it  was 
noore  a  scheme  calculated  to  ruin  me,  than  to  disunite  and  create 
jealousies  in  the  friends  of  America.  Your  excellency  will  please 
to  order  a  court  of  inquiry  the  soonest  possible."  He  had  before 
said  that  he  had  reason  to  apprehend  that  the  tories  were  not  the  only 
ones  who  propagated  evil  reports  respecting  him.  He  afterward 
knew  full  well  who  were  leagued  against  him. 

Scbuyler  had  ever  been  a  champion  for  the  rights  of  New  York  : 
and  much  of  what  he  terms  a  general  aversion  to  men  of  other  pro- 
TiBceSy  was  personal  enmity  to  him.  This  was  fostered  and  in- 
creased by  the  arts  of  a  foreign  officer,  to  whom  these  Americans 
looked  up  as  almost  tte  only  leader  vrfiose  knowledge  could  stft 


BXIUTI  TO  SCHTTUnu  Cf 

It  v31  be  RcoUected  that  this  wis  etrh*  in  die  straggle. 

Wpyle  IemI  ho  ciMifidencc  id  their  omi  militinr  skiO,  and  saw  in 

Charles  Lee  and  Horatio  Gates*  men  posses^inc  that  knowledge 

whack  fiftsed  them  abore  anv  provincial.     We  must  recollect  tint 

had  beard  for  vear?  of  their  own  inferioritT«  and  of  the 

adTant.iges  poi?sesised  bv  the  British  officers^    Therefote, 

k  w«s  not  unatiiral  that  men  who  feh  their  own  deficiencv  in  mili- 

(aiKl  bad  almost  been  made  to  beliere  that  tfaej  were 

m  e,  compered  to  Europeans)  should  look  np  to  those 

who  hnd  seen  soine  semce* 

John  Hancock  wrote  to  him,  that  congress  having  considaied 

Sdbnier*s  letter  to  Washinjcton^  laid  belbre  them  bv  the  mutual 

of  the  parties  dtsputing^  had   resohred  that  his  com* 

iDiaOT  independent  of  General  Scfanrler'^a.  while  the 

in  Camda.     ^  Your  letter  of  the  d9th  w«s  deBvcied  lo 

■evidiin  this  baU' hour.    lexperiencethe  finest  feelings^  from  year 

Keadlvdecluatioii*  Yoiiwillnever«mvdearsar^outHiomeinactiof 

iieadibipL^     In  the  mean  time  the  expectatioos  of  General  Gelaa 

vfte  more  than  kept  alive  bv  his  eastern  and  other  friends ;  £1- 

kiige  Genj  wrote  to  htm  firom  Hartft>rd«  ^^  we  want  Tetr  mncb 

tosee  voa  with  the  sole  command  in  the  northern  department,  b«l 

bift  that  TOQ  win  not  reKnqutsh  yiHir  exertions  nntil  a  faiiwirabh 

ntv  sfaaU  edfect  it.**     He  had  previoosljr  ofiered  lo  give 

iifarmation  of  the  measures  of  coocress^  tbor  causes  nnd 

ptinciplea.     Samuel  Chase  writes  nom  congress,  **I  wirii 

^  vooM  inform  me  of  vour  stispicioos^  and  dedose  the 

ifriiss  which  Ttm  suppotse  have  influenced  men  and 

;aar  depeitment.**     Schuyler,  meantime,  was  sensible  of  tbe  m- 

iifiRsacaiifest  him,  and  of  the  jealousies  kept  aKve  by  maehination. 

^tamely  willing  to  retire,  be  kept  his  post  and  encoimtered  aB  iha 

of  this  imforttmate  northern  campaign. 


48  SnOTT  TO  SCHUTIiKm. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Gaieral  Gaia  at    Tiamitroga  —  Armold  —  Him  ^qtU  agamd 
Cadaotu 


Chr  tbe 3d  oT  August,  1776,  Schurlerwrites  topalesat to  a  friead, 
kroeittuig  that  be  dx>iild  be  tbe  object  of  eDiy,  wben  his  wish  k  to 
be  in  a  prirate  sution.  He  says,  thai  **  tbe  coodoaoD  of  tbe  hal 
campaigD  I  besrired  leare  of  coogress  to  retire,  and  in  coofideoce 
eommmucated  to  General  Washingtoo  my  more  iimiicdiaie  m- 
lons  for  lU'^     He  laments  tbat  be  was  persuaded  to  cootiBoe. 

Sarroanded  by  difficulties,  whicb  were  rejoiced  io  and  increMed 
by  tbe  mao  to  whom  be  comrouoicated  tbem.  General  Scbuyler 
wrote  to  Gates  tbat  be  had  notified  coneress  and  General  Wash- 
ington,  of  bis  detenninatioo  to  resign  bis  commission,  and  insaC 
oo  a  bearing.  He  says,  ^^  My  countrymen  will  be  astonished  lo 
find  tbat  I  shall  not  only  clearly  exculpate  myself  of  all  ■"^"'ffiff 
charges  laid  to  me,  but  point  out  tbat  it  ought  to  be  bestowed  ehe> 
where.*'  At  this  time  Joseph  Trumbull  writes  to  Gales :  **  I  find 
tbat  General  Schuyler  is  about  to  resign ;  I  congratulate  joo  and 
mvself  thereon." 

While  forwarding  tbe  senrke  of  bis  country  on  Lake  Champhin, 
he  was  ensaged,  as  be  sairs  in  a  letter  to  WashinEton,  **  oo  bi 
the  most  disagreeable,  to  a  roan  accustomed  tocifil  society,  that 
be  possibly  cooceired."  A  whole  month,  at  tbe  German  Fhfs,  wv 
he  endeavouring  to  secure  the  neutrality  of  tbe  Indians  by  speeches 
and  presents.  He  says,  he  "  believes  the  Six  Nations  wiU  not  60 
on  the  frontiers  :^'  but  he  was,  at  the  same  time,  preparing  for  de- 
fence. To  congress  he  complains,  tliat  bis  character  Ittd  beea 
barbarously  traduced  :  he  asks  for  a  committee  to  inquire  how  far 
the  miscarriages  in  Canada,  if  at  all,  are  to  be  imputed  to  him. 
He  says,  ^^  conscious  of  the  mediocrity  of  my  talents,  and  tfatt  I 
am  Taady  inadequate  to  the  command  I  am  honoured  with,  yet,  oo 
this  occasion,  I  may  be  allowed  to  say,  that  I  do  not  belieire  tint  I 
shall  even  be  convicted  of  an  errour  of  judgment.  Coi^deoce  of 
die  army,  in  me,  I  know,  is,  m  a  great  measure  destroyed,  by  in- 
aidioos  insinoatiofis,  mdustriously  propagated  by  a  set  of  miscie- 
aota.**  Sepleoiber  14tb,  be  teiiders  bis  resignation  to  congress : 
^laaaatQlwilfiiigio  meet  any  ioqoirj.   Oppressed  aa  I  haTe  beoi 


ATmaxrmmikMm  49 


I  dull  be  alwijs  retdj  to  do  te  datn  of  a  good 
oad  10  give  mj  •Qcee»or  all  tbe  iofivmatioo  aod  a^OTiapco 
ia  ODT  power/* 

Congress  would  not  accept  his  resignation.  Slill,  their  condoct 
liwarda  him  was  so  uosatisiaciory,  that  but  ibr  erents  on  Lake 
ChamplasB,  that  called  upoo  his  patrtotisiB,  be  would  have  retired 


Arnold  when  last  mentiooed)  was  before  Quebec  with  the  unfor* 

gaUaat  Mootgomery.     As  90oa  as  the  news  of  the  attempt 

tibe  capital  of  Caoada  retched  coDgress«  thej  promoted 

Araold  to  the   nnk  of  brigidier  general.     Ever  woithj  of  praise 

kf  ^  oouiage  and  eoterpriae,  he  was  at  the  same  time  obnoxiotts 

li  CMMue  liar  turbulence  and  rapacity. 

Migor  Brown  had  been  one  of  those  who  opposed  the  preleii* 

of  Arnold,  at  the  time  of  the  captuie  of  Ticonderoga  by 

AUeo.     By  the  death  of  Min^mery^  Brown,  who  had 

that  amiable  man  to  Quebec,  was  placed  under  the 

of  Arnold,  little  prone  to  fergireness,  or  scnipulcnis  in 

of  indicting  injury.     He  wrote  letters  to  oertiia  mem* 

hen  of  ooi^ress  charging  Brown  with  tnving    plundered  tbe 

ige  and  property  of  prisoners  taken  in  Canada.     This  being 

known  lo  Brown,  he  applied  successively  to  Generals  Wooa* 

m^  Thomas  and  Gates,  for  a  court  of  inquiry :  but  Arnold  bad 

iaiaenoe  eoongh  to  prevent  this  mode  of  wiping  off  the  atigma 

ht  had  anttcied,  and  even  to  induce  Gates  to  evade  the  orders  of 

wUch  Brown,  now  a  colonel,  had  obtained  ibr  his  redrees* 

in  aU  his  attempts  to  obtain  justice,  the  injured  man  pub- 

a  namtive  of  the  afiair,  after  having  demaiuled  the  arrest  of 

Amald  on  a  aeries  of  charges,  including  **  numerous  misdemean- 

ama  and  criminal  acts  during  the  course  of  hftscommand.^^  Amold» 

ifta  always  had  the  words  honour  and  innocence  at  oommand« 

epm  10  ike  last  of  his  life,  never,  during  the  course  of  these  cbargea 

kf  Brown^  demanded  a  coort  of  inquiry  upoo  his  own  conduct 

dwt  wan  the  obvions  mode  of  proving  both  bis  innooenoe 


AmoM  having  been  superceded  In  command  before  Quebec,  by 
I  atriial  o( Genial  Wooster  in  April  177G,  pleaded  his  womids, 
removed  to  Montreal,  where  he  again  had  the  command. 
The  anranj  wnte  soon  approaching  in  force.  The  **  a&ir  of  the 
'^  '  **  * '  ne  10  use  the  words  of  Mr.  Sparks,  **  nearly  400  men 
and  a  hondred  more  were  killed  or  taken  in  a  bravo 
V*  celled  forth  the  spirit  and  actirity  of  General  Arnold* 
Ik  d»  Mdi  of  Nay  he  arrived  at  St.  Anne'a  with  800  men.  B» 
hi  sent  n  m^mmgt  by  some  friendly  Indiaias,  to  the  hostile  eavagea 
ii  Ae  other  aeila  of  the  liver,  demandiog  a  anmnder  of  the 
noBon*  and  threatenii^  if  any  nmrdeia 


00  AKSbLD  AT  UOSTMMAL, 

dmt  he  would  put  to  death  erery  Indian  he  took.  His  roesseneen 
returned  with  a  threat  in  answer,  that  if  Arnold  attempted  to  cross 
to  the  rescue  of  the  prisoners  they  held,  ever}'  one  of  them,  5U0 
in  number  should  be  sacri6ced. 

Arnold  was  not  a  man  to  be  deterred  bv  a  threat.  He  roanoed 
bb  boats  and  pushed  for  the  Island  where  tlie  prisoners  bad  been 
confined.  On  landing  he  found  five  American  soldiers,  naked  and 
almost  famished  ;  the  other  prisoners  bad  been  remoTcd  to  Qmse 
Chie/Uj  five  miles  lower  on  the  river,  except  two,  who  being  sick, 
bad  been  butchered.  Advanciuj^  with  his  boats  to  Quinze  Clnensy 
be  found  the  enemy  prepared  to  receive  him  and  prerent  bis  bod- 
ing. Major  Foster  was  then  commander,  who  with  two  field  pieces, 
forty  British  troops,  one  hundred  Canadians,  and  four  bnodred 
Indians,  repulsed  the  Americans,  who  retired  to  St.  Anne  for  the 
night,  it  being  determined  to  attack  the  enemy  as  soon  as  the  Kgfat 
of  morning  permitted.  But  at  midnight  arrived  an  oflicer  with  a 
flag,  bearing  articles  which  had  been  entered  into  between  Major 
Sherburne,  the  superiour  officer  among  tlie  prisoners,  and  Major 
Foster ;  who  had  prevailed  on  Sherburne  (by  assurances  that  be 
could  not  controid  the  Indians,  and  that  every  prisoner  woak?  be 
massacred  the  moment  their  fiiends  approached  to  rescue  tbem) 
to  sign  articles  by  which  it  was  stipulated  that  the  prisoners  sboaM 
be  released  on  parole  in  exchange  for  British  prisoners  in  the  bands 
of  the  Americans :  the  Americans  were  not  again  to  take  up 
arms,  and  should  pledge  themselves  not  to  give  any  informatioo 
by  words,  writing  or  signs  which  should  be  prejudicial  to  bis  ma- 
jesty's service.  Thb  clause  Arnold  rejected,  but  in  coasideratiOB 
of  the  barbarous  threat  which  had  induced  Sherburne  to  sign  ibis 
agreement,  he  consented  to  the  other  articles,  by  which  sii  davs 
were  allowed  for  sending  the  prisoners  to  St  Johns :  foor  Ameti- 
can  captains  were  to  go  to  Quebec  and  remain  as  hostages,  till  the 
exchange  could  be  effected,  and  reparation  was  to  be  made,  for  all 
property  that  had  been  destroyed  by  the  continental  troops.  Sock 
were  the  articles  imposed  upon  prisoners  in  his  power  by  a  British 
oflhxr,  as  the  only  means  to  prevent  indiscriminate  slanghier  hjr 
h»  followers. 

Arnold  returned  to  Montreal,  and  held  that  post  imtQ  die  Amer* 
can  commander  in  Canada  had  made  a  precipitate  retreat  to  Crown 
Point.  Having  sent  off  his  troops  he  reserved  a  boat  for  twwM^»ll^ 
and  mounting  his  horse,  he  rode  with  his  aid,  Wilkinson,  two 
miles  to  view  the  approaching  army  under  Burgoyne :  tbej,  after 
reconnoitering,  dismounted,  stript  and  shot  their  horses,  uid  em* 
barked  in  the  boat  that  attended  them..  Arnold-*tbat  he  might  be 
the  last  nian  to  retreat  from  the  hostile  shore  poshed  off  the  boat 
himaelf,  before  springing  into  it  It  was  night  before  bn  •feitook 
the  ainj  at  lsfe^nu>«oiz; . 


ATMOKTmSAK^  SI 


BeaeArt  esrapfj  vith  Ktie  from  MoalraL  ehttjtt 

assMKt  him  for  oomduct  wiiaeli  frofJeJ  villi  hi* 

tar  dbbiMM^  ami  rapariir^  abuI  vIhtIi  vo«iU  Imiv 

horn  i»  meffined  i;£iKMiiHi%\  bat  itiai  ht$  mitittn  ami  vivdl 

£e  ami  acti%iiT«  «me  miiueii  ii>  pbc«  a$  a  bttnier 

iMM^ttv  :  aad  iiaiie»«  lo  vIkmii  the  deinK^  ^f 

lek  iaittMlf  uae<i|«fetl  id  the  fife^  vitbom  Aivokf  a 


that  Caaatii  mu^t  be  crrm  afK  be 
mtake  the  most  of  hb  f^wmiad  at  MoMreaL 
the  foods  ol  the  inhabiiaiics  anece  aranaed  far 


«a  &D»  piic<ii  viib  the  pramt^e^  of  payment  b v  cMncmei^  awi  tbtn 

ooT  io  Chambk-e^  vheie  Coloaet  Haaea 

lo  fara^id  them  lo  Sc  Jobtts^  aad  tbettte  br 

« 

HaAHk  a$  b  sftki.  relttsed  lo  meddle  with  iheaa 
focred  tKxn  the  ovnet^  aad  vbea  be  did  lake  them  ia 
■;.  Ml  ibem  eaL|M«aed  lo  iaiufy  and  plunder.     The  owncia 
in«w«$  Ol'  vbat  bad  been  taken.     i«en«al  AmoU 
ior  ieizinf  the  mewnandiie^  ^nd  be  acenscd  llmaen 
of  orders  ta  not  pre^errunjT  them  irvim  injiUT.     A 
Uaaen  «m$  the  c\Mi$ei)uence«  whitb  retiHcd  m  m* 
IT  of  AmoidV  aj:eoi.  vho  kid  remncd  ifae  cood% 
n^  iher  aik^iprd  a  pAity  cuoeemed.     The  general  ■iota 
^eoer  :o  the  oxirt.     Tbev  demanded  an  apok^iy.  vbidl 
ielii«<d.  in  a  kind  ol'  cnaliefife  to  the  individuab; 
jtpfmbed  lo  Gates,  then  in  c\^numiHJi.  but  be  abeoed 
dfetmKed  the  c\Hiit.  and    appointed   him  a»  the  com» 
laie  Aobiib  that  ants  to  opm?^  the  invuswin  of  CarteaiMi. 
TW  ciwart  beflof^  j^^wratinr.  ac^uined  Haxea  vith  honour,  tboa 
ocKWitf  Amoid  lor  the  setAuie  of  the  mefncbandKBe  aft 
piohabhr  ail  the  saibiietiion  tikai  ifae  onnua 


s  pferioQS  cioFader  had  l^pen  that  of  a  eooscMikMM 
k  is  pivbaSMe  toai  he  vo^  not  have  been  jndced 
axfeir :  lor  ieaef^  aie  e\nau  vaich  pfure  tkat  **  ba 
pmrasiaf''  ^  Mr.  Sparks  ^<<tsenre$.  **  any  secret  manowifm 
neaaoval  of  the  foods,  or  lor  rertioinf  them  ia  bb  o«m  po9* 
:**  jYt  OG  tne  oilh?r  lund.  de  veil  kneir^  that  by  the  artstka 
iu:nwd  IO  by  General  Moni4^M:Kry.  the  citiaeitt  nf 
arere  lo  be  5ecurevi  ;n  aii  irvtr  eA!V£s :  and  as  lo  the  plen 
^iM^  betitf  lor  rublick  service,  it  was  publirkly  knowm 
ocMr  articles  vere  seised  haie  needed   lor  iba 


h^d  bv  aider  of  congress  akni  commnni  of  the 


tfinj,  as  nentioiied.*  Scbnjler  gave  bis  efieetoal  ad  io  prepUBg 
tbe  DeccsasfT  defence  of  the  cuuDtiy,  akfaoagfa  sensible  of  tbe  in- 
justice  done  bim.  Arnold  repaired  to  Albanv  far  tbe  purpose  of 
giving  tbe  commander  in  tbe  nonbem  department  infannaiioB 
of  tbe  state  of  affairs  aAer  tbe  retreat  of  tbe  American  amnr; 
and  be  bad  scarcely  time  to  tell  his  tale  to  General  Scbovler,  as  ibe 
officer  entitled  to  bear  it,  before  Gai»  arri%'ed,  as  appointed  bead 
of  aflair?,  and  tbe  tale  had  to  be  retold  to  him.  ScbuTier  aecoBH 
panied  bis  succ^fiil  riral  to  Crovm  Point,  to  giire  bim  tbe  UHtrae- 
lion  and  information  tbe  service  required.  Arnold  venc  with 
uiem* 

It  was  after  General  Schuyler's  departure  to  prepare  km  tbe  d^ 
fimce  of  tbe  western  frontier  of  tbe  state,  that  tbe  decision  of  tba 
oonrt  martial  threw  censure  upon  Arnold,  and  tbe  dictatorial  op> 
ders  of  Gates  silenced  that  censure,  and  pbced  bim  as  admiral  sf 
ibe  flotilla,  which  was  prepared  and  preparing,  to  prevent  tbe  pn^ 
gnss  of  General  Carletoo. 

Bj  tbe  exertions  and  influence  of  Schuyler,  (ahbongfa  neeeasa- 
rily  absent  from  tbe  bke)  and  tbe  indefatigable  activity  of  Araoy* 
idm  extraordinary  man,  before  the  middle  of  August,  saw  Umaeif 
a  second  time  commander  of  a  flotilla,  upon  tbe  inland 
fer  so  many  years  was  tbe  hizb  road  for  hostile  armameflts  tn 
from  Canada.  He  now  bad  absolute  control  over  tbree  armed 
acboooers  carrying  25  guns,  a  sloop  mounting  12,  and  five  goado> 
las  with  tbree  guns  each. 

Gates  bad  ordered  the  commodore  general  lo  take  bis 
die  Isle  anx  tetes.  Tbe  order  stated,  ^^  that  as  the  present 
tions  were  designed  to  be  wholly  on  tbe  defensive,  tbe  bosiness  of 
tbe  fleet  was  to  prevent  or  repel  a  hostile  incursion ;  but  ool  to  r«n 
any  wanton  risks^  or  seek  an  encounter  within  the  enemy's  terri- 
tory/* Arnold  was  prohibited,  in  po«itive  terms,  not  to 
beyond  tbe  station  above  named — where  there  was  a  narrow 
in  the  lake  supposed  to  be  defeasible.  But  Carleton  not  only 
ated  a  stronger  naval  force  than  that  of  Arnold,  bit  had  ancidpaied 
hmi,  by  seinni;  this  pus,  and  occupying  tbe  iriland  and  botb  iboici 
of  tbe  lake  with  his  bnd  forces. 

Tins  deposition  of  the  enemy  was  seen,  on  tbe  arrival  of  tba 
Ameriean  fleet  at  Windmill  Point ;  and  there  Arnold  t<iok  his  sta* 
tion,  mooring  b»  vessels  in  a  line  across  tbe  lake.t  Thus  finding 
that  ho  was  exposed  to  annoyance  from  tbe  main  land— his  advei^ 


msojusmuMNT  on  lajke  cbamfuain.  6ft 

saiy  hariog  the  command  of  the  shores,  with  a  superiour  force— -hit 
letired  up  the  lake  eight  mile?*  cboo^iug  a  po3t  at  Isle-la-Motte,, 
more  favourable  for  opposition  to  Wis  adversary's  fleet,  and  out  of 
reach  from  the  land  forces.  The  men  of  whom  he  had  the  com- 
mand, were,  not  such  as  he  could  confide  in.  He  wrote  to  Gatesg 
September  21st,  a  letter,  which  I  find  in  the  Gates*  papers,  sayings 
**tbe  drafts  from  the  regiments  at  Ticonderoga  are  a  miserable  set. 
Indeed,  the  men  on  board  the  fleet  are  not  equal  to  half  their  num- 
ber of  good  men."  His  force  had  been  increased  since  leaving 
Crown  Point,  and  before  the  action  of  the  11th  of  Octob^r,  con- 
sisted of  three  schooners,  two  sloops,  three  galleys,  and  eight  gon- 
dolas. On  the  morning  of  that  day,  his  guard  boats  gave  notice 
that  the  enemy's  fleet  was  in  sight,  off  Cumberland  head,  moving 
up  the  lake.  A  ship  of  three  masts,  two  schooners,  a  radeau,  one 
gondola,  twenty  guu-boats«  four  long  boats,  and  forty-four  boats 
with  troops  and  provisions,  soon  made  their  appearance  in  formi- 
dable array.  The  armed  vessels  were  manned  by  chosen  seamea 
from  the  English  fleet,  which  had  arrived  in  the  St.  Lawrence  with 
powerful  reinforcements.  To  this  overwhelming  force,  Arnold  had 
to  oppose  men  who  were  inspired  with  courage  rather  derived  from 
their  opinion  of  him,  than  their  own  strength. 

Before  the  action  became  general,  the  Americana  lost  one  of 
their  schooners,  which  grounded,  and  was  destroyed  by  her  crewy 
who  saved  themselves.  The  largest  English  vessels  were  prevent*^ 
ed  from  coming  into  the  fight  at  first ;  but  one  schooner  nnd  all 
their  gun-boats  kept  up  a  cannonade  with  grape  and  round  shot, 
within  musket  fire  of  the  American  line,  from  half  past  twelve  to 
five  o'clock,  when  they  were  forced  to  retire.  During  this  en* 
gagement,  Arnold,  in  the  Congress  galley,  was  exposed  to  the  se- 
verest fire  of  the  enemy.  Deficient  in  gunners,  he  pointed  the 
guns  of  his  vessel  himself,  and  by  his  example  encouraged  his  men 
to  persist  to  the  last,  although  his  galley  was  cut  to  pieces  by  the 
shot  of  the  enemy,  and  many  of  his  men  killed  and  wounded. 
The  Washington  galley  was  likewise  disabled  ;  one  of  the  gondo- 
las had  her  lieutenant  killed — her  captain  and  master  wotmded  $ 
another  lost  all  her  officers.*     During  the  fight,  the  English  had 


€zpe«ti  the  enemy.  To  etren Tthes  hhi  vesMlt,  which  were  too  low  to  repel  boerd- 
er%  be  landed  men  to  cut  iiMciLei;  Imt  they  were  attacked  and  boaten  off  tbo 
•hore  with  lost. 

*  I  derive  from  Geneml  Mor^^n  Lewis  the  name  of  Abraham  Nimham,  of 
Stockbrid^e,  who,  as  a  gallant  ^allor  and  soldier  wai  distinguished  on  this  occa- 
sion. This  man,  and  an  Aouiun  of  the  Mentank  tribe,  joined  Arnold  in  bis  petit- 
ons^  Canada  expedition.  Nimbam  was  a  sub  officer  at  the  time  of  this  naval  fight, 
and  wan  on  board  the  boat,  all  of  whose  officers  were  kiUed.  He  took  the  coip- 
mand,  managed  ber  with  skilkand  foaght  ber  nMmfuH^.  At  tbe  tM&e  o(  abandoii- 
ing  the  boats,  be  was  the  last  to  mn  aground ;  bat  laid  his  boat  so  i^  tp  pvolMt 


M  ENGAOBMByr  ON  LAKE  CHAMPLAIX. 

landed  a  body  of  llieir  Indians,  who  kept  up  a  6re  of  musketry 
upon  the  American  vessels.  Sixty  men  were  killed  or  wounded ; 
but  the  enemy  bad  been  repulsed. 

It  was  evident,  however,  that  the  fleet  could  not  withstand  the 
force  Carleton  could  bring  against  it ;  and  in  a  consultation  of  offi- 
cers, it  was  detennined  to  retire  to  Crown  Point,  and,  if  possible, 
not  risk  a  second  encounter.  The  British  commander,  knowing 
his  advantage,  brought  up  his  larger  vessels,  before  night,  within  a 
few  hundred  yards  of  ti.e  Americans,  stretching  his  line  in  such  a 
direction  as  be  thought  would  prevent  his  enemy  from  retiring  up 
the  lake  and  avoiding  his  attack  the  next  day.  But  the  night 
proved  uncommonly  dark  ;  and  Arnold,  by  a  skilful  movement, 
avoided  the  danger,  and  before  light,  had  removed  his  little  Heet 
at  least  ten  miles  from  the  enemy,  bringini^  up  the  rear  himself,  in 
his  crippled  galley.  At  Schuyler's  Island,  the  fleet  was  anchored 
to  repair  sails  and  stop  leaks.  Two  gondolas  were  abandoned  and 
sunk.  In  the  afternoon  they  hoisted  sail,  the  enemy  pursuing; 
but  both  fleets  were  nearly  becalmed.  Next  day,  Arnold  found  that 
Carleton  was  coming  up  with  his  gallies  and  four  of  his  gondolas, 
all  too  much  injured  to  sail  freely,  while  the  largest  vessels  of  the 
enemy  were  uninjured,  and  carried  a  press  of  sail.  The  Washings 
ton  galley  was  overhauled,  and  after  a  few  broadsides,  struck  her 
flag.  A  ship  of  14  guns,  and  a  schooner  of  14,  bore  up  and 
poured  their  fire  upon  the  Congress ;  but  Arnold,  for  four  hours, 
maintained  tlie  unequal  contest,  until  surrounded  by  seven  of  the 
enemy's  vessels,  he,  as  a  last  resource,  ran  his  galley  and  four  gon- 
dolas into  a  small  creek  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake,  ten  miles  from 
Crown  Point,  and,  as  soon  as  they  were  aground,  ordered  his  ma- 
riners to  wade  to  the  shore  with  their  muskets,  and  keep  oflT  the 
enemy's  small  boats.  He,  ever  the  last  man  in  a  retreat,  remained 
in  his  galley  until  the  flames  had  made  such  progress  that  they 
could  not  be  extinguished ;  then,  on  the  shore  he  maintained  his 
attitude  of  defence  until  his  vessels  were  consumed  with  tlieir  flags 
flying.  This  accomplished,  he  led  his  little  band  through  the 
woods  to  Crown  Point. 

With  defeat,  the  reputation  of  Arnold  was  increased  ;  every  de- 
fect of  his  character  was  lost  sight  of,  owing  to  the  brilliancy  which 
was  shed  around  him  by  hii  daring  and  his  military  conduct.  Men 
estimate  that  courage  which  protects  them  from  harm,  (even  though 
it  should  proceed  from  insensibility  to  danger)  at  a  higher  value 


olhen  aiid  afuioj  the  enemy.  When  neceimy,  he  swam  aibore.  and  joined  in 
'•▼ery  p«nl  and  every  exertion.  ThiM  gal.ant  man  wbj«  snbMqnenUy  killed  near 
White  Ptaina.  He  bad  with  a  nartj  been  i>eDt  to  hover  near  the  firitiitb  linea, 
when  ibej  were  aet  apon  bj  a  larfe  party  of  finakirk's  and  l>«lane«y'a  maa,  aad 
Mtin   ' 


SCBim.Bm*S  XXKETIOICS.  M 


2AS  hofie9>iT«  armpuloits  anentioa  to  truth,  deference  to  the  rifrfats 
«?"  c*rher*,  or  any  of  llie  virtue?  on  which  the  happine^  of  society 
6f?et)cl>.  The  nuMml  court^re  of  the  iirLte  and  irnod  never  dazzk» 
— It  i»  appreciated  hv  tlie  few^  and  is  unnoticed  by  the  mass  of 
Qiakind. 

AmolJ  hsd  k^i  the  naral  protection  of  the  lake — he  had  sacri- 
ired  near  a  hundred  Americans  who  were  either  killed  or  wound^ 
ec.  Tlje  enemv  owned  a  lo^s  of  about  half  the  number.  The 
liia  wa»  alro^retber  with  Carieton,  who  now  commanded  this  hiiHi 
:«ad  into  the  hemrt  of  liiC  country.  But  Arnold  gained  rather  thao 
kkst  irmitaitioo,  bv  the  e^-ent ;  and*  as  a  roilitar\*  leader,  be  desen*ed 
sie  admiFaiioo  his  actions  produced,  while  he  ap|ieared  to  exeit 
^  pc»wer$  for  the  defence  of  bis  country*  &xhq  motives  that  were 
wrin  of  all  pm^. 

This  destruction  of  the  naval  armament  of  Lake  Champhin,  and 
tbe  threaieoed  attack  upon  Ticonderoj^i,  again  cmlled  forth  all  the 
eDB&ies  of  Schu\ler,  who  forwarded  reinforcements  and  endet* 
mored  to  cuard  the  country  by  its  militia  ;  but  this  last  species  of 
ivre  w«s  soch  to  him  as  the  coromarMler-in-chief  bad  found  it,  **  m 
broken  reed,*^  refractor}',  insubordinate  in  all  tbin^ :  they  would 
wtsAer  march  nor  work,  when  ordered.  But  a  sufficient  show  of 
ty^iuftkion  w»s  made,  to  induce  the  British  general  to  defer  his  ai-> 
Tx^  OQ  Ticooderoga ;  and,  as  the  winter  was  approaching,  (to 
nvid  being  frozen  in  the  like,  where  he  would  be  certain  of  de-> 
firactioD  from  surrounding  enemies)  be  prudently  returned  to 
Cmada.  and  relieved  the  good  people  of  New  York  from  their  fears 
ibr  the  prciseot.  Btn  the  exertions  of  Schuyler  and  Arnold  pre- 
vraaed  tbe  co-oper«tioo  of  Carleton  with  Howe. 


66  «niiAV  AOTrTf.fi«nWi 


CHAPTER  V. 

Emglund  hn/s  foreign  troops  to  help  to  svhimt  America — tier  army 
repain  from  Boston  to  HfJ'fox — Affer  bang  re-^mforctd^  the 
army  lands  on  Suiten  Island — T/te  troops  of  Washington — Bat- 
tU  ^  Brooklyn^  and  retreat  from  Long  Island. 

1776         While  Schuyler  and  Arnold  were  contending  with  the 
powers  of  Great  Britain  in  the  north  and  wesi,  Washingtoo 
was  engaged  at  New  York  with  that  mighty  nation,  wad  ber  pur- 
diased  foreign  hordes,  from  Germany. 

A  little  book  published  by  Ithiel  Town.  Esq.,  of  New  HaTen* 
written  by  an  EnglUh  naral  captain,  who  made  one  in  the  fleet  wUcb 
brought  General  De  Heister  and  his  army  of  Germatis  to  tbiscoyn- 
try,  gives  the  only  accoimt  of  the  fleets.  The  fleet  and  army  of 
England  mwaiied  at  Halifax  a  reinforcement ;  while  Sir  H.  Ciis- 
too  finding  New  York  too  strong,  and  Lee  already  there,  sailed  to 
Cbarieston,  South  Carolina,  where  he  again  found  Lee ;  and  after 
being  beaten  off  by  Moultrie,  was  in  time  to  join  Sir  WilliafD 
Howe  and  his  army  at  Staten  Island.  There  he  refreshed  has 
troops  and  made  preparatioo  for  attacking  New  York,  awaiting  die 
fleet  of  Lord  Howe.* 


*  Ob  tiw  14tli  of  April,  General  Waihnigton  bad  arrired  at  New  Tefk.  fiaai 
Boaton,  after  driTing  the  Britiab  from  tliat  towo.  Tbe  armj  were  on  tbcir  mank 
fyr  New  York.  General  Wathington  lelt  that  place  by  order  of  Congmaa  It  oba- 
•nlt  tbem  in  Fhiladelpbia ;  and  Patnam.  a«  betiif  tbe  oldeat  major  ga—gai,  waa, 
daring  b»  abaence.  left  in  coinmand.  Before  ^oinj^.  be  reqnired  the  eoaaiOM  of 
aaAstj  to  probibit  all  pervoni  from  conunanicaunf  witb  tbe  kind's  tkipa  in  tka  h»- 
boor.  as  being  injnnoas  to  tbe  American  interest,  and  as  tbe  cdj  waa  placud  in  a 
state  of  defence,  not  reqoired  by  any  pmdential  considerations.  Tbe  caMmiBBa 
aeeofdinglj  issued  tbeir  decree  of  probibition,  onder  penalty  of  being  eo«ider«d 
and  treated  as  enemies  to  tbe  coantry.  Among  tbe  troops  at  tbis  time  in  New 
York,  was  Captain  Alexander  Hamilton's  company  of  artillery.  Tba  wbila  amj 
at  New  York,  m  April,  wa«  bat  lU;2.{a  men. 

In  Jane,  sooie  of  tbe  continental  soldieri,  by  tbeir  riotous  tteharibvr,  dnw  IbrA 
a  repriaaand  from  tbe  general.  Tbe  king's  snips  were  removed  firom  the  hmtenr 
to  Sandy  Hook,  about  tbe  last  of  April.  Tbe  17tb  of  May  wm  obaerred,  hf  wiar 
of  Congress,  as  a  day  of  lasting,  biimiliation,  and  prayer.  On  the  I6lb  of  Manr, 
Gates  was  promoted  to  be  a  major-general ;  and  on  tbe'l9lb.  by  direction  W  Waiih 
iBgton,  went  on  to  Congress,  witb  bigb  recommendations  from  btm  to  llMir  *'noliBa 
and  fiiTOors.**  But  Congress,  wisbing  tbe  presence  of  tbe  coanaandcr^B-ckieC  ba 
laA  New  York  on  tba  21st,  under  tbe  command  of  Putnam,  witb 
Gun.  Gfuana    diowiig  that  Waduogtoa  dnly 


STATS  OF  AMSftlCAN  ABMT.  VI 

Gen.  Howe  bad  be^n  joined  bj  Governonr  Tryon,  and  mtny 

pntlecneD  from  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  who  encouraged  bim 

with  the  hope  that  great  number.^  would  gather  in  arms  round  his 

standard.     He  appointed  Mr.  Delancey«  of  New  York,  and  Mr. 

Cortland  Skinner,  of  Perth  Amboy,  generals  of  brigade ;  and  ex* 

pected  from  their  influence  a  great  accession  of  toriea  to  his  Eng* 

llsh  army.     In  the  mean  time.  Gen.  Washington  made  erery  dis* 

posttuNi  in  bis  power  with  his  motley,  undisciplined,  and  refractory 

troops,  to  meet  this  great  and  well  appointed  army.    Gen.  Mercer* 

with  what  was  called  the  flpng  camp,  was  stationed  at  Perth  Am* 

boy,  divided  by  a  narrow  channel  finom  the  enemy,  whose  sentinels 

were  full  in  riew. 

The  first  troops  that  came  to  defend  New  York,  were  ea9»> 
tern     of  whom  Graydon*  gives  this  description  : 

**  The  materials  of  which  the  eastern  battalions  were  com- 
posed, were  apparently  the  same  as  those  of  which  I  had  seen  so 
oapromising  a  specimen  at  Lake  George.t  I  speak  particularly  of 
the  officers,  who  were  in'  no  single  respect  distinguishable  from 
their  men,  other  than  in  the  coloured  cockades,  which,  for  this  very 
pinpose,  had  been  prescribed  in  general  orders — a  different  colour 
heiag  assigned  to  the  officers  of  each  grade.  So  far  from  aiming 
•t  a  deportment  which  might  raise  them  above  their  privates,  and 
Aete  prompt  them  to  due  respect  and  obedience  to  their  com* 
■ands,  the  object  was,  by  humility,  to  preserve  the  existing  bless- 
mf  of  equality*— an  illustrious  instance  of  which  was  given  by  Co* 
ioMi  Putnam,  the  chief-engineer  of  the  army,  and  no  less  a  per* 
ssnage  than  the  nephew  of  the  major-general  of  that  name.— « 
*  Whit,'  says  a  person  meeting  him  one  day  with  a  piece  of  meat 
ia  his  hand,  '  carrying  home  your  rations  yourself,  colonel  !' 
'  Yes,'  says  be,  *  and  I  do  it  to  set  the  officers  a  good  example.' 
But  if  any  aristocratick  tendencies  had  been  really  discovered  by 
Iha  eolouel  among  his  countr}'men,  requiring  tliis  wholesome  ex* 
aapk,  they  must  have  been  of  recent  origin,  and  the  effect  of 
sauthem  contamination,  since  I  have  been  credibly  informed,  that 
h  was  BO  unusual  thing  in  the  army  before  Boston,  for  a  colonel  to 
drummers  and  fifers  of  his  sons— thereby,  not  only  being  en* 


m»  ■       ■  I'll 


bttd  dirtetioiit  in  e«M  of  tke  appear&ncn  of  the  eQeoiT  to  ftmrmrd  exprsiv- 
aM  «fNMd  m  PkiitJaiphM.    Oa  tiit  3d  of  Jane,  h«  dirtc^ed  Puumid  to  in* 
•jM  for  e&rpaatars  aai  mitMiab  for  foadolat  aai  tiro  n'b  for  the  defence  of 
■«w  Yofk-    Oa  the  7th  of  Jane,  the  com  mviier  iiKhief  was  afain  in  New  York, 
dcknjWr  was  directed  to  engage  %QO0  ladiane  for  the  »enrice.  bnt  Ihand 
iBoei  eniearoart  nteiwary  to  prevent  them  from  joining  the  CngUeh.    He 
mwd  to  get  tiwin  to  a  eoanciU  to  meet  him  at  German  Flats,  aiKl  nuke  treaty 
kkm-    AU  thf  ■eaenree  9f  9chajler  wars  counteracted  bj  9*f  Xalui  JohMO». 
*  "  If  onioirB  of  a  Life,  ehiafljr  peved  in  Pennt7lTania.*'--p.  130. 
t  TnL  I  p.  480.    Grajdoa,  p.  197. 

WQtm  tU  8 


H^  raw  E^GI.A.NS  TBOOPS. 

nirtKraiitv  rhf   '■fvi-rr.i*'  -it*   *"k   :;i:v.    •"  '•:".p?;t.      I.t  -:'or*.     •  3:ir.t>ar»7'i 

piMf*  of  *fjR  nr-r-.r.  T'iP '/•■  ■  ^':  *-' '■  ■-.  i  r'Vf.iier'  ■  "u"-  -t?^'^.  :•:> 
ttifv  !riis»*»':j.r •-   ''on^-i ::;''-.■:  ■".:.   ■;-    ••  ■  .  ^-^t  Lrj":::-:.  "^  1?^  r.::r  re- 

rjf*  <.:n  .-,.  rii-  i-    '■  !.-  ' ',r>'  :    '        '.  '     -■■-  -•*r:-.;»^'.  ".■■     il"'-        iXr-:  ^ 'h 

Tliri'i/'.  r>r,'  .^---ji.  ;>■-.•.!■•''-  :-  -I-.  -  .  .:  ij— -f-:— t^i:  a:":  i;  -.:5 :«=:::  3Zr 
li?ri''if-r  lirj**  <;,p  ;»']'-:iO'*-  (/'.'.:»  .':><.'  .'.'•".  I:."!-:  r*! • "  1  '  "rjrl':'^r:'*e  Trci 

fjiii  ^'v*•*■J  i!.  Til;--  f'-'/.M,*- -t  ?  i'-rr-  "  •^'■■.-r  3.  :.:  r:".:-»-r  !•:"  nt^iTrie^.  ^T:-!:.-. 
(/J  p^T-^ons  iirjarr  li-Torj-.^rl  -tj  .  ./^  ^.  a--of -o-ior*.  /.a,-;  a  iii.-ajreeaL.e, 
Arirr^fi\r}'/ ffl'i-'.fi  ....  TjikiniT  Tij^  am.}'  in  the  a^rreiia^e,  » iTh  hi 
^.r|iiipiripnf.<  aUiM.jr  wl^h  it,  he  m'*''T  rip.vp  ri»-<»rj  a  rjovji-e  or  a  ft^nz^zir.t 
raIri,!^tor,  w  fio  '"oijlri  ^'ippo^e  ii  caj»a^:«=-  of  '=\-Trtir":r!:j  the  ioftr 
!/*»!*•  flriH  \*Tfr-il  fn^T/\  of  rorjiTe-as.      I:"s  p^»ini  ot"  n:^r.".ber«  EDertlv. 

0  1  m 

if  wa*  flr-rifii-nt  ;  tiioiij-n  a  (an  U\pn  iJTLle  kn«-«n  or  Tiu.«pec!ed. 
NVw-<p:i|H-r<  ami  romrnon  rf-iiorl,  ind^t^'l.  m^fje  it  imrrensely  nu- 
rnrroij;*  ;  anrl  if  wn.-  r^-or*:*f-tjreii  ihar  ^»en»*nil  W  a.^hinsroa  had  50 
ifianv  rrirn.  fliaf  \\f  wanTfd  r.o  more,  and  had  a'^TJialir  *enT  irfinr 
)t/jrri>-,  a<  'iijir-rfiuoija.  It  i-  ir\i*i.  ihere  were  men  enoujn  comlnff 
and  i-'oin/  ;  \  *-f  iii^  j.-T»pr-  of  f hat  d^v,  dfrmon-a^re  hovr  tniiv  veak 
h#*  w»^,  in  <ff:«d\,  [K:rrnan';nt  -oldier-." 

Ciriirral  W;4*hIri;:»ori,  in  a  Iftffr  of  10th  Julv.  1776.  in  the  pre- 
n\f\rrit  of  rori^rr^-*,  <a\*,  that  th^*  hattal:ori«  of  tf.e  ConnecticL!  miii- 
fia  will  \>*'  wry  iriffimpU'ff:.  and  that  r/„if  -oiemnieni  had  ordered 
thff*'  rr^'irn^Tif*  of  fh'fir  li.'hthor?'*?  to  hi*  a.-^iMance  :  bin  not  havis? 
thr  irieaiM  Co  -iifiporf  ravalry,  hf  inforrnfrd  the  gentlemen  thai  fce 
roiild  ntii  rofHf-nl  to  k«'*rji  ih^'lr  hor?»es,  but  wished  '•  themselves"' 
to  rrmain*  It  apfif^aM  thai  while  the  generality  of  the  troop^s  were 
rw\»\oyt^\  with  tin*  {■[)ad«>  and  pickaxe,  and  the  fine  re:nnient»  from 
lVnii«vlvaiiia  w(»re  dailv  al  uork  fortifvin^the  banks  of  Haerlero  and 
Iludiioii  rivf-r*,  iheM*  hiirhrninded  "  Connecticut  li?hthor«e/*  15 
th^  rommaiidpr-ifF-f-hief  «ay!>,  **  notwith^tandins:  their  promise*'  to 
rofiliniir  for  the  dcfcnrp  of  .New  York,  were  discharged,  **  hirine: 
prr^in|itorii)'  rpfii«fd  all   kind  of  fati::ue  duty,  or  e\en   to  mount 

Sianli  rlaiminc;  an  f*xemplir>n  a^^  tmoper*.'^  Of  thei^e  cavaliei?, 
rajrdon  luiyp*— ".Vinon::  the  military  phenomena  of  this  campai^-D, 
llw  Connerliriii  li:;lilhnr.M;  011  ^iht  not  to  be  forsrotten.  These  cod* 
nlMJ  of  t  ronwiiterable  number  of  old-fa.'*hionpd  men.  probabij 
ftnMfV  tmi  hetil*  of  families,  as  thev  were  ^renerallv  middle-a^ed, 
moy  of  llirm  apparently  beyond  the  meridian  of  life.     Tbej 


*  Ph^iw. 


GENERAL  MIFFLIN.  59 

were  truly  irregulars;  and  whether  their  clothing,  their  equipments, 
or  caparisons  were  regarded,  it  would  have  been  difficult  to  have 
discovered  any  circumstance  of  uniformity ;  though  in  the  features 
derived  from  *  local  habitation,'  they  were  one  and  the  same.  In- 
stead of  carbines  and  sabres,  they  generally  carried  fowling-pieces 
— some  of  them  very  long,  and  such  as  in  Pennsylvania  are  used 
for  shooting  ducks.  Here  and  there,  one  appeared  in  a  dingy 
regimental  of  scarlet,  with  a  triangular,  tarnished,  laced  hat. 
In  short,  so  little  were  they  like  modem  soldiers,  in  air  or 
costume,  that,  dropping  the  necessary  number  of  years,  they 
might  have  been  supposed  the  identical  men  who  had  in  pait 
composed  Pepperil's  army,  at  the  taking  of  Louisbourg.  Their 
order  of  march  corresponded  with  their  other  irregularities.  It 
*  spindled  into  longitude  immense,'  presenting  so  extended  and 
ill-compacted  a  flank,  as  though  they  had  disdained  the  adventi- 
tious prowess  derived  from  concentration.  These  singular  dra- 
goons were  volunteers,  who  came  to  make  a  tender  of  their  services 
to  the  commander-in-chief.  But  they  staid  not  long  at  New  York. 
As  such  a  body  of  cavalry  had  not  been  counted  upon,  there  was 
in  all  probability  a  want  of  forage  for  their  jades,  which,  in  the  spirit 
of  ancient  knighthood,  they  absolutely  refused  to  descend  from  ; 
and  as  the  general  had  no  use  for  cavaliers  in  his  insular  operations, 
they  were  forthwith  dismissed  with  suitable  acknowledgments  for 
their  truly  chivalrous  ardour.  These  gallant  troopers  performed 
one  exploit  in  the  city.  They  paraded  at  the  corner  of  Wall  and 
Queen  streets,  where  Rivington's  printing-office  and  dwelling-house 
stood,  and  entering  the  house,  demolished  the  presses,  and  threw 
the  type  out  of  the  windows,  to  be  distributed  by  the  mob  who 
gathered  in  the  streets." 

Mifflin,  who  had  passed  on  with  Washington  to  Cambridge,  as 
his  aid,  was  now  a  brigadier,  and  commanded  the  Philadelphia  re- 
giments who  threw  up  the  works  at  fort  Washington.  Governour 
Lewis,*  who  was  with  Gates,  as  one  of  his  staff,  was  sent  by  him  to 
the  south,  and  told  to  go  to  Mifflin  and  see  him  at  his  house,  in 
Reading  ;  but  at  all  events  to  see  him.  He  found  him  on  horse- 
back, directing  the  labourers ;  and  the  young  man,  having  told  his 
story,  was  desired  to  say  to  Gates,  ''  neither  Plutus,  Rhodoman- 


*  Verbal  communication  from  Governour  Lewis  to  the  writer  To  avoid  mia- 
apprehension  on  the  part  of  the  reader,  it  may  be  proper  to  note,  that  when  Go- 
vernour or  General  Lewis  ia  referred  to,  the  venerable  Morgan  Lewis  is  intended, 
who  was  an  officer  during  the  revolution — subsequently  Judge — then  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  the  Supreme  CN)urt  of  New  York — then  Governour  or  the  State,  (chosen 
in  a  hard  contested  election,  but  by  a  great  majority,  in  opposition  to  Aaron  Burr, 
in  1304)  and  finally  a  Major  General  in  the  army  of  the  United  States,  during  the 
last  war. 


drasv  nor  Mioos,  shaD  be  more  ezactlj  obejed,  dm  I  tbaH  obey 
hk  directioiis." 

"  Wiil  not  TOOT  exceDencT  write  a  line  f** 

^  No.  Write  doiTD  mj  words  Tounelff  and  delirer  tbeaa  ex* 
medyr 

^  I  did  so,**  saj*  GorerDoor  Lewis, "  witboot  aoderstaodinf  diesv 
trntfl  Mifflin  was  Qoarter-master  General ;  and  I  dined  at  Kcadiae, 
wbere  be  staid,  under  plea  of  sickness,  entertaioin]^  tbe  general  oA* 
cers  in  a  stvle  which  I  nerer  saw  equalled ;  and  then  saw  tbe  road 
to  Washington's  camp  (where  the  troops  were  literallj  starriag,) 
strewed  with  broken  wt^ons,  provision,  and  clotbine**^ 

When  Congre»  proroalgaUMi  the  Declaration  of  Independeacev 
it  was  of  coorse  read  to  the  soldiers.  The  declaratioo 
pected,  and  not  so  onirersallj  received  with  appbose  as  c 
ceired.  Dickenson,  tbe  cbainnan  of  the  comminee,  and  soppoaed 
author  of  tbe  Articles  of  Confederation,  and  known  aotbor  of  the 
£iinoos  Farmer^s  Letters,  refbsed  to  sign  the  declaration  of  tbe  4ih 
of  Julr.  Alibougfa  wise  and  good  men  thoagfat  it  neceaaarT* 
manj  who  bad  been  officers  and  active  committae-men,  irom  tte 
moment  became  toriea  or  neotraL 

Tbe  writer  saw  Heathcote  Johnson,  tbe  grandson  of  that  Caleb 
Heathcote,  before  mentioned,  receive  tbe  command  of  tbe  ? 
Jersev  coropanr,  first  organized  at  Perth  Ambojr,  and  anee 
seen  the  draft  made  bv  him  for  immediate  service.     Yet  this 
tieman  took  office  under  the  British  government,  in  LoiKioa. 

Gravdon,  in  his  *•  Memoir  of  a  Life,*'*  savs : — ^^  Tbe 
ration  of  Independence,  whose  date  will  never  be  forgoctea  ao 
long  as  libertj  remains  the  fashion,  and  demagogues  contniaa 
to  thrive  upon  it,  was,  with  the  utmost  speed,  transmitted  to 
the  armies ;  and  when  received,  read  to  the  respective  rcgiiiicatk 
If  it  was  not  embraced  with  all  the  enthusiasm  that  has  bees  aa» 
cribed  to  the  event,  it  was  at  least  hailed  frith  accbmatioDs,  as  m 
doubt  anv  other  act  ol'  congress,  not  fiagrantlv  improper,  would  at 
that  time  have  been.  The  propriet  j  of  the  meastire  l»d  bees  fiole 
canva:ssed  among  us ;  and  perhaps  it  was  to  our  honour,  considiied 
merely  as  soldiers,  that  we  were  so  little  of  poUtictana.  A  predi* 
lection  for  repubticanism,  it  is  tnie,  bad  not  reached  the  annjr,  at 
least  the  Penn^jkania  line  ;  but  as  an  attempt  to  negociate  in  oar 
iroorganized  situatioo,  would  probably  have  divided  and  ruined  OBy 
the  step  was  considered  wi«e,  although  a  passage  of  the  BobicoB, 
and  calcuhted  to  close  the  door  to  accommodation.  Being  looked 
upon  as  imavoidable,  if  resistance  was  to  be  persisted  in,  it  was  ap» 
pffOfcd ;  and  produced  no  resignatioiis  among  tbe  officers  that  I 


*  PlifB  140L 


tsocBXOcras  o:t  uoato  island.  61 

titmre  oC  except  that  of  Lientenant-colonel  Williaiii  Allen, 
who  was  iritb  his  regiment  io  Canada.  He  called  at  our  camp  on 
hb  way  to  PhUadelphia«  where  he  appeared  somewhat  surprised 
and  mortified,  that  his  example  had  no  followers.** 

Congress  had  determined  to  save  New  York  citj.  The  council 
of  general  oflkers  resolved  t  at  New  York  should  be  defended. 
Ob  the  22d  of  August,  tlie  British  armj  landed  at  Gra?esend.* 
Bffookhrn  was  then  a  village,  leading  to  the  ferry  between  Long 
Island  and  New  York.  The  American  lines  and  encaroproentv 
which  guarded  this  avenue  to  the  city,  extended  fron)  Gowanua 
Creek  to  the  Wallabout,  from  water  to  water,  or  the  high  grounds 
comnnnding  each. 

The  hills  were  at  that  time  wooded,  and  extended  from  near 
Teilov  Hook  to  tlie  back  of  Jamaica.  These  were  guarded,  and 
especially  the  roads,  which  led  to  the  encampment.  Tlie  whole 
was  entniiteJ  to  General  Greene,  who  had  formed  the  defences. 
Ai  that  time  he  was  ill,  and  con6ned  to  his  bed  by  a  violent  fever. 
Gcaeral  Washington,  who  expected  a  simuluneous  attack  on 
Bfooklyn  and  the  cityt  sent  Putnam,  his  only  resource,  to  cooi* 
■and  on  Long  Island ;  wlio,  as  Sullivan  says,  superseded  him  four 
Ays  beiore  the  baule — he  having  previously  the  command  at  the 
hiUs,  and  never  himself  came  beyond  the  encampment  to  aee  the 


On  the  2-Sth  the  commander-in-chief  wrote  to  Majorgeneral 
Pmuud  :  that  it  was  with  no  small  degree  of  concern  that 
he  perceived  yesterday  a  scattering,  unmeaning,  and  wasteful  fire, 
our  people  at  tiie  enemy.  No  one  good  consequence  can 
such  irregularities,  but  se%*eral  bad  ones  will  inevitably  fot* 
bw.  He  says,  fear  prevents  deserters  approaching,  and  mentions 
evils,  which  must  forever  continue  to  operate,  wliilst  every 
ooAsiders  hiouelf  at  liberty  to  fire  when,  and  at  what,  be 


Mr.  W—d  hu  Jitiin  ••  llwt  m  tbe  WTCBteeBth  ceatarr,  tbe  iakikiluili  cf 

itm  boA  mmetun  of  tbe  libertieis  uid  rights  of  EiiftMboieB :  bat  hm 

tbe  ■tcieiiity  whkb  tbe  conduct  of  muij  imposed  upon  tb^  ^^^  ^ 

itsrf— of  •eBdioa  GenertI  Heard,  witb  tbe  New  Jenej  mfclk, 

I  eneoMee  to  tbe  freedom  of  Ameiicm. 

Tnm  dw  rerr  important  tables  of  Mr.  Wood.  I  extract  noticee  oftbe  popnhtioa 

«r  l0^  Iilna,  at  diflerent  periodt.    In  1731.  it  was  17.r«i0.    In  1771—97.731. 

In  17b6«-s»35X     b   179(^-d64M9.    In  ldU0-4i,167.    In  ISIO— 18,7&1.    In 

I  01    "ifi.TrO      la  1776,  tbe  popnlaiion  of  tbe  west  end  was  tory. 

TW  Mpolation  nf  Lon^  iMand.  compared  to  tbat  of  tbe  cirr  of  New  Tork.  wm, 
m  irn.  two  to  OM ;  tbe  inland  baving  17.SA,  and  tbe  city  d,eid;  bnt  in  1610,  it 
VMfVvntnnd;  dM  citjr  bad  »6.37d.  and  tbe  isUnd 4^7&t 

Tbe  ptwportioB  of  popalation  of  Long  IsUand  to  tbe  province  and  state  of  New 
Tetfc.  at  diierent  pehods,  stands  tbns.  In  17;il,  it  was  one  to  tbree.  In  1771— > 
aM  »  mm.  In  17^  one  to  seren.  In  179D— one  to  nine.  In  idOO— one  to  foni^ 
In  ldIO—«iM  to  nineteen.     In  IdJO— one  to  twenty-four.    Tbns  itsrelativo 

oaetbod  m     ' 


92     '  HATHAKISL  WOODHUIX. 

pleases.  He  instructs  him  in  the  mode  of  placing  his  griirds-  and 
appointini:  the  duty  of  ins  brigadierf^  and  field  ollicer^  He  com- 
plains of  the  men  buniin«r  and  plundering  houses.  He  directs 
that  the  wood  next  to  Red  Hook  shouKi  be  well  attended  to. 

On  tlie  :fGth  Washington  was  at  the  lines  on  Long  Island,  and 
returned  to  the  citv  in  the  eveninsr. 

In  the  meantimet  on  the  2oth  of  Auinist.  or  soon  after  landing, 
Woodhull,  actins:  as  general  of  miiitja,  approaching  the  south- 
west end  of  the  island  to  drive  off  the  horses  and  cattle<»  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemv.  He  was  so  barbaronslv  treated^  after 
surrender,  that  he  died  of  his  wounds  shortiv  afterward. 

Nathaniel  Woodhull  was  horn  at  Mislic.  Long  Island.  Decem- 
ber 30th,  1722.  He  was,  in  early  life,  a  colonel  in  the  provincial 
armv  under  both  Abercrombie,  and  Amlierst.  He  was  the  coad- 
jutor  of  Schuyler  and  Clinton,  in  the  New  York  Proiincial  Con- 
gress. He  was  early  in  the  revolutiouar}*  war  appointed  a  Gene- 
ral, and  ordered  by  the  convention  of  New  York  to  secure  all  the 
catde  on  the  west  end  of  the  island,  and  drive  to  the  north  and  the 
east.  With  the  aid  of  his  brigade  of  militia  he  remained  near 
Jamaica  with  from  seventy  to  one  hundred  militia ;  and  not  be'm; 
joined  by  more,  nor  receivini:  orders  from  the  convention,  be  re- 
mained at  his  post  until  the  2Sth  August,  when  he  ordered  tbe  few 
men  who  were  with  him  to  retreat.  He  slow  ly  followed,  until  he 
was  made  prisoner  by  a  party  of  the  enemy.  He  immediatelT  sur- 
rendered his  sword  to  the  officer  in  conunand. 

*^  The  ruffian  who  first  approached  him,*  (said  to  be  a  Major 
Baird,  of  the  71st)  ordered  -him  to  say  God  fare  ike  Ai»g; 
tbe  General  replied,  "''  God  save  us  all  ;*'  on  which  be  most 
cowardiv  and  cruellv  assailed  the  defenceless  General  with  his 
broad  sword,  and  would  have  killed  him  u}>on  the  spot  if  be  bad 
not  been  prevented  by  the  interference  of  an  officer  of  more  bonour 
and  humanity.  The  General  was  badly  wounded  in  the  bead,  and 
one  of  bis  arms  was  man£:led  from  the  shoulder  to  the  wrist.  He 
was  taken  to  Jamaica,  where  his  wounds  were  dressed,  and,  with 
other  prisoners,  was  confined  there  till  the  next  day.  He  was  then 
conveyed  to  Gravesend.  and  with  about  eiirhty  other  piisooets,  (of 
which  number  Colonel  Robert  Troup,  of  New  York,  was  one,)  was 
confined  on  board  a  vessel  which  had  been  employed  to  transpoit 
bve  stock  for  the  use  of  the  armv,  and  was  without  accororooda- 
tions  for  health  or  comfort.  Tbe  General  was  released  from  the 
vessel  on  the  remonstrance  of  an  officer  who  bad  more  hamanitj 
than  his  superiours,  and  removed  to  a  house  near  the  church  in 


*  I  qmo%»  tbe  woidi  of  Mr.  TboBpcon,  m  kb  H'toiy  of  Loaf  Iriiad,  Appf 
^  pp.  509,  510. 


NATHANIEL  WOODHXJLL.  6S 

New  Utrecht,  where  he  was  permitted  to  receive  some  attendance 
and  medical  assis^tance.  A  cut  in  the  joint  of  the  elbow  rendered 
an  amputation  of  the  arm  necessary.  As  soon  as  this  was  resolved 
on,  the  General  sent  for  his  wife,  \rtth  a  request  that  she  should 
bring;  with  her  all  the  money  she  had  in  her  possession,  and  all  she 
could  procure ;  which  being  complied  with,  he  had  it  distributed 
an  ong  the  American  prisoners,  to  alleviate  their  sufferings — thus 
furnishing  a  lesson  of  humanity  to  his  enemies,  and  closing  a  use- 
ful life  by  an  act  of  charity.  He  then  suffered  the  amputation, 
which  soon  issued  in  a  mortification,  which  terminated  his  life  Sep- 
tember 20th,  1776,  in  the  fifty-fourth  year  of  his  age. 

"  It  is  proper  here  to  state,  that  the  late  Chief  Justice  Marshall,  in 
the  Biography  of  Washington,  while  narrating  the  disposition  of 
the  American  forces  immediately  prior  to  the  batde  of  Long  Island, 
fought  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  August,  1776,  makes  the  fol- 
lowing remark  :  The  convejition,  of  New  York  had  ordered  Oeneral 
fVooJJitdl,  with  the  militia  of  Lons  Islaridy  to  take  post  on  the  high 
grovTtd  as  near  the  enemy  as  possible  ;  but  he  remained  at  Jamaica^ 
and  seemed  scarcely  to  suppose  himself  under  the  control  of  the  regit' 
lav  officer  commanding  on  the  island.^* 

A  letter  from  Chief  Justice  Marshall,  dated  February  21st, 
1834,  addressed  to  John  L.  Lawrence,  Esq.,  shows  the  origin  of 
his  mistake  and  mis-statement.     It  is  as  follows : 

"  Judge  Edwards  did  me  the  favour  to  deliver  yesterday 
evening  your  letter  of  the  13th,  with  the  documents  to  which  it 
refers.  It  is  to  me  matter  for  deep  concern  and  self-reproach  that 
the  Biographer  of  Washington  should,  from  whatever  cause,  have 
ipis-stated  the  part  performed  by  any  individual  in  the  war  of  our 
revolution.  Accuracy  of  detail  ought  to  have  been,  and  was, 
among  my  primary  objects.  If  in  any  instance  I  have  failed  to 
attain  this  object,  the  failure  is  the  more  lamented,  if  its  consequence 
be  the  imputation  q{  blame  where  praise  was  merited. 

"  The  evidence  with  which  you  have  furnished  me,  demonstrate 
that  the  small  body  of  militia  assembled  near  Jamaica,  Long  Island, 
in  August,  1776,  was  not  called  out  for  the  purpose  of  direct  co- 
operation with  the  troops  in  Brooklyn,  and  was  not  placed  by  the 
convention  under  the  officer  commanding  at  that  post.  It  is  appa* 
rent  that  their  particular  object,  after  the  British  had  landed  on 
Long  Island,  was,  to  intercept  the  supplies  they  might  draw  from 
the  country.  It  is  apparent,  also,  that  General  Woodhull  joined 
them  only  a  day  or  two  before  the  baule  ;  and  there  is  every  reason 
to  believe  that  he  executed  with  intelligence  and  vigour  the  duty 
confided  to  him.  I  had  supposed  that  the  order  to  march  to  the 
western  part  of  Queen's  County  directed  an  approach  to  the  enemy, 
and  that  the  heights  alluded  to,  were  between  Jamaica  and  Brook- 


M  BAxnc 

Ijm.  But  I  bare  not  the  papers  which  I  md  at  the  tinie  from  the 
publicatioas  then  in  mj  |io«se5«ioQ.  I  onlj  recoUert  the  impres- 
skw  tbej  made,  that  General  Woodholl  was  railed  into  the  6eki 
Smt  the  purpiHe  of  aidinj?  the  operadons  frofn  Brookhm ;  and  that 
General  Washington,  knowing  the  existence  of  this  corps,  had  a 
ri^  lo  count  upon  it  in  some  slight  degree,  as  guarding  the  road 
leading  from  Jamaira.  In  this  1  was  mistaken ;  and  in  this  the 
mistake  of  which  you  complain  originated. 

**  I  think,  however,  rou  misconstrue  it ;  no  aDusioe  is  made  to 
&e  namber  of  the  militia  under  his  command,  nor  to  anjr  jealoasj 
of  the  militarj  officer  commamfing  at  Brookhm  ;  nor  is  it  hinted 
that  the  conrentioa  had  placed  him  under  that  officer.  I  rather 
infer  that  it  appeared  to  me  lo  be  an  additional  example  of  the 
manj  inconveniences  arising,  in  the  earlj  part  of  the  war,  frcMO  the 
disposition  of  the  civil  authorities  to  manage  aflhira  hrionging  la 
the  military  departmeoc 

**  I  arish  much  that  I  had  possessed  the  infermatioo  yon  have 
now  given  me.  The  whole  statement  woidd  most  probably  have 
been  omitted,  the  Gict  not  bein;  connected  with  the  battle  ;  or,  if 
introduced,  have  been  essentially  varied." 

The  army  of  General  Howe  spread  fner  the  flat  cooatrj.  The 
Germans,  with  De  Heisier,  advanced  to  beyond  Flatboah,  and  aa 
English  column  was  poshed  on  the  Bedford  road.  General  Graal 
advanced  by  the  lower  road  along  the  bay.  The  main  army,  onder 
CKntott,  Percy  and  Hoare,  marched  back,  or  aootb-west  of  Ja- 
maica, and  imopposed  gained  the  interval  between  the  hiDs  and  ths 
American  fines. 

The  letter  of  Lord  Stirling  to  General  WashingttMi,  on  tlia  fiMi  af 
Atigust,teUstbe  event  until  be  surrendered.  Thb  gentleman riaiswd 
to  inherit  thedignity  of  an  earl,  from  the  circumstance  that  his  felhsr^s 
eoosin,  who  was  Earl  of  Stirling,  died  arithoiK  male  issne.  Ge» 
neral  Lord  Stirling  was  m  early  life  knoam  as  Mr.  WiUiam  AIsb* 
ander,  and  served  as  an  officer  io  the  war  of  175d.  Is  177ft» 
be  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  first  cotjoeniai 
that  aras  raised  in  New  Jersey,  and  had  the  dislioction  of 
isg  ooe  of  the  first  votes  of  thanks  granted  by  luiiguM  It 
for  the  successful  results  of  a  daring  enterprise  preceded  bj 
and  accomplished  by  his  embarking  with  a  dctachmenc  of  his 
regiment  from  Elisabethtown,  and  proceeding  in  three  anml  o^ 
armed  vcawls  to  the  outside  of  SuMiy  Hook,  (while  tfaa  Asia 
aaui-oPwar,  with  her  lender,  by  in  the  hay  of  New  Tork^) 
capturing  a  tranaport  ship  of  three  hundred  toiM»  aimed  wkh 
ipns,  and  fivighted  with  stores  for  the  British  army.  Wo 
jMraafier  aee  what  share  he  had  iothesnbseqneBteveoisof  tka 
Ho  was  oacr  Iks  firm  friend  of  WasfaincioB.    Tka 


4       .  . 


^     t 


BAXTLS  OF  LOXG  1SLAX1>.  66 

-""*•  >:."  .rj's  srcouri:,  a.-.:rt>>>iv]  lo  Wt^hinrion.  of  ihe  unfop- 

r   :  .1  w  ; :-;  o .-. ■, .  '^ r: -.a n i : \  o i'  i : .  -V •  r .r. : :'. ;  v o  :i  i ■  f  \M\aZ  h a*  bi p- 

.Kk  :.-.  i.'^t  morr.iiii:  of  vrx  -7:1 ».  1  u:is  cj.  i  li  ii»'«  and  in- 

'  ■:  :  :r.  .::  F.*::  .:*h  :o  \hc  iltii  L..-:-.  ..:-i."i  i  c  «^-Jirf  j  n-»i  lo  march 
: . ::  •  •  T  :  ;i  o  rt\: . : :: .:  .^:>  n ea  re*:  £ :  .' :.  r  v:  lo  r.ir c :  i  !H'  m .  T!}0*e  i iaf>- 
>:r.:  :j.  :^-  Hi>:ei'5  .imi  Sii)al:v\i>^c*>.  \\:\[-\  ^iii.-n  I  accordioirlj 
1— v.^-\:.  sr*:  us.*  o:i  xhf  ri^ii  lo  liio  .\irrx'»u>  jusi  a>  ibe  davii^bt 
rt-jLz  :o  ai^;>ej.r.  Wo  prociViieii  ionl::-.;n  iU^ui  half  a  mile  of 
-T  Kec  Lion,  .ind  ihrrr  moi  d'lonii  Aiii-c.  wiih  ni*  reomenl, 
*d:  :r.:.-fcZT.uvl  mt  iha:  me  enor.iv  wiro  in  ^i-ihi:  iniiced  1  iben  aw 
^^-"  i-:*r:  ;«e:T%tv:i  U5  anii  \hc  lUc  Lion.  1  dc#iri>ti  Co'jonel  Al- 
W^  :o  r:i:«-c  hisi  reirlnur::  on  i.'io  !t  fi  of  irc  road,  and  \o  wai;  iheir 
-vcilr^  i^T',  whi-o  1  nt:*:  lo  for:;i  liiC  mo  rcii/.-ieni*  1  had  bxv>ai:ht 
*^^  ri-t  i".i>ar  a  rii:c^^  fror.":  ine  ro.id  i:p  :*>  -  jiitve  of  wooii  on  the 
i"c-    ::*   ibe  h;-i-     Tn:>  was  coiae  insiir.iiv,  on  \iry  adi'aista^tNDUs 

"  »>.  r  or:orz'"::>  advanced,  a.^d  wcrt*  nred  upon  by  Ailee's  regi- 
r-rr^  xs;  o.  afitr  i^o  or  iV.rt-e  r\'»iiiid>  riirtTiTed  lo  ihc  wood  on  nar 

• 

JL-.  •:■:"  •...-:•.■;  I  :-».*. -e.:  a! on;  a  :)vciz<  .iniu-r  irjc-  iror.i  of  i:^e  hiii.  and 
:!•?  r:>:  .n  'j.e  :roni  ofi!:o  uooi:.     Tin  iroo:i>  opix"***:-!!  lo  nie  n'ere 

■  mm 

T*""  :-r^JCO*  of  four  rt,::::":i:i:>  tr..-:'..  v.:a:i  r  i:.^  ii'mmand  of  Gene- 

tL  ii  riz: :  w  ho  ad"*  anci'  d  :  i . -:  ir  .  .^  • . i  :roo  »^>  :o  t\  i; r.  :r.  one  h  u ndred 

izsi  i'T*  \£rd*  ol'o;:r  ri^r.i  fro::!,  ai'.d  itx^k  r'05i>t-»ion  of  an  orchard 

"•f  rf .  a  Zfd  so  me  be  d  ^i  > .   \v . .  _  ; .  i  \ :  t  - .:  et-i  i  o  u  a  r«.>  o  :*!  1  e  f: .     T  his 

ir:...rt3:  i'^a  an  e'^clur^.  of  nre  i»5!\vein  :::0>e  iri •!■»;>>  and  o;:r  rine- 

r^r.  f^r^KT,  co:-.:::-::cd   lo:   zi^ovA  :v\o  iK...r>,  ?.::d  liien  ceased  bv 

r».>5c  l^r:  irivv.-**  nruri".r  :o  ihtir  r.'i^in  iKniv.     l::  ;:-e  me^:!  ;ime, 

C  LT'tL. -  C  :.nx :: :  c  r  brv^ii  j : . :  i:  r>  x w  o  :\t "  v> ;  :ec  t  *.  w  ::  ]  c h  w  ore  \\ seed 

X  •-!'*  S'X'ie  of  me  h;!;.  s-o  a*  lo  co:^.:::i.:-d  ;::v  nv-d  .ind  me  o::-./  ap- 

Ti^r*:::  :.>r  >:.::^e  r.::v.irt-d  vard>.     O::   lie   ;uri  of   lieiura:  Ciram 

ijn  f  ^  ^  ^r  mo  i.i'ic.'  v  it:  e?.     Or.  c   :■  o  ^^ : :  .*  e  r    ^  d  \  a  coed    :  o  w  .ihin 

'Jr«-r  ijhirtd  }ard>  of  ::";e  fn.v:i  of  o.:r  r:,:.:,  and  a  l.ke  deiacb- 

ani:  cf  tr.iLtrv  lo  ihe  fror/.  of  o'.:r  !ef:.     1.^::  a  rl^ini:  crou  r.d,  at 

»>r.  f:\  hur.dred  \£rd'*  r.  is;::  ?.:«:.  o:«:  of  zi.iir  l-ric-des  1  orated  in 

Trr  _!--<  or>>5::e  :.-»  o::r  r:^:*:.  ar,d  *.r.e  o::^er  ex  leaded  is  one  line 

"Iz  L'  *  r'i">> : : . »: r.  '.^  e  * : .'O^:  »: .i .: .*. i^ r. ^ .: ! r. ^  each  oihe r  ull  near 
tiTTfr  y.-^x-si.  i^ber.  I  fo:;::d  :::.ii  CM-::er..*  Howe,  wim  me  r::a:a 
^*ci  cf  me  kTT.^y  v. .-.<  be m tin  rv:  :-rd  o.:r  i.::tr,  ar.d  1  saw  ma;  iha 
*-T  criTce  of  e5^'u:^:r;  btir.^  i!l  :'*.ide  ;^r-5o:ur?-  w^>  *o  pas*  ibe 
=*ek  XMT  me  Ye:!ow  Mil:*  :  and,  in  order  lo  reader  mis  ibe  raore 
»iK)cabie,    I   found   ii  absoluieiv  necesurv  lo  attack  a  body  of 


66  BATTLS  OP  LCma  ISLA3n>. 

troops,  commanded  by  Lord  Comwallis,  posted  at  the  bouse  near 
the  Upper  >fill5.  This  I  instantly  did,  widi  about  half  of  Small- 
wood^s  recriment,  first  ordering  all  die  other  troops  to  make  the  best 
of  their  way  through  the  creek.  We  continued  the  attack  a  cod- 
siderable  time,  the  men  bavin?  been  rallied,  and  the  attack  renewed 
fire  or  six  several  times,  and  we  were  on  the  point  of  driving  Lord 
Comwallis  firom  his  station  ;  but  large  reinforcements  arriving  ren- 
dered it  impossible  to  do  more  than  to  provide  for  safety.  I  en- 
deavoured to  s:et  in  between  that  house  and  Fort  Box,  but^  on  at- 
tempting  it,  I  found  a  considerable  body  of  troops  in  my  front,  and 
several  in  pursuit  of  me  on  the  right  and  left,  and  a  constant  firing 
on  me.  I  immediately  turned  the  point  of  a  hill,  which  covered 
roe  from  their  fire,  and  I  was  soon  out  of  the  reach  of  my  punuers. 
I  soon  found  that  it  would  be  in  vain  to  attempt  to  make  my  escape, 
and  therefore  went  to  surrender  mvself  to  General  de  Heister, 
dommander-in-chief  of  the  Hessians." 

From  the  letters  of  R.  H.  Harrison,  the  evening  of  the  27th, 
we  learn  that  General  Washington  was  then  on  Long  Island,  and 
expected  a  sreneral  attack ;  but  Howe  had  witnessed  the  afiair  of 
Bunker  Hill,  and  gave  time  for  the  subsequent  manceuvres. 

General  Sullivan  says,  in  his  letters :  '^  I  was  imeasy  about  a 
road,  through  which  I  had  often  foretold  that  the  enemv  would 
come,  but  could  not  persuade  others  to  be  of  my  opinion.  I  went 
to  the  hill  near  Fhtbush  to  reconnoitre,  and  with  a  picket  of  four 
hundred  men  was  surrounded  bv  the  enemv,  who  had  advanced  bv 
the  ver}'  road  I  had  foretold,  and  which  I  had  paid  boi semen  fifty 
dollars  for  patrollins:  by  night,  while  I  had  the  command,  as  I  had 
no  foot  for  the  purpose. 

"  What  resistance  I  made  uith  these  four  hundred  men  against 
the  British  armv,  I  leave  to  the  officers  who  were  with  me  to  de- 
clare.  Let  it  suffice  for  me  to  say,  that  the  opposition  of  the  small 
party  lasted  from  half  past  nige  to  twelve  o^clock." 

From  these  several  accounts  it  would  appear,  that  no  individol 
officer  had  the  command  in  the  en£:a^ment.  Lord  Stirling  com- 
manded the  detachment  on  the  ri^ht,  which  was  opposed  by  tbe 
British  General  Granu  The  redment  under  Colonel  Hand,  an* 
tioned  on  the  heights  near  Flatbush,  was  commanded  bv  General 
Sullivan,  rather  by  accident  than  in  consequence  of  any  direct  older* 
Williams's  and  >Iiles*s  regiments  at  die  left,  posted  on  the  road 
leading  from  Flatbush  to  Bedford,  had  no  other  commander  tfau 
their  respective  colonels. 

The  number  of  American  troops,  who  took  part  in  the  action,  if 
estimated  by  Colonel  Haslet  at  five  thousand.  This  estimate  if 
probably  ver}-  near  the  tnith.  When  the  detachments  retreated 
from  Long  island,  there  were  nine  thousand  in  the  whole.  Tlm^ 
teen  hundred  of  these  had  gone  over  to  Brooklyn  after  the 


MJlTTLE  of  long  l$ULM».  Cj 

ft 

^.  r-r'Vv:    'fv*  >:Ts  i :-:.  x.  «'  :.  x,u\  ::  :*uiif<  :  c  i  lo.::*:  c:^.::  :::v^ii- 
«  ••:  r  ^  ■:  ?  :  -o-vvi  ..•  :  :.:t*  Ja^  of  :.::"  A.t:oii.     i'-  :    -  :*::"*\v7.  i:  L* 

■*  :• :  : ^  ■;  _ :  /o -v  ::w  " \  -•  : "o v. s.i- % :.  :v :  i  * .  * ^  o "  >  : . ■  r-e^'  : . ■  o .: s-i :: vt 

•  ^  :  ■   .'    -:• :  7V\i   '".■  r  : !  ■.•  %!  t  V  ••/x*  .^ :  .  •  -    .  it-*.      I :  ,i  .*  .>^"  ir*.  :  :!o:v^  ■  *  c  r. 

I  •        «  • 

•i  •        ^      ■    -k  .'..;  .      l.O.  \k  ^  ..        ^  •     ■»."..>  ^    ..     ."»:».•..".:«...'..    ...t 

E;  -•■:>.^':«e\:  "v    ■••.■c\*  :.ii"  i  :V  •:. 

>!  :*:  :•  >.  r*.  i.-'i,  ^'oa'::^'*.  Has.^:.  w  x*  ^-^.xtks-v.  c/^"  ::ur*h. 
s-'»^  i-v  *    . " .;  .v;     •  i  •  .-^  • '  ■.   J  s  .  u  •.  ; .  '^ k:<  :  . :  .V  a  u'  J. .     A :'  -.Hr. t^  z  o  :"iv*  t  r, 

■  ■ 

"ns?.'  >  v-'.:  i:  :: -;  ::  •:%.••  si.v: :  "  ^^  ^  \»r.'i-.:  :  ■.^'  •..:\  i -c^^:  t^ar^y, 

i:f  1  7.ij^su;f  .:.^v%-:  ;o  :::;■  >.,i-f  ..  f  i  :r -rsr^  ><\.io:"  i^t'.'-v  wi^ieJ 
r-'^i-r,  «:  c  '.  -*-:  :•  >>^\:.  j\:  :  *<::  s^'wa:::  Ji  :^l^:o^^  ::\tT.  i..  :::^  rliiie 
?vo*ec  : ''  ir.«;  i-v  o:'  :  v  ^.:.:!'. ."  Ht"."\  s  :^':.*.:'^  >ii:vi  about 
in;-  Tiii  tt : ■•  ^     >:    •   :! ■ ;   ••.:>:•::  .i •* ..:  i:  is  i:  !-;  is:  •/ ro ■:» "c : ■  vi : ioai, 

*  :tcjif  7  1'  y  ".:•  -s.  -' ,  -•  \ :  ^  •' :  :  >  •  :*\t  /.   -  :■  - : . '  "--i.:  vy  V.' .  o :: -• !  \  I  i>!ei. 

^xs  ^ii'-T   ■ -.^ -■■  * :  •.  ■■:  -.:rvv.i>x  "..  iu*. s  Mr.  S.virxs.*  :::  o:'»:\.x*:u.*j»a 

•  •  •  • 


"    H  J  ■    •  l»*      ■     ?*     '.1  '     '     ■     ■■ ■•    '    ■  -  -     -•■..•■       •;.%•■■    •   ■  ^ I     -f   "v-*-*    ■••T^. 

."■xju    V  f^'    v"!«    ^ "'     ■  ■    ':"  •■-,•■-■•,.■        ,     ■-  ■        ■■  •  ,  ^r'      ••* 

Jl5l3     ■*{*'•*        ■"•!-'■•      SC'*"?'      !'■■       ^*»'"'      *»*•■■• I,    ■      •.•»•■•.     ^C 

■Ti*'!  lie   i>i~  .'*!    ••■  ^■ji.'Mi'    ^•p'  r    r~i»  %  ■;■■.•-•  -■•.*    ■    ■.     .-w     ,■  ■     ,_,»    -^^    — «    ■.•  .,-i--;  . 

>  *  :tl.il      -i^l.^         M  ■         ■•    ".•■■■:    .■"■■:.       ■»   T  N       *     >  »— .:    »  V    ■■.    '  »-^ 

**j»  JlTl^■l  i-.L*  ' ."  '-: i"  '         ■■    :  •     ■  .    A - 

ac^jMif  j_J   _j^  .•■•■M":    i".* '■  I":- "i.»  >  ■■■• -'•r'V.  !■>•'■■•   »'•••!  * 'f    ■■.!  ■■    .•■•*      t^^   ■.■•^••*a*«f*.  ?« 

*'iBiir:«j:»«|-»  ■"— .-l*    '-J'*  .'.l«     .'■^   ~  ■£■*'.  .'.•.•  '  :•"   •.  *■ "":'-  i.»  "  *  •      >•»    .    .  ■  .*  i*  k»  .u- 

»■■•■  2  :    u*  !•:  :^-*    >     "    .-'  -■■'■■    >.     :" '       ■:...■..•  i                ■-■»  c*^- *s"     ".  :.■■.- 
>t-%  /•:  TM"   ;--■*    ' -I  ■  ■•  »•;■■" 

t«  :te  L.f:i.r  <"-«••■    i  "^-   :>  "i?"?.  "r»*  ■.•■•.■■.-     ■«.  ■■.    ■.•  .■■■■   -■■.   :*•   •-.•  ■^.;  ytr'st^z 

>oa.jt;-  I.  is:.-'  ^  •:-■  J  :'::rv .'.:.:   :::•                           ■  ■•       :'••:?  •";    '^^  ' \c  rvi- 

«;&.  — ^,-   .;^*  ^.-ivri  ■.*-•■  ."^  -••■  -""  .  -.   ,   %  ■       ■    -  •  •-•»j»*  xa«'  .•  - 

I'la.  1.  T»«   !»-i   ■*-!.■**   •■  ■^:-'  ■»•:*•«»'•;  :-■■.■:  Ji-*     "*-    ■'  :»  '  "*  TiT  ta*  *n^  ■-;  •   .*•.•  ;J 

at  *  ■  1 1:  i«-  i;  "::►'  ':"   **  K  •■'■    iv-              -     •►   :■.  .  ■.  i-  •■•.  a  •_•*  N:--.   \  -.-k: 

>  .Xiiif:  ;  1  ■  -      ■  "■•'       ■  ■   "    •  ■      :.■-         -            .  ,     •   ■     .  ■■        .: '  "  ^    ■     .  ■.   -     ^-w  .■:" 

&f  ■!••!;  ■     *■'"'-       •     Y      ■^     "^    k*-'  ■      •  ■■■ '    ■          *■  .    --    1  ■    I  -•    ■      •■•       *  "^    ».*         —f 

'""'^  iV  »U»pr'i'.j"         \"  •    ;  ■»*    .*'    ■■•''Mf    -■i-».-->    •.% --     «  .—■■-■■".    1"  •.•    \'--    ■.'v*;i'i."  : 

■■•s^  LI. UL  ::•■'■<-'«   ■■•r  r*  .-«' r       V'^r?  -.  .-■■.••? r  .•  '    ■.    -j.*  >.-'-  '.?■   ■•••■>;■     -•.'■.:    i.*  .     * 
"  a**   nt-fj^  ?r*.    .l:;"  "•r-  ■    -   ■"Wl-m-  -^  .■■  »  -i  -•■■.*      -  ■.  !■•■•       1  ■  ■:••-■  "i  ■-■   ;  ' 

*  <l>»n"ii-    i.Ti;    ■-■  r;;'.  .17"   ■>■••?;';'.    "■•'    •*     ■.--^  .*    •    ■*—..•    i   ,■    :•;,,'  ^-  •■    -^..; 
*^  ui:  ■  a»  ■:    •■■«««*»  ;:•.».*'.■  i-  i ■;  w  i —    -  *    ■  ■    :  -  -e  ■...-■  \  .'*  \  "  ^ 

ii«H.  »  foica  M  w  3iaA<  *t;r2'  x^»iAi  ViMzvis.  :* --si    ".r  •-2«;aw  *2-.'  >**«  .:;l-_* 


68  BATTLE  OF  LONG  ISLAXD. 

By  the  orders  of  General  Washington,  on  the  27th,  Shee's  and 
MficT.'.v'-  ri'criment^i  were  ordered  from  near  Fort  Washinjton  to 
Brook  ri.  Capl.  Gray  don,  who  wa«  of  Shee's,  giics  in  his  "  Me- 
ir.f;:r  rt\  a  Life"*  the  feelinjrsof  one  who  tells  only  what  he  experi- 
eurtTfi,  and  '/ains  our  confidence  for  ever}'  word  he  pens: 

*'  B«'inir  forthwith  put  in  motion,  we  proceeded  with  the  utmost 
3pe*-^'i,  and  reached  the  city  in  the  afternoon ;  but  by  this  time  the 
conflict  was  over,  and  the  firing  had  ceased.  Here,  therefore,  we 
wt.-re  quartered  for  the  nisrhi,  under  orders  to  be  in  readiness  to 
cross  ilie  East  Ri\*er  bv  break  of  dav  in  the  momins:.  Glover's 
regimen  I  was  also  moved  to  this  place,  and  was  under  similar  or- 
ders for  Long  Island.  Few  particulars  of  the  day's  combat  were 
yet  known,  though  it  was  pretty  well  ascertained  that  we  had  been 
handled  severelv,  and  lost  a  considerable  number  of  officers  and 
men  ;  but  what  proportion  had  been  killed,  or  were  prisoners,  was 
merely  conjecture.  New  York  was  at  this  time  a  scene  of  turouh 
and  confusion,  and  it  mic:ht  be  added,  of  dismay. 

"  The  circumstance,  however,  did  not  deprive  roe  of  my  appe- 
tite, and  the  inclination  for  a  good  supper,  which  I  had  not  for 
=o  ne  months  enjoyed  ;  and  therefore,  as  soon  as  our  men  were  dis- 
..li-sed  to  their  quarters,  which  was  not  until  dark,  Mr,  Forrest  and 
myself  set  out  in  pursuit  of  this  object.  But  some  of  the  publick 
houses  were  full,  others  had  no  eatables  in  them,  and  we  began  to 
fear  that  this  little  enjoyment  we  had  promised  ourselves,  was  not 
to  be  obtained,  and  that  we  should  be  obliged  to  go  to  bed  supper- 
less.  After  trying  the  be.rt  lookinir  inns  to  no  purpose,  we  essayed 
those  of  more  humble  appearance,  and  at  length  entered  one,  that 
was  kept  by  a  middle  ai'^ed  matronly  lady.  We  asked  if  she  could 
give  us  supper  ;  she  gave  us  the  common  answer — that  there  was 
nothing  in  the  house.  We  were  now  about  to  give  the  matter  up, 
and  had  retired  bevond  the  door  with  somewhat  of  a  disconsolate 
air,  perhaps,  when  the  jjood  woman  seemed  touched  with  compas- 
sion for  us-  She  had  probably  sons  of  her  own  ;  or  if  not,  she  was 
of  that  sex  which,  Ledyard  tells  us,  is  ever  prone  to  acts  of  kind- 
ness and  humanitv.  .She  called  us  back,  and  told  us  that  she  be- 
lieved  she  could  make  out  to  <rive  us  a  lobster.  At  this  we  bright- 
ened up,  assuring  her,  as  we  really  thought,  that  nothing  could  be 
better;  and  being  shown  into  a  small,  snug  apartment,  we  called 


de«eruiif  him.  and  g\ory  in  the  firmneM  of  the  few.  and  the  beroinn  of  the 
who  never  faltered  in  hi«  course,  and  fousht  the  liattleit  of  hi*  countnr  with  toi 
thin^  worM  than  the  shadow  of  an  army  to  support  him.  His  H-bole'force.  before 
the  affair  of  Brooklyn.  wa.«  inidequaie  to  oppooe  the  enemy :  there  he  kwt  near 
2,000:  every  day  dimini^thed  the  remainder  by  the  denertion  of  miiilia.  H'hole 
regimenia  marched  off.  and  thoi^e  who  remained  were  inanbordiiiAte  and  matiBoaat 
mdj  to  ran  at  the  si^t  of  an  enemy. 

*  Paftl42. 


BATTLE  OF  LONG  ISLAND.  69 

for  a  pint  of  wine-  We  now  tlioiiirlit  ourselve?,  instead  of  out- 
ca*i*,  favourites  of  fortune,  as.  upon  eompariDir  notes  with  our 
broinor  omoerii,  next  da  v.  wo  foniiii  we  luul  iva-son  :  since  scarcelv 
^ry  of  tiiem  liaii  been  able  lo  procure  a  niouihful. 

"On  the  next  day,  early  in  the  ft ue noon,  we  were  tnnsported 
to  Lone  Island  :  marched  tlown  to  ihe  eiiironchnjonts  at  l^rooklvn, 
and  [Hisied  on  ilieir  left  exironiiiy,  oxioiitiini:  to  the  Wallahout. 
T::e  arrixal  of  our  two  l^aitalions,  (Shoe's  and  Mairau's,  which  al- 
ways acted  to::oiher,)  wiiii  thai  of  CUtiver.  had  iho  elteci  1  have 
ilways  found  lobe  produced  l»y  a  hoily  of  men  under  arms,  havin"* 
xh^  appearance  of  discipline.  AhluniLrh,  owinj:  to  the  ilvsenier\' 
xEiv.cn  had  prevailed  in  our  camp,  our  number v.a-s  so  reduced  ihat 
the  two  re::iments  could  not  have  amoimted  to  more  ihan  eijjht 
hur^dred  men,  makini:  in  the  wliole,  when  joined  with  Glover's, 
a:«>.it  twelve  or  thirteen  hundred  :  ve[  it  was  eviiient  liiat  tliis  small 

« 

r^i:' force  me  ni  inspired  no  incoiisidi  rahle  «h\:ree  of  con  lido  nee. 
T:.e  fjce-  that  had  been  saddenoil  l>\  liio  dl'^asiers  of  veslerdav,  as- 
5::med  a  :r learn  of  animation  on  our  approach,  accompanied  with  a 
laiirTuur  of  approbation  in  the  s pec la tors,  tu*casionaily  srreetins:  each 
Other  witii  liie  remark,  ihai  ffos'  tnr,  th.*  Utds  r/mf  mi^hf  Jo  ,<ttme- 
•.^'»:r-  Whv  it  should  be  so.  I  know  not:  but  tiie  mind  instinc- 
cveiy  atiaciies  an  idea  of  prowess  lo  the  silence,  steatiiness.  and 
r^.iiarity  of  a  nulitary  as-emMai:e  :  ant  I  a  lumdrod  well  dressed, 
V'^.'l  armed,  and  well  discijilinod  irrenadiers.  are  more  formidable  in 
a?:H:aranee.  liiau  a  disjiHuied,  di-orderlv  muhiiude  of  a  thousand. 
V*..r  rejimenis.  to  be  sure,  could  not  arroirate  such  perfection  :  but 
liiit  ihev  were  disiinjui^hed    in  our  vi>unir  armv,  mav  be  inferred 

•  •  •  * 

from  an  ofiieial  letter  Iroui  (loneral  Washinjl(ui.  wherein  he  states 
mat  '  xhev  had  been  trained  with  nu»ro  than  common  attention.' 
To  sustain  the  duty  now  imposed  upon  us.  required  both  slren::th 
of  body  and  of  minci.  Tlie  spot  at  which  we  were  posted,  was 
.ow  and  unfavourable  lor  defence.  There  wa-  a  I'mi.^-t/  ditch  in 
its  Iront.  but  it  ::ave  little  pn>mise  of  sceuriiv,  as  it  was  e\idenllv 
commanded  hv  liie  jiround  occupied  b\  the  enemv,  wiio  entire) v 
*r.:ioscd  the  whole  of  our  position,  at  tlie  disiauce  o{'  hut  a  few 
hundred  paces.  It  was  e\i«ieiu.  also,  tiiat  lliei  were  c«instructing 
baiitries.  which  wouM  have  ren«li  :\vl  our  particular  situation  ex- 
^luelv  ineliytble,  lo  sav  the  lea>i  of  it.  In  addition  to  this  dis- 
c^-Tifort.  we  were  annoved  bv  a  coiuinual  rain,  which,  though  never 
^cnheavv.  was  never  less  tli.m  a  searciiiu^  drizzle,  ami  often  what 
niij"t  with  propriety  be  called  a  smart  shower.  We  hat!  no  tents 
'•0  jcreen  us  from  its  pitiless  pelting  :  nor,  if  we  had  had  them, 
*ouid  it  have  comported  with  the  incessant  vi:;i lance  required,  to 
i^ve  availed  ourselves  of  ihcm,  as,  in  I  act,  it  i:iii:ht  be  said,  that 
'«  lay  upon  our  arms  durini:  liie  whole  of  our  stay  upon  the 
^^I^.    Id  the  article  of  food,  we  were  little  better  off.     We  had. 


70  BATTLE  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 

indeed,  drawn  proFisions,  whose  quality  was  not  to  be  complained 
of.  Our  pickled  pork,  at  least  was  good  ;  but  how  were  we  lo 
cook  it  ?  As  this  could  not  be  done,  it  was  cither  to  be  eaten  as 
it  wa.s,  or  not  eaten  at  all ;  and  we  found,  upon  trial,  that  boilin;^  it, 
although  desirable,  was  not  absolutely  necessary  ;  and  that  the  ar- 
ticle was  esculent  without  culinary  preparation.  I  remeniber,  how- 
ever, on  one  of  the  days  we  were  in  this  joyless  place,  getting  a 
slice  of  a  barbae ued  pig,  which  some  of  the  soldiers  bad  dressed 
at  a  deserted  house  which  bounded  our  lines. 

**  Tiicre  was  an  incessant  skirmishing  kept  up  in  the  day  time 
between  our  riflemen  and  the  enemy's  irreirulars;  and  the  firing 
was  sometimes  so  brisk  as  to  indicate  an  approaching  ^reneral  en- 
ga<rement.  This  was  judiciously  encouraired  by  (general  Wash- 
ington ;  as  it  tended  to  restore  confidence  to  our  men,  and  was, 
besides,  showing  a  good  countenance  to  the  foe. 

"  On  tlie  morning  after  our  first  night's  watch.  Colonel  Shee  took 
roe  aside  and  asked  me  what  I  thought  of  our  situation.  I  could 
not  but  say,  I  thought  it  a  very  discouraging  one.  He  viewed  it 
in  the  same  liirht,  he  said,  and  added,  that  if  we  were  not  soon 
withdrawn  from  it,  we  should  inevitably  be  cut  to  pieces.  »So  im* 
pressed  was  he  with  this  conviction,  that  he  desired  me  to  eo  to 
the  quarters  of  (general  Reed,  and  request  him  to  ride  down  to  the 
lines,  that  he  might  urge  him  to  propose  a  retreat  without  loss  of 
time.  1  went,  but  could  not  find  him  at  his  quarters,  or  at  any  of 
the  other  places  where  it  was  likely  he  mi^rht  be.  It  was  not  Ion?, 
however,  before  he  came  to  our  station,  and  :rave  the  colonel  an 
opportunity  of  conferrini;  with  him.  This  day  passed  off  like  the 
last,  in  unabatin<;  skirmishincr  and  rain.  After  dark,  orders  were 
received  and  communicated  to  us  reinmentally,  to  hold  ourselves 
in  readiness  for  an  attack  upon  the  enemy — to  take  place  in  the 
course  of  die  nii^ht.  This  excited  much  speculation  amoosT  the 
ofiicers,  bv  whom  it  was  considered  a  trulv  daring  undertaking, 
rendered  doublv  so  from  the  bad  condition  of  our  arms,  so  loo^ 
exposed  to  the  rain  ;  and  althouirh  we  had  bayonets,  this  was  not 
the  case  with  the  whole  of  our  force,  upon  whom  we  must  depend 
for  support.  It  was  not  for  us,  however,  to  object  to  the  measure : 
we  were  soldiers,  and  bound  to  obey.  Several  nuncupative  wills 
were  made  u{>on  the  occasion,  uncertain  as  it  was  whether  thepei^ 
sons  to  whom  thev  were  communicated  would  survive,  either  to 
prove  or  to  execute  them.  I  was  for  a  while  under  the  impression 
that  we  were  to  fight ;  and,  in  the  language  of  the  poet,  was  '  stiff- 
ening my  sinews  and  summoning  up  my  blood,'  for  what,  with  the 
rest,  I  deemed  a  desperate  encounter.  But  when  I  came  to  con- 
sider the  extreme  rashness  of  such  an  attempt,  it  suddenly  flashed 
upon  my  mind,  that  a  retreat  was  the  object ;  and  that  the  order 


BJLTTLB  OP  LOXG  tSI-AXD.  71 


Mr  k«iSb£  xSe  «SMiDr.  w  but  I  coTOT  to  the  ml  d««sn.     The 
I  ivAlvtiV.  upon  it.  iDc  inonc  1  ^rs$  convinced  thai  I  vrts 
:  «M  ^tft'  Sa*i   )\&s;>('ti  in   the  r.x>ni)ii^  inih  Cokoel  She**, 
d  IP  <<Mfii^n  n>e  in  nir  opinkni.     1  oomr.iunicatiK!  nsv  coniec- 

x»  iiMBe  oi"  the  orwT*,  bu*  ihev  lUrvsi  ixm  ?iinex  ihen^saelres  to 

* 

it  vne!)  feuT^ciexi.  though  thev  cradiuui^'  came  over  to  xuv 
bv  niiJr.:^:  they  ircre,  for  the  most  jMirt,  conreits 
«■»<  a  oeep  murmur  in  the  camp  which  indicated 
oTeoDent :  anti  the  oinKtion  of  the  decavin^  sounds  vnas 
idr  TOTrard*  the  ri\er.  AKi^ut  rwv  o'clock,  a  cannon  wvnt 
iC.  t»tre  :iiiv  froro  one  ol"  our  redov.hi*,  •  pioicin^  the  ni^hi^s  dull 
«:/  w-."*r.  a  trcr.x*niio;:<  roar.  If  ihe  e\}>;t\>3on  wa*  wiihin  our 
ims^  t.v  rua  wa>  pn>hab:y  dischirpxi  i:i  lix-  aoi  of  spikin*:  ii :  and 
£  r.'u.yl  r.tTTp  beer.  r*o  los?  a  mi::er  of  >j^»c»r'i:h'/:on  lo  ihe  eiwmy, 
Tttj  1."  .-.iri^  Vkt-^  I  -.x-rcj  hciTi:  :ho  oa;:><*  of  :::  but  whatever  h 
»«s.  "iT'i  frV'i :  <»7>  £:  orkv  a] Arr.". ::■:;:  ati*?  >;;b'.:::'>e  :  and  whai  with 
aw  r^ir-rt-s*  vV  :r?c  ^tAkc.  iht-  iUrk-.v.-s^of  the  r.Lcr.'.  the  uncenjuntr 
a  ::»f  .Sfs^^r-  ar.i  f\'j\*:*.^f  haiAri:  of  the  i>*;:o  whitover  micht  be 
tie  :c  W*":.  ::  »  o..\:  Sr  iil5:^uh  to  concci'ie  a  n'sore  deeply  solemn 
aic  ^:5::^-^:lr.^  s:c7>o.  1;  never  rtv:;r*  to  ir.y  ir.iad.  b;:i  in  the 
sc^r*;  .--.trfr}  of  '.I'x'  chor.:>  of  >":*.;.k>;x"STY'>  He::n*  "Jv  Fifth*  in 
Ttiiiz,  -s-  t.Ti'kC*:  ::■  a  .^;^n>;>r"s:e  ^*tx>:v..  ^  ssir.v/.ir  ::;ien:£l  of  dnad 

~  As  :•..:  rf^vv.v  :■:  "kvi*  or.t  of  :r;c>>c  5;^;vvr:t\^  :o  cover  the  re- 
rrr-  -wc  ^:-r:-,  c:  •ror.rst,  .^-/.or^  :::i"  .=>:  :o  r«e  ^zrA^::  o::.  ino.  :t 
Ft  :»f  l:  .:  i;  ^-  r-: ;.  k .  V-^"  fo rt*  v.  c  rec** ". \ « ■.:  o ro.  f  ^:^  :  o  re  nrt' ,  W  e  were 
ijczf-i  B-'j-o:::  .:t".i\,  i:V.  :.A*i  :*.:*?." ":h\:  :v;ir".\  his^f  niv  :o  the 
TTfiT.  'w  Nf  7.    i:  "n  A>  :i:v.-kV.;:"v"iv.  ihx:  :he  lv::"s:*.  ".!^r.:>:or<c  wvre  a: 

MB*  k  - 

lUr  3^ .?«».        l...~7v«.*a« -I      *>     w  a>    ...f    1..V >.,^.?*  I  .     .»    i»  A^    \  e»    ?0 

crssjn>j<'."«  "..-T^:>::'-i:   ::;vr-i.  'J:s:  i*~e  wtrc  "r.Alie.r   .i::»i  for.:iev^.  ihe 

:»?fiTf  t%s"  r!r*irrf  of  ;he  >;:;-»;>>>«-■*:  as>a..,i:i:>.  \or:f,  Vo-never, 
Kcwirei :  fSid  ::".-e  **5.r.ii  r.r.:>:  have  rr^vs-^ii^v.  fn^r.i  :hc  fear  ol 
*»  ¥>•  rive  "::.  iv.arr.'.fk:."-^  :ht  "o:>e  c^i  a  :Vw  of  our  owr.  horse- 
uer  r::r  1-m:  of  >q.:Ao.ror<  of  •J't*  t:*.e'vy.  Wi  a^-?..::  ^x^k  :::'»  :he 
ine  :c  irarch.  iD\\  hio.  rrvvxxxitv.  :■.::  a  s:o::  o.:srA:-:c\  witr  d)e 
mc  c*:  ■L*»f  bansdso'n  ^i>  h.^.Ttxi  a  <<*\\  •.:*:  ::".:e.  T:'e  o~:ers  we 
te  ^fce.Tcd  were  error iV.>  :  \^ ;•  -Afr-:  .r.forv.i*:  ;>:a?  wc  hi.:  i>>me 
rflic  s^.-^n«  and  were  i-wv.-v. Ar*::.:  «  !:r.  a.'.  e\;xv.:::or  :o  re;;im  to 
■t  »fC-  This  a'as  a  tr^- ". " ::  r- .. > ". ■.: :>>  : .>  ^  .v  .m  Sv"^" i: !e r>  :  i:  w:i>. 
iff'strK jf^>«  scr-.' : '. v  c\^.r. i" '. '. tvl  w  /. :■ .  a •.* »:  « -:  ?■.- v.: a! .:t\:  tjo:  '. o>* : h An 
n  to-r  iz  'S-c  l;r:-s  hrftw  wc  ?f\x^iv,  :;-.o  stvor^-.  orsi-.r  :o  am.:*- 

OIK  niifcz.-     I.  -  A*  •<  >,. .^iX^M..  •  •  1  ( o.  ...  jt  • «  «• 0 .-^,.  we 

nc^fC  Witr.  oe . er.n^ .  « t  ^.i a r/.  rvi  a^a  . >:  v*  o:: :  .:> .  o r. .  a :>.":  ;:r  /.  c  r  i^e 
fiOiir  CO V  f  r  of  a  :r. .  w'  k  fo; .  ^f  .^  v' .  t* .:  :he   r . ;. :  f  of  er.:  Sirea:x>n 

cv>a  the  eseiuy,  wbvx  had  the  uxc:ii::^  been 


72   .  BATTLE  or  LONG  ISLAND. 

clear,  would  hai'e  seen  what  was  going  on,  and  been  enabled  to 
cut  off  the  irreater  part  of  the  rear.     One  of  my  soldiers  being  too 
feeble  to  carry  liis  musket,  whicii  was  too  precious  to  be  thrown 
away,  I  took  it  from  him,  anil  found  myself  able  to  cany  it,  toi^tber 
with  my  own  fusee.     On  auaiuing  the  water,  I  found  a  boat  pre- 
pared tor  my  company,  which  immediately  embarked,  and  taking 
the  helm  myself,  I  so  luckily  directed  die  prow,  no  object  being 
discernible  in  the  fog,  that  we  touched  near  the  centre  of  the  city. 
It  was  between  six  and  seven  o'clock,  perhaps  later,  when  we  land- 
ed at  New  York ;  and  in  less  than  an  hour  after,  the  fog  having  dis- 
persed, the  enemy  was  visible  on  the  shore  we  had  left." 


caxFERCxcE  mnru  lord  Hom^. 


CIL\PTER  VI, 

iredi  rtr'  HfunJi. — Ha*/  is  rjVi^rA? — A^^jir  cfAij^p's  Bay — Dij^ 

•  »  ^^  •  •  ^        ^ 


2TT6         Gexkrai.  Howb*s  obKct  wii?  to  preserve  the  housses  fer 

IBS  trmr.  and  lo  cet  bercoeeji  \Vi5hiiurton  and  tbe  main  land. 

H«  ivasbed  fervrard  fai$  feires  to  Hell-gmte,  occupving  an  extent  of 

UK  rnksv.  axKl  eridentlv  intended  to  cioss  the  Kast  Hirer  or 

Sr^iznd.  sio  a5  to  enclose  the  Americans  on  the  Island  of  Manhatiaiu 

To  piard  against  these  in^ticationss  tlie  continental  armr  mus  di- 

noed  into  t}uve  parts.     Fire  thousaml  men  remained  in  tbe  town. 

A  SwiT  soppowid  to  be  nine  thousand  were  near  Kinr^ihridce*  and 

ibe  Tvmunder  lined  the  shores  opposite  to  the  enemy.    While  these 

ctiiiBarr  movements  were  coinc  on.  Lord  Howe,  to  take  adranta^ 

ce  me  reoent  rictory.  parcelled  General  Sullivan,  and  attempted  to 

necotxa;e  wiih  congress  without  acknowfed^iini:  thejn  as  a  political 

«CT.     He,  tiuouch  Sullivan,  expretssed  his  desire  to  have  a  coi»- 

teew^f  wTifa  some  of  the  members,  and  offeretl  to  meet  them  where 

tivy  sbouid  appoinu     He  said*  that  he  and  General  Howe  had 

wwts¥  to  senle  the  dispute  on  terms  adranttpet^us  to  both  the  con-* 

kc  parties.     That  he  wished  the  compr^c^ir.ise  to  take  place 

«iher  America  or  Great  Britain  could  be  said  m  be  com* 

?eW  to  It.     The  answer  returned  w:a*.  ••  that  congress  bcin^:  the 

"wresemaiivess  of  the  inee  and  independent  Slates  of  Anerica.  can- 

*>t  with  proprietT,  send  any  of  its  members  to  confer  with  his 

•ofOsiBp  in  their  private  cJjaraciers  :  but  that  ihey  bein^  de»r>cms 

vesabiishini:  a  peace  on  reasonable  terms,  wv^uld  5cntl  a  comniit- 

•f »  team  whether  he  had  autboriiy  or  iwi."     Accoriiindy.  Dr. 

Fsaakfia,  John  Adam»,  and  Edinird  Kmleilire,  passe*!  over  to 

^^■ei  IsJand.  ftx>m  Penh  Araboy :  and,  or  their  return,  reported 

iteHoire  had  receired  them  politely.  imi  the  11th  of  Sopiember: 

^•baened  that  he  could  not  treat  with  ti>em  as  a  comminee  of 

;  but  was  dad  of  liie  opportunity  of  a  conicrence  with 

as  jvivate  £>eniJemen.     Tiiey  answeird.  that  he  micW  co!»- 

in  what  hrht  be  pleased,  and  make  any  pit>pi>^itions : 

could  consider  themselves  in  no  other  cbarsdcr  than 

^  in  which  dier  were  aniKHinced.    Howe's  projxtsiiioiiS  amount- 

^  ti  ihe  TCnm  of  ibe  coloiues  io  their  alie^ance ;  and  the  com- 

10 


74  BBTHBAT  WWOM  SEW  TOUC 

mittee  let  him  know  that  wis  not  now  to  be  expededt  and  so  die 
fruidess  conference  ended. 

Too  moch  reliance  bad  been  placed  upon  a  cbenuzx-^e-frBe^ 
which  General  Putnam,  in  a  letter  to  Grates,  prides  himself  opon 
baring  invented ;  but  which  proved  inefficient.  General  Greene 
pressed  the  eracuation  of  New  York,  and  pointed  out  the  case  wsh 
which  tbe  enemy  could  land  on  either  ade  the  ishnd,  and  dnow 
strong  lines  across,  supported  at  each  end  br  their  sl^;ifi :  das 
would  divide  tbe  American  army,  and  ibrce  tlx»e  in  the  town  to 
capitolafte,  or  6gfat  to  great  disadrantage  widi  a  Teij  siqierioar  ad- 
Tersanr.  Greene  strenuoudv  adnsed  tbe  destrocdon  of  the  cinr. 
Tbe  spade  bad  been  libenllj  used.  FoitGeoige — die  batlenr  be- 
low and  to  tbe  south  of  it ;  the  whan-es  and  streets  had  leJydtai 
and  iHeastworks ;  Bayard^s  moimt  was  crowned  by  a  fat,  and 
called  Bunker's  Hill ;  Coriear's  Hook  was  sanomided  by  batte- 
ries, and  lines  crossed  tbe  island  at  Tarioos  distances.  BatWaA- 
ington  saw  that  the  enemy  could  surroimd  the  town — die 
bad  possession  of  the  islands — and  their  ships  passed  bis 
unbanned,  on  either  side  of  the  city.  He  bad  no  confidence  in  hit 
army,  and  litde  command  over  tbe  best  of  bis  troops:  leloctaBdjr 
be  agreed  with  his  council  of  war,  to  abandon  a  place  tbat  bad  coit 
so  much  labour  to  strengthen  for  defence,  and  wUcb  be  knew  die 
congress  and  people  expected  him  to  bold.  Still  be  hoped  to  make 
a  stand  on  Manhattan  Island,  at  Haeriem  Heights,  Fort  Wasfaine- 
ton,  and  Kingsbridge.  At  the  council,  many  tboogfat  the  post 
should  be  retained ;  but  Greene  saw  the  danger  of  the  attempt,  or 
even  of  tbe  measures  resolved  upon,  of  withdrawing  a  pan  of  tbe 
army  to  the  forts  and  lines  at  Kingsbridge ;  be  urged  an  ItmmmA^attm 
retreat  from  the  island,  and  burning  the  city  and  submbs.  How- 
ever, against  the  destruction  of  the  place  congress  had  deaer- 
mined;  and  as  it  could  not  be  defended  by  troc^  widxMit  disci- 
pline, and  inferiour  both  in  spirit  and  numbers,  all  WasbingioB 
could  do  was  to  withdraw  his  forces  and  stores,  with  as 
ta£ety  as  circumstances  permitted.  About  the  middle  of 
her,  events  occurred  whicb  convinced  tbe  general  and  aD  fau 
oers  that  a  speedy  retreat  from  New  York  was  neoeaaaij.  The 
Connecticut  militia  he  directed  to  be  withdrawn,  and 
on  tbe  Sound,  and  opposite  the  enemy^s  force  on  Long 
To  remove  tbe  stores  was  an  object  of  great  consequence  and  difi- 
cukjr,  while  an  attack  was  momentarily  expected.  To 
orerflowing  hospital,  and  give  every  convenience  to  a 
her  of  sick,  was  another  service  that  tasked  this  great 
and  humanity ;  and  every  nx>ment  the  enemy  were 
with  the  ships  of  war,  or  divisions  of  soldiers,  that 
difficulty  of  evacuating  the  city.  On  the  13th  of 
frigates  bad  passed  between  Govemonr^s  Island  (of  vUdi  ihc 


RBTRBAT  PROM  NEW  TORK.  75 

Esfrlish  had  taken  full  possession)  and  Long  Island,  through  But* 
termilk  Channel,  and  anchored  opposite  Stuy\'esant^s  bouse,  above 
the  town.     Other  ships  passed  the  city,  up  the  North  River,  and 
vere  stationed  at  Bloomingdale.     These  last  prevented  the  remo- 
Til  of  stores,  or  the  sick,  by  water.     General  Washington  now 
shifted  his  head-quarters  to  Colonel  Morris's  house,  at  Haeriem 
Heifffats ;  and,  on  the  16th,  the  enemv  attacked  his  redoubts  at 
several  points.     The  general  finding  diat  they  were  attempting  to 
hud  at  Kipp's  Bay,  where  two  brigades  were  posted,  rode  thither, 
lod  found  his  soldiers  flying  in  every  direction,  even  before  a  boat 
of  the  enemy  had  approached  the  shore.     The  English  ships  were 
covering  the  landing  by  cannonading.     The  appearance  alone  of 
m  advance  guard,  caused  the  brigades  of  Fellows  and  Parsons 
(notwithstanding  the  efforts  of  the  bflicers  to  keep  them  in  their  re- 
faobts)  to  fly  in  the  most  scandalous  confusion.     About  fifty  men 
•ftbe  enemy  were  landed,  and  Washington  was  left  by  his  coun* 
tymen,  alone,  exposed  to  their  fire,  and  for  a  moment  wishing  for 
ieath  rather  than  the  power  to  witness  such  dastardly  conduct.     It 
ii  said,  that  he  tlueatened  the  cowards  with  death  by  his  pistols ; 
bat  they  feared  the  English  nx>re  than  tlieir  commander,  who  was 
in  a  manner  forced  from  the  spot  by  those  around  him.     He  soon 
recovered  his  equanimity — issued  orders  for  covering  the  retreat, 
ind  securing  the  height  of  Haeriem ;  and  the  enemy  gained  a  foot- 
ing on  the  island  without  farther  advantage  than  the  capture  of  part 
of  the  baggage  of  the  American  aroiy. 

Li  the  retreat  from  New  York,  it  is  said,  that  by  some  errour, 
Sillin»n*s  brigade  remained  too  long  in  the  city,  and  by  the  coward- 
h  behaviour  of  the  men  at  Kipp's  Bay,  was  nearly  cut  off.  Co- 
VmI  Kdox  led  them  to  the  fort  on  Bunker's  Hill,  or  Bayard's 
XouDt,  where  they  must  have  surrendered  :  but  Burr,  then  an  aid 
to  Putnam,  saw  their  situation,  and  marehed  them  by  cross  roads, 
towards  the  west  side  of  the  island,  and  in  safety  they  joined  the 
army.  This  Bunker's  Hill  fort  was  on  a  small  cone-shaped 
to  the  west  of  the  junction  of  >rott  and  Grand  streets,  and 
coold  not  have  contained  half  a  brigade.  Major  Burr,  being  fami- 
hr  with  the  island,  knew  that  by  crossing  the  nac  road^  now 
BiQidway,  about  the  site  of  the  present  Grand  street,  hecoiUd  lead 
tbeK  lost  men  along  the  edge  of  a  swamp,  and  to  the  woods  which 
mroonded  the  house,  formerly  Washington's  head-quarters;  and 
dttt,  by  then  taking  the  Greenwich  road,  he  must  avoid  the  enemy. 
The  service  was  important,  and  reflected  honour  on  Burr's  militaiy 


Cokmel  Knox  and  the  men  with  him  were  strangers  on  this 
;  tad  finding  that  the  enemy  had  possession  of  the  Boston 
md,  and,  for  any  thing  he  could  know,  all  that  pan  of  tlie  island 
them  and  the  army,  Knox  aeemed  to  have  selected  this 


76  MATHAX 

cooe-sfaaped  hill,  whh  i&  re^Nibcs,  as  a  phce  far  at 

defence.     Bajard's  Mocmtf  or  Bunker's  HilU  kioked  dovni  en  the 

citT,  from  winch  it  was  separated  br  die  Koldt  or  fresh  water  pood* 

At  the  tiioe  of  which  we  speak,  a  few  stiag;fiiig'iioaK»  markrd 
the  Bowerr,  or  Boston  road.  The  oewroad  lad  been  cot  thiunjth 
the  hills,  and  partiaDr  lereDed.  This  exsmded  to  ^odr  HiD,  nd 
»  now  a  part  of  Broadwar.  A  crooked  croos  road  led  fron  the 
new  road  to  the  Bowery,  coimnencing  from  what  b  now  the 
of  Grand  street.  Between  this  crodced  padi  and  the  Kotch, 
the  hoose  and  garden  of  Nicholas  Borard,  with  the  hiD  called  Ba^- 
anTs  Moont.  To  the  north  and  east  were  orehardb  acd 
To  the  west,  Mr.  Knox  coold  hare  seen  onlj  swauipa  and 

Before  General  Howe  had  croaaed  to  Fro^s  Point,  Gencnl 
Heath  had  command  of  the  posts  abore  and  below  Hacrlem  Riser. 
There  is  a  anaD  island  near  Hell-gate,  which  wm,  in  177^  caBed 
Montresor  s  Island.  The  British  had  posseaaoo  of  this  piirr,  aod 
in  an  attempt  to  surprise  their  garnson,  another  gallant 
life :  this  was  Major  Thomas  Henlr.  Bat  1^  fidl  a 
an  expedition  for  his  coontrv's  serrice,  and  instaialy  ^ffjwiTd 
receiTing  a  shot,  snrroonded  and  lamented  br  his  friendk  Biiltaii 
Smith,  who  was  a  captain  in  Makom's  regiment,  oommaiided  the 
third  boat,  and  on  their  touching  the  island,  thejr  were  leceiied  b^r 
Toities  from  aboQt  KTCTtT  fiUghhnders,  drawn  sp  on  the 
had  been  aware  of  their  approach  through  the  finng  of  Heaih^s 
disciplined  seatinels. 

Nathan  Hale,  a  fine  yoong  man,  roluntarilT  risked  the 
of  an  indoriods  death  among  his  coontrr's 
to  brutal  taunts,  and  that,  without  the  hope  or  pronnae  of 
reward  than  an  approving  conscience.  This  inteffigeot  joonci 
late  a  student  at  Yale  college,  and  now  a  captain  in  ~ 
Ransrers,  beiosr  informed  of  the  ereat  lack  of  infermatioo 
the  enemy,  after  the  retreat  from  Long  Island,  o&red  logo 
them  in  dL«?inse,  and  brine  accurate  statements  to  General  Wa 
ingtoo.  Ail  the  worid  has  beard  of  Major  Aiidr€.  He 
song  br  poets,  and  monuments  hare  been  raised  to  bin.  He  fel 
into  the  snare  he  had  cootrired  with  a  traitor  fer  the  ^Lftiwiiy  of 
thousands :  but  Captain  Hale,  who  died,  ofdj  Uni^Kiffi 
had  **  btit  one  life  to  sacrifice  foi^his  coantrr,"  has,  ontil 
been  imnociced  br  historr ;  and  no  stone  teUs  where 


Ha  pased  in  disguise  tfarongh  the  English  posts  oo 
and  haiid  made  such  obserratioos  as  an  intelli^nt 
coold  make;  hot  in  anempting  to  retom  he^was 
earned  before  freneral  Howe.     He  acknowledged'  his  oUect 
rank,  and  was  deiirered  over  to  the  prorogt-manhal,  C 
for  execution.    This  sarageaddedaD  in  his  power  ioi^ 


BATTUt  OF  HABRLEM  HBIGHTS*  77 

of  death.  The  presence  of  a  clerc>'inan  was  denied  him.  He  was 
pennitted  to  write  to  hi$  mother  and  otlier  friends*  but  the  letters 
woe  destrored.  Thus,  unknown  to  all  around  him,  and  mocked 
br  ruffian  executioners*  died  as  fine  a  voun<r  man  as  America  could 
botss,  breathing:  his  last  in  prayers  for  his  country.  It  is  said,  Cun- 
ainefaam  gare  as  a  reason  for  destroying  the  young  nian^s  letters* 
thtt  the  rebeb  should  not  see  how  firmly  one  of  their  anny  could 
awec  death. 

The  American  army  ix>w  occupied  the  heights  of  Haerlem,  and 

me  British  army  held  the  town  and  the  plain  between,  far  outnum* 

kcring,   in  real  soldiery  our  disheartened  and  downcast  country- 

But  a  skirmish  took  place  which  revived  the  courage  of  the 

and  called  from  the  mortified  commander-in-chief  the 

ing  words*  **our  troops  behaved  well!^^ 

The  general*  in  his  letter  of  the  ISth  of  September*  1776,  to 

congress*  says*  that,  seeing  several  large  bodies  of  the  enemy  in 

Botioo  on  the  plain  below  the  heights*  he  rode  down  to  the  outposts 

b  prepare  for  their  reception  if  they  should  attack.     When  he  ar* 

med*  he  savs*  he  heard  a  firing*  which,  he  was  informed*  was  be- 

nicjtu  a  panj  of  our  rangers*  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant- 

eok>nel  Knowhon*  and  an  advanced  party  of  the  enemy.     Gene- 

nl  Washington  beinir  informed  that  the  bodv  of  the  enemv,  who 

Ecpt  themselves  concealed  in  the  wood*  was  greater  than  Knowl- 

loa's  force*  ordered  three  coroj^anies  of  Vii^nians,  under  Major 

Leikrh.  to  his  assistance,  with  ordei^  to  ti^*  to  get  in  the  enemy's 

R>r.  while  a  disposition  was  making  as  if  to  attack  them  in  front* 

thereby  to  draw  their  whole  attention  that  way.     This  succeeded  ; 

lid  the  British,  on  the  appearance  of  the  party  advancing  in  front, 

na  down  the  hill*  and  took  possession  of  some  fences  and  bushes, 

lad  commenced  a  distant  and  ineffective  firing.    The  parties  under 

Leiirh  and  Knowhon  commenced  their  attack  too  soon*  and  rather 

IB  their  flank  than  in  the  rear.     In  a  little  time*  Major  Leitch  was 

haagfat  off  wounded,  having  received  three  balls  through  his  side. 

h  a  Terr  short  time  after*  Colonel  Knowhon  fell*  mortally  wound-- 

V.    Scill  their  men  fought  on  undaunted :  and  the  general  sent 

detachments  from  the  eastern  regiments*  and  from  the  Marvland 

^laops,  to  their  support.     These  rciaforcements  charged  gallandy, 

^are  the  enemy  out  of  tlie  wood  into  the  plain,  and  were  pushing 

tkm  from  thence*  having*  as  the  creneral  sars,  **  silenced  their  fire, 

3B  a  great  measure***  when  the  British  commander*  preparing  to 

md  on  a  large  reinforcement*  Washington  ordered  a  retreat.    The 

faeifn  troops  that  had  been  engotreii  consisted  of  the  second  bat- 

ttBoo  of  light  infantry,  a  battalion  of  Highlanders*  and  three  com- 

pnues  of  Hessian  sharp-shooters — the  whole  under  the  command 

<f  Brigadiei^general  Leslie.     This  aifair*  trifling  in  itself*  and  al- 

~     by  the  loss  of  two  gallant  officers,  one  of  them  before  di»* 


78  CMKAT  FOLE  IX  nw  TOUU 

tingiiwhfd  (or  oomge  and  coodoct.  was  of  ereai 
giriDe  confidenoe  to  the  Amencan  troops.  Ii  was  a  oontrait  to  the 
shamefiil  loin  of  tbe  dav  beibre.  and  proved  that  tfaeir  fofts  mm 
not  imrindble. 

At  this  period,  CSeptend^r  2l5t,)  and  after  tbe  retreat  of  tbe 
Americans,  a  great  fire  occiuTed  in  the  citr,  of  which  Mr.  David 
Grim,  a  rerr  respectable  inbabitant  of  New  York^  who  remamed 
in  tbe  city  when  tbe  British  took  ]XfS?ession,  has  left  us  this : 

^  Tbe  fire  of  1776  comineDced  in  a  small  wooden  boose,  on  tbe 
wfaaii^  near  tbe  Wfaiti>'baU  slip.  It  was  then  ooccpied  br  a  ni 
ber  of  men  and  wotnen,  of  a  bad  cbaracter.  Tbe  fire  be^an 
at  nidit.  Tbere  being  but  a  iew  inhabitants  in  the  ciir,  in  a  sboit 
time  it  raged  tremendoiaslr.  It  bomed  ail  tbe  booses  on  the  cat 
side  of  Wbileball  slip.  aiKl  the  west  nde  of  Broad  eireet  to  Beaner 
street.  A  providential  and  happy  circumstance  occuiied  at  tbii 
time :  the  wind  was  then  sootfawesterlv.  Aboot  two  o'clock  tbis 
mormng  tbe  wind  veered  to  the  south-east :  this  carried  the  flames 
of  the  fire  to  tbe  nonh-westward,  and  burned  both  sides  of  Beaier 
street  to  the  east  side  of  Broadwav,  then  crossed  BroadwivtDBeft- 
ver  lane,  and  burning  all  the  booses  on  both  sdes  of  BnadwaVy 
with  some  few  booses  in  New  street,  to  Rector  street,  and  to  Joko 
Harrison's,  Esq.,  three  fiorj  brick  boiue,  which  boose  stopped  Ae 
fire  on  the  east  side  of  Broadwav ;  fiom  thenoe  it  cominued  ban- 
ing  aD  the  bouses  in  Lumber  street,  and  tboee  in  the  rear  of  Ae 
hooKS  on  tbe  west  side  of  Broadwav  to  St.  PaoI*s  chmcli, 
ccmliniied  btiming  the  houses  on  both  sides  of  Partidon  street, 
all  the  houses  in  tbe  tear  (again)  of  the  west  sde  of  Broadway  to 
tbe  Nofth  River.  The  fire  did  not  stop  until  it  got  into  Moi^ile 
acreec,  now  Barclav  street.  The  college  yard  and  die  Tacant 
ground  in  tbe  rear  of  the  same,  put  an  end  to  this  awfid  and  tie- 
tneiidoos  fire. 

**  Trinitf  cbtirch  being  btimed,  nas  occaaoned  by  die  flakes  of 
fire  that  fiedl  OQ  the  souih  side  of  the  rooC     Tbe  sootheriv 
fiuoied  those  flakes  of  fire  in  a  shoit  time  to  an  ^nMnng  bbiB, 
it  siKHi  herame  out  of  htmian  power  to  extinguisb  the 
roofofthis  noble  edifice  being  £0  steep  that  no  perMNiooold  goooiL 

^  St.  FauTs  church  was  in  the  like  perilous  sitnatioii.  The 
roof  being  flat,  with  a  balustrade  on  the  eaves,  a  notnber  of  titiatoi 
went  on  the  same,  and  extinguished  the  flakes  of  fire  as  they  Vk 
OD  the  rooC  Thus,  happily,  was  this  beautiful  church  saved 
the  destmctioo  of  this  dreadful  fire,  which  threaleoed  the  mini 
oC  >m1  that  of  the  wiiole  city. 

^  The  Lutheran  church  being  contieiioiB  to  houses  adji 
tbe  aaoto  fire,  it  was  impossible  to  save  it  from  deslroctioii. 
fire  vat  so  fiirioos  and  violently  hot,  that  ito  pecno  ooold  go 
ii»  aoi  there  was  no  fire  engioes  to  be  had  at  tint  ttoe  io  the  ciy. 


'*  The  Dumber  of  bouses  tfast  verf  boriMK]  aad  destnnred  is  Him 
onr  at  that  awful  coodafntkiD,  vere  tbus.  riz:  froon  Morirdfe  so^oet 
to  CoiirtlaDdt  street.  ox>e  huodreid  azkd  «xiT-«trr«3 ;  from  Cooit- 
luidt  street  to  Bearer  sareeL  ooe  buodred  aikd  fereoTT-^re;  fron 
BetTtf  street  to  the  East  RiTer.  Qz»e  bwadmd  and  fiftj-^ae:  toial« 
bur  hundred  and  uiDen-ihree. 

^Tbere  being  Terr  (tw  inha^wTanm  in  sbe  dtr  at  the  time,  aad 
moj  of  them  were  afraid  io  Tentore  ai  znrbtt  io  the  atreen,  far  fear 
of  bong  taken  up  as  susptcaoos  perncott. 

^  An  instance  to  my  knowledce  oonimA.  A  Mr.  White,  a  de- 
cent citisen,  and  bouse<a2peiiier«  rather  too  i\k>lent  a  roraliA,  aad 
hflerlj  had  addicted  himseif  io  liquor^  was^  oo  the  xu^jbd  of  the  fire, 
hnpA  on  a  tavern  sipi-jMMt,  at  the  corDcr  of  Cberrr  and  Rooae- 
Tchstreets.  Sereral  of  the  cmgeos  were  Bent  io  the  pnirofl9-f:uaid 
far  examination,  and  some  of  ihem  remained  there  two  and  three 
dns,  until  ther  could  cire  sausfadjcmr  eridenoe  of  their  loraltT. 

"3lr.  Hugh  Gaine,  in  his  I'nrrersa]  Recifiler  far  the  rear  17S7, 
p^e  119,  aavft.  New  Yoric  is  about  a  mile  and  a  half  in  length,  aad 
btifa  mile  broad,  containing,  before  the  fires  on  the  21.H  of  Septem- 
ber, 1776,  and  the  dd  o(  AuruA.  1776,  about  four  thousand  two 
kmdred  bouses,  and  thim  ihoutand  inhabhants.^ 

Over  the  ruins  of  this  fire  I  have  wandereni,  when  a  bor,  in  every 
tfirecboo.  It  will  be  observed,  br  Mr.  Cinm's  aooount,  that  the 
kiORa  on  the  west  side  of  Broadwaj.  and  whkh  were  south  of 
Beaver  street,  escaped  the  conflagration ;  and  it  was  in  these,  that 
the  English  generals  lived — what  is  now  No.  1.  being  head-^uar- 
ass.  I  mufrt  observe,  thai  the  houses  in  Broadway,  north  of  Tri- 
aitv  church  rard.  were  not  burned.  The  Cfltr  Tavern  was  on  pait 
of  the  site  of  the  present  Cirr  UoieL  Benreen  this  and  Su  Paul*f 
dmrch  the  houses  were  small  and  xnosi  of  them  of  wood.  The  last 
brick  houses  in  the  town  v  ere  next  bevond  the  church.  The  roina 
QO  the  south-east  side  of  the  town  were  convened  into  dwelling 
places  br  nsinc:  the  chimnevs  and  pans  of  walls  which  were  firm, 
md  ad<hn£  pieces  of  spars  u-ith  old  can^'aits  from  the  ships,  (brm* 
iac  hovels— pan  but  and  pan  tent  Tills  was  called  **•  Canraa^- 
town  ;**  and  was  tlie  receptacle  and  re^-^n  of  the  viiest  drer?  brought 

br  the  armv  and  ozyy  of  Britain,  with  the  fiji]iie>t  of  those  who  fled 

.  .  . 

to  them  ickr  refuse. 

General  Howe,  finding  tljai  the  position  taken  by  Washinston 
was  too  strong  to  be  attacked  in  fronu  moved  bis  main  army  hieber 
ap  the  sound,  and  crossed  over  to  Froi:*s  Poinu  This  rendered  it 
aeceasary  ibr  a  change  of  position  on  the  American  pan.  Accord- 
iagtr,  leaving  a  garrison  at  Fon  Washington,  the  army  was  marched 
to  White  Plaina.  General  Lee  was  now  with  Washinston  :  and 
General  Greene  had  command  at  F^on  Lee,  opposite  to  the  gani- 
aoa  kft  oo  York  island. 


80         AFFAIR  OF  WHITB  PLAINS  AND  FORT  WASHINGTON. 

While  Howe  moved  his  army  from  Frog's  Point  to  New  Ro- 
chelle,  he  was  attacked  successfully  by  skirmishing  parties  behind 
stone  walls.  At  White  Plains  an  action  took  place  without  deci- 
sive advantage  to  either  party  ;  and  Washington,  taking  a  stronger 
position,  expected  and  awaited  an  attack.  A  rain  storm  intervened ; 
and  the  Americans  withdrew  to  the  heights  of  North  Castle,  where 
their  adversary  deemed  it  improper  to  assault  them.  Leaving  Ge- 
neral Lee  at  this  post,  the  commander-in-chief  crossed  the  North 
River  to  Fort  Lee,  and  from  thence  to  Hackinsack.  Howe  seized 
this  opportunity  to  attack  Fort  Washington,  left  with  too  slender  a 
garrison  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Magaw.  Works  were 
erected  on  Haerlem  river  to  cover  the  crossing  of  the  English,  which 
nothing  could  impede.  I  am  indebted  to  Graydon*  for  the  follow- 
ing particulars : 

**  Fort  Washington  stood  on  an  eminence,  situated  on  the  mar- 
gin of  the  Hudson,  or  North  river,  about  two  miles  and  a  half 
below  Kingsbridge.  The  access  to  the  level  on  the  top  of  it,  is 
steep  and  difficult  on  every  side,  except  on  the  south,  where  the 
ground  is  open,  and  the  ascent  gradual,  to  the  fort.  The  hill  ex- 
tends along  the  North  river  about  half  a  mile  from  the  fort ;  and  at 
the  termination  of  it  were  some  small  works,  which,  with  the  nar 
tural  strength  of  the  place,  were  deemed  a  sufficient  protection 
against  the  enemy,  in  that  quarter. 

**  Nearly  opposite  to  the  fort,  on  the  west  side  of  Haerlem  rim, 
«  body  of  men  was  posted  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy, 
who  had  erected  works  on  the  high  and  commanding  ground  east 
of  that  river,  apparently  with  a  design  of  covering  a  landing  of 
troops  in  that  part  of  the  island  of  New  York.  Two  lines  ex- 
tencled  from  the  vicinity  of  Haerlem  river,  across  the  island,  to  the 
North  river,  and  were  in  length  each  about  a  mile.  The  first  line 
towards  New  York,  intersected  the  great  road  leadmg  to  Kings^ 
bridge,  after  the  height  is  ascended  from  Haerlem  plains :  it  was  a 
slight  intrenchment,  with  a  few  weak  bastions,  without  platforms 
for  cannon,  and  furnished  with  no  other  ordnance  than  a  few  old 
iron  pieces  of  small  calibre,  scarcely  fit  for  use,  and  an  iron  six 
pounder  mounted  on  trucks.  The  second  line  was  stronger ;  but 
on  the  day  of  the  attack  of  Fort  Washington,  was,  from  necessity, 
wholly  without  defence,  either  of  troops,  or  artillery  of  any  de- 
scription. Colonel  Magaw,  who  commanded  on  the  island,  re- 
mained in  the  fort ;  Colonel  Rawlins,  with  his  regiment  of  riflemen, 
was  posted  on  the  rear  of  Mount  Washington ;  Colonel  Baxter, 
with  his  regiment  of  militia,  on  Haerlem  river,  opposite  Fort 
Washington  ;  and  Colonel  Lambert  Cadwalader,  at  the  first  linoi 


Paige  175. 


AWWAOL  or  rMtT  WAsnxoTosr.  81 

ihcM  Tvti  md  a  half  miles  (rom  the  fort,  inth  dbout  eight  hundred 
iBn.  indudixu^  a  reinfoireinent  of  t  hundred  militia,  sent  turn 
liKMi  m  or  eleren  oVIock  in  the  mornim?. 

** Toe  operatioos  of  the  enemy  were  announced  early  in  the 
nmMc:,  hy  a  cannonade  on  Colonel  Rawlins^  position,  and  a 
dmsi  one*  fitim  the  heights  of  Momsania,  on  the  line  occupied 
KColnael  Cadwalader :  the  former  with  a  liew  of  fiK^ilitatine  the 
aavi  OB  that  point,  by  three  thousand  Hessians :  the  latter,  to 
fk«Ywtlie  appcxMch  of  Lord  Percy  with  one  thousand  six  hundied 


^'At  ten  oViock  in  the  morning,  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  ap- 
Mfd  on  Haerlem  pltins,  preceded  by  their  fiekKpieces,  and  ad- 
^fwtd  with  their  whole  body  towards  a  rt^'ky  point  of  the  heights, 
aMi  sliiited  the  plains  in  a  $^uthem  direction  from  the  first  line, 
mi  at  a  CMisiderable  distance  frt^m  it — and,  commencing  a  brisk 
lie  on  thesvnall  work  constructed  there,  dnove  out  tlie  parly  which 
Ud  ii,  consisiing  ol'  twenty  men,  and  took  possession  of  it :  the 
retiring  with  the  piqtiei-guard  to  the  first  line.  The  enemt 
g  gained  the  heights,  ad^-anced  in  column,  on  open  ground, 
toaands  the  first  line ;  while  a  (uny  of  their  troops  pushed  forward 
and  Tocik  possession  of  a  small  unoccupied  work  in  front  of  the 
fat  line :  frcwn  «  hence  they  opened  ihcir  fire  with  some  fieid-fHeees 
aid  a  honitiet,  upon  the  line,  but  without  ertect.  When  the  column 
within  ptt>pcr  distance,  a  fire  fi>[Mn  the  six  pmmdcr  was  di- 
against  it:  on  which,  the  whole  column  inclined  to  ilxiir  left, 
aad  inok  post  behind  a  piece  of  woods,  where  they  remained.  As 
it  was  sospected  that  they  wx^uM  make  an  anempt  on  the  right  of 
the  line,  under  corer  of  the  wood,  that  |>art  wits  sin?ngthened, 

-C<*looel  Rawlins  was  some  time  laie  in  the  mominc  attacked  br 
ri»  Hesssaris,  whom  be  fought  with  great  gallantr>'  and  edect,  as 
wwe  climbing  the  hei<rhis ;  until  the  arms  of  the  riflenxHi  be- 
fttvm  the  foulness  ihey  contraned  from  i1k>  ftequent 
of  their  fire.  From  this  incident,  ami  the  great  superi- 
of  the  enemT,  Colonel  Rawlins  was  oblijeed  to  reiire  into  the 
The  et!emy  having  gained  the  !)cid)t*,  immediately  pushed 
towards  the  foit,  and  took  pc>si  behind  a  larjr  sioreiiouse^ 
n  a  small  distance  of  iu 
-  Bat  to  return  to  what  passed  at  the  first  line  towards  New  York. 
'BiretKe  hat  inir  been  receired  bv  Colonel  Cadwaladen  that  the 
were  cominc  down  Haeriem  river  in  boats,  to  land  in  his 
tear,  be  detached  Captain  Lenox  with  fifty  men,  to  oppose  them, 
■Mi,  on  further  blormation,  a  hundred  more,  with  Capaiins  Ed- 
awds  and  Todor.  This  force,  with  the  addition  of  about  the  same 
aauA^ci  from  Fort  Washington,  anired  on  the  heichts  near  >f orris's 
h^Bse^  ear^y  eimuch  to  fire  on  the  enemy  in  ilx^ir  boats,  which  was 
Aooe  widi  «K^  edeci,  that  abom  UDetT  wve  killed  and  wottiid^ 

9.  ii 


82  AFFAIR  OF  FORT  WASHINGTON. 

"  This  body  of  the  enemy  immediately  advanced>«  and  took  pos- 
session of  the  ground  in  advance  of,  and  a  little  below,  Morris's 
house.  They  hesitated  ;  and  this  being  perceived,  from  the  delay 
that  took  place,  Colonel  Cadwalader,  to  avoid  the  fatal  consequences 
that  must  have  resulted  from  the  expected  movement,  immediately 
resolved  to  retire  to  the  fort,  with  the  troops  under  his  command  ; 
and  pursuing  the  road  which  led  to  the  fort,  under  the  heights  by 
the  North  river,  arrived  there  with  little  or  no  loss. 

"  On  the  16th  of  November,  before  daybreak,  we  were  at  our 
post  in  the  lower  lines  of  Haerlem  heights :  that  is,  our  regiment 
and  Magaw's  and  some  broken  companies  of  Miles's  and  other 
battalions,  principally  from  Pennsylvania.  This  might  be  called 
our  right  wing,  and  was  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Cadwala- 
der ;  our  left,  extending  to  the  Hudson  above  and  on  the  north  side 
of  the  fort  towards  Kingsbridge,  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Raw- 
lins of  Maryland,  who  had  there  his  own  regiment  of  riflemen,  and 
probably  some  other  troops  ;  though,  as  the  position  was  narrow, 
numbers  were  not  so  essential  to  it,  as  to  other  parts  of  the  gene- 
ral post.  The  front  or  centre  extending  a  considerable  distance 
along  Haerlem  river,  was  committed  to  the  militia  of  the  Flying 
Camp,  and  Coloiiel  Magaw  placed  himself  in  the  most  convenient 
station  for  attending  to  the  whole,  having  selected  one  or  two  offi- 
cers to  assist  him  as  aids-de-camp.  I  think  it  was  between  seven 
and  eight  o^clock,  when  they  gave  us  the  first  shot  from  one  of  their 
batteries  on  the  other  side  of  the  Haerlem  river.  It  was  well  di- 
rected, at  a  cluster  of  us  that  were  standing  together  observing  their 
movements ;  but  it  fell  short  by  about  ten  or  fifteen  yards,  and 
bounded  over  the  spot  we  had  precipitately  abandoned.  In  cor- 
recting this  errour  they  afterwards  shot  too  high,  and  did  us  no  harm ; 
at  least,  wliile  I  remained  in  this  part  of  tlie  field,  which,  though 
enfiladed  or  rather  exposed  in  the  rear,  was  too  distant  to  be  very 
seriously  annoyed.  They  had  better  success  in  front,  killing  a 
man  with  a  cannon  ball,  belonging  to  our  piquets,  which  they  drove 
in.  Soon  after,  they  approached  the  lines  in  great  force  under 
cover  of  a  wood,  in  the  verge  of  which  they  halted,  and  slowly  be- 
gan to  form,  giving  us  an  occasional  discharge  from  their  artillery. 
Tired  of  the  state  of  suspense  in  which  we  had  remained  for  seve- 
ral hours,  I  proposed  to  Colonel  Cadwalader,  to  throw  myself  with 
my  company  into  a  small  work  or  raveUn  about  two  hundred  yards 
in  advance,  for  the  purpose  of  annoying  them  as  they  came  up. 
To  this  he  assented,  and  I  took  possession  of  it ;  but  found  it  was 
a  work  that  had  been  little  more  than  marked  out,  not  knee  high, 
and  of  course  afifording  no  cover.  For  this  reason,  after  remaining ' 
in  it  a  few  minutes,  with  a  view  to  impress  my  men  with  the  idea 
that  a  breastwork  was  not  absolutely  necessary,  I  abandoned  it,  and 
returned  to  the  entrenchment.     This  unimportant  movement  was 


APPAim  OP   WORT  WJLSHIXGTOX.  83 

tMed  widi  some  respect ;  not  knowing  its  meaning:,  it  induced 
1^  troops  thu  were  in  coiuouif  imniediatelr  to  displays  ind  the 
sn^:^dir$  to  open  upon  us  t'  scattering  fire*     Soon  after  ray  leluni 
i»  d»  Snes*  ic  beii^  okserred  that  the  enemy  was  extending  him- 
)df  i»«aids  the  Hudson  on  our  right«  Colonel  Cadwalader  de- 
ttcM  me  tUcher  with  my  company*  with  orders  to  post  myself  to 
die  best  adrantage  for  the  protection  of  that  dank,     I  accordingly 
Mtbed«  and  took  my  station  at  the  extremity  of  the  trench.  Just 
vkne  the  hi^  crounds  becin  to  decline  Upwards  the  river.     This 
tttaiXMEu  6om  the  intefrentHMi  of  higher  land,  concealed  from  my 
vinr  the  other  puts  of  the  field ;  and  tlience  disqiialifieil  me  from 
speaking  of  what  passed  there  as  an  eye-wiiness :  but  that  the  ac- 
tin  hkl  be^nun  in  earnest,  I  was  some  time  after  intbnued  bv  mv 
M»  of  bearing  :  it  was  assailed  by  a  most  tremendous  roar  of  ar* 
fifty,  ^piickly  succeeded  by  incessant   volleys  of  small   arms« 
*^li  seemed  to  proceed  from  the  east  and  north :  and  it  was  to 
iese  points^  that  General  Howe  chiefl}-  directoil  his  oliorts-     l>n 
KKianng  intelligence  that  embarcations  of  British  tnxi»(^  were 
Aiwt  to  be  thrown  across  Haerlem  river  in  the  r\*ar.  Colonel  Cad- 
vikder  made  detachments  from   his  position  (already  much  too 
vfakhr  manned)  to  meet  this  boily  of  tlie  enemy,  as  yet  unop}Kised 
ty  any  part  of  our  force.     The  first  detachnient  arriveii  in  time  to 
dpCB  a  fire  upon  the  assailants  before  they  reached  the  shore,  and 
a  wa$  well  directed  and  deadly.     Ne\"enheless,  their  srreat  supe- 
nofity  o«'  force,  adequately  aided  by  artiller%~,  enabletl  ihom  to  land, 
aad,  bv  extendine  themselves,  to  cain  Uk*  heiirhts.  l>ii  iliis  croimd 
t  was«  that  a  sharp  contest  ensueii :  s^HNSiking  of  which,   in  his  oth- 
rial   account   of  the   action,  l«eneral  Howe  savs,   Mt  iitkS  well 
dNeoded  bv  a  boilv  of  the  rebels  :*  aini  so  it  undoiibtetil v  vas,  wlien 
it  is  considered  that  but  one  hundreii  and  fifiv  of  our  men,  with  a 
SKfie  eighteen  pounder,  were  opposed  by  eicht  hundred  British 
Mops  under  cover  of  a  banery.     But,  overjx>wert\i  by  numbers 
d»  reststaoce  was  inedectual ;  arnl  the  detachments  on^pEni  in  it 
maed  lowmrds  the  fort.     ItawUns,  on  his  ^vsirt,  made  a  gallant 
asaiftst  the  Hes$ians  under  the  ctMiiniaiui  of  Cvenenil  Knyp> 
k  to  whom  had  been  assi^n^ed  tht^  perilous  clory  of  gaining 
strong  piece  of  gioimd,  diliering  essentially  from  that  on  the 
5  of  Haerlem  river,  in  the  want  of  op|H%siie  heights  for  bat- 
The  itenuans  here  k>st  a  ^rreat  manv  men  :  but  as  ther 
had  been  bought  by  his  firitannick  majesty,  he  had  an  unques»- 
right  to  make  a  free  use  of  them  ;  and  this  seemeil  to  be 
coovictioo  of  General  Howe.    •  Itawlins  also  sutiered  a  eood 
daal  in  proportion  to  his  numbers.     He  had,  I  think,  two  othcers 
kiUed:  and   himself.  Major   Williams,  and   some   others,  wi^re 
voonded  :  one  of  whom,  a  Mr.  Hanson,  died  in  New  York.     The 
of  the  post  of  Kawlins,  put  the  Hessians  in  poasesaioo 


84  AFFAIR  OF  FOET  WASHIXOVO0. 

of  tbe  eround  that  commaDded  the  fort ;  as  that,  po»€9ied  br  the 
British  commaDded  the  open  field*  Heace,  tbe  contest  mi^b*.  be 
said  to  be  at  an  end. 

*'  Colonel  Cadwalader,  aprare  that  he  was  pbced  between  two 
fires  ;  and  that  the  rictorious  enemy  in  bis  rear,  would  soon  exfeod 
themselves  across  the  bland,  ordered  a  refrf:at  just  in  time  to  pie- 
rent  hU  interception. 

**  The  fir?t  notice  that  I  had  of  the  intrencfament  bein^  sivea 
up,  was  from  an  officer  I  did  not  know,  posted  at  sonoe  difianpe 
fi^m  me,  going  off  with  bis  men.  I  called  to  him  to  know  vfan 
he  meant.  He  answered,  that  he  was  making  tbe  best  of  hk  war 
to  the  ibrt,  as  the  rest  of  the  troops  bad  retreated  long  since.  As 
I  had  no  reason  to  doubt  liis  veracitv,  I  immediatelv  formed  mf 
company,  and  besran  to  retire  in  good  order,  which  is  more  tfaas  I 
can  say  of  my  neighbour  or  his  corps :  and  amiilst  all  tbe  chagria 
I  afterward  felt,  that  the  erents  of  the  day  had  been  so  unpropitioui 
to  our  glor}',  I  had  the  satisfaction  to  reflect,  that  the  men  were 
always  obedient,  and  ready  to  partake  of  any  danger  tbeir  omcen 
would  share  with  them.  This,  however,  was  but  matter  of  inter- 
ence  ;  since  I  never  was  attacked,  though  continually  fiionied  by  a 
stronz  force,  and  incommoded  by  their  ordnance,  though  widioai 
being  injured  by  it.  After  proceeding  some  himdred  paces.  I  le- 
flected  that  I  had  no  orders  for  what  I  was  doins: ;  and  that,  altboagk 
I  had  no  nrht  to  expect  exactness,  in  a  moment  of  such  pressure, 
it  was  yet  porrfible  my  movement  might  be  premature.  I  knew 
nothing  of  what  had  passed  in  the  centre,  or  of  tbe  enemy  beiag 
master  of  t:ie  hizh  grounds  in  mv  rear  about  Colonel  Morris*! 
house,  from  whom,  no  doubt,  had  proceeded  the  cannon  bails  dial 
whizzed  bv  us  ;  and  for  which,  cominz  in  that  direction,  I  coold 
not  account.  To  be  eatirely  correct  in  my  conduct,  I  here  balled 
my  men.  and  went  myself  to  a  rising  ground  at  some  distaaoet 
from  which  I  might  have  a  view  of  the  lines  where  Cidooel  Cad- 
walader  had  been  posted.  They  seemed  thoroughly  manned; 
and  at  the  in-=tanf,  I  beckoned  to  the  officers  to  march  back  ihe 
company,  which  they  immediately  put  in  motion ;  but  looki^^ 
more  attentively,  I  perceived  that  the  people  I  saw,  were  Bridih 
and  He<«ian  troops  that  were  eagerly  pressing  forward.  Cpoa 
this,  I  hastened  back  to  my  party,  and  as  there  was  do  time  to  be 
lost,  being  in  a  situation  to  be  cut  to  pieces  by  a  corps  of  carabj, 
I  ordered  them  under  the  command  of  my  ensign,  to  make  ifaa 
best  of  their  way  and  join  the  body  of  men,  which  none  donincJ 
being  our  own,  on  the  heigiiis  beyond  the  inner  lines  ;  amd  that  ] 
would  follow  them  as  fast  as  I  could,  for  I  was  a  good  deal  out  al 
breath  with  the  expedition  I  had  used  in  goini;  lo  and  lecamiiH 
from  the  groimd,  which  gave  me  a  view  of  the  outer  lines.  1 
accordingij  walked  on,  accompanied  by  Fonest,  who  did  ael 


TRBATMBNT  OF   PRISONERS.  86 

choose  to  leave  me  alone.     The  body  I  had  pointed  to  and  di- 
rected my  company  to  join,  under  the  idea  of  their  bein;;  our  own 
men,  turned  out  to  be  the  (British,  consisting  of  Colonel  Stirling's 
division  of  Highlanders.     L  pon  this  discovery,  we  held  a  mo- 
meot's  consultation,  and  the  result  was,  that,  hemmed  in  as  we 
were  od  ever}*  side,  there  was  no  chance  of  escaping ;  and  that 
there  was  nothing  left  but  to  give  ourselves  up  to  them.     Thus 
circumstanced,  we  clubbed  our  fusees  in  token  of  surrender,  and 
continued  to  advance  towards  them.     They  either  did  not  or  would 
not  take  tiie  signal ;  and  though  there  were  but  two  of  us,  from 
vboui  they  could  not  possibly  expect  a  design  to  attack,  they  did 
not  cease  firing  at  us.     I  may  venture  to  say,  that  not  less  than  ten 
ean^  were  discharged  with  thenr  muzzles  towards  us,  within  tlie 
dbtanoe  of  forty  or  fifty  yards  ;  and  I  might  be  nearer  the  truth  in 
Mvinjr,  that  some  were  let  off  wittiin  twenty.     Luckily  for  us,  it 
was  not  our  rinemen  to  whom  we  were  targets  ;  and  it  is  astonish* 
ing  how  even  these  blunt  shooters  could  have  missed  us.     But  as 
we  were  ascen<lin;j  a  considerable  hill,  thev  shot  over  us.     I  ob- 
served  they  took  no  aim,  and  that  the  moment  of  presenting  and 
firing,  was  the  same.     As  I  had  full  leisure  for  reflection,  and  was 
perferdy  collected,  though  fearful  that  their  design  was  to  give  no 
quarter,  I  took  off  my  hat  with  such  a  sweep  of  the  arm  as  could 
Dot  but  be  obser\*ed,  without  ceasing  however  to  advance.     This 
had  the  intended  effect :  a  loud  voice  procee<ied  from  the  breast- 
work, and  the  firing  immediately  ceased.     An  officer  of  the  forty- 
second  regiment  advanced  towanis  us ;  and  as  I  was  foremost,  he 
civilly  accosted  me  by  asking  me  my  rank.     Being  informed  of  this, 
as  also  of  Forrest's,  he  inquired  where  the  fort  lay  and  where  Co- 
kxiel  Magaw  was.     I  pointed  in  the  direction  of  the  fort,  and  told 
him  1  had  not  seen  Colonel  Magaw  during  the  day.     Upon  this, 
he  put  us  under  the  care  of  a  sergeant  and  a  few  men,  and  left  us. 
The  sergeant  was  a  decent  looking  man,  who,  on  taking  us  into 
custody,  bestowed  upon  us  in  broad  Scotch  the  friendly  admonition 
of  ifoung  m<"W,  ye  should  never  jight  against  ifatr  //w^.     The  lit- 
tle bustle  produced  by  our  surrender,  was  scarcely  over,  when  a 
British  officer,  on  horseback,  apparently  of  high  rank,  rode  up  at 
t  full  gallop,  exclaiming,  Jfltat  !  taking  prisoners !  kill  tJitm,  kill 
ncry  miM  of  them.     My  back  was  towards  him  when  he  spoke ; 
uhI  although,  by  this  time,  there  was  none  of  that  appearance  of 
ferocity  in  die  guard,  which  would  induce  much  fear  that  they  would 
necute  his  command,  I  yet  thought  it  well  enough  to  parry  it,  and 
^vaiog  to  him,  I  took  off  my  hat,  saying.  Sir,  I  put  myself  uruier 
y^r  protection.     No  man  was  ever  more  effectually  rebuked.    His 
■Buioer  was  instantly  softened  :  he  met  my  salutation  with  an  in- 
^liiMtioQ  of  hia  body,  and  after  a  civil  question  or  twrOf   as  if  to 


86  TRBATMBNT  OF   FRI80NBB8. 

make  amends  for  bis  sanguinary  mandate,  he  rode  off  towards  tbe 
fort,  to  which  he  had  inquired  the  way. 

"  Though  I  had  delivered  up  my  arms,  I  had  not  adverted  to  t 
cartouch-box  which  I  wore  about  my  waist,  and  which,  having  once 
belonged  to  his  Britannick  majesty,  presented,  in  front,  the  gilded 
letters  G.  R.  Exasperated  at  this  trophy  on  the  body  of  a  rebd, 
one  of  the  soldiers  seized  the  belt  with  great  violence,  and  in  tbe 
attempt  to  unbuckle  it,  had  nearly  jerked  me  off  my  legs.  To 
appease  the  offended  loyalt}'  of  the  honest  Scot,  I  submissivdy 
took  it  off  and  delivered  it  to  him,  being  conscious  that  I  had  no 
longer  any  right  to  it.  At  this  time  a  Hessian  came  up.  He  was 
not  a  private,  neither  did  he  look  like  a  regular  officer :  he  wis 
some  retainer,  however,  to  the  German  troops ;  and  was  as  much 
of  a  brute  as  any  one  I  have  ever  seen  in  the  human  form.  The 
wretch  came  near  enough  to  elbow  us  ;  and  half  unsheathing  his 
,  sword,  with  a  countenance  that  bespoke  a  most  vehement  desire  to 
use  it  upon  us,  he  grinned  out  in  broken  English,  £A,  yon  rrM, 
you  damn  rebel ! 

'*  These  transactions,  which  occupied  about  ten  minutes,  passed 
upon  the  spot  on  which  we  were  taken,  whence  we  were  marched 
to  an  old  stable  or  out-house,  where  we  found  about  forty  or  fiftf 
prisoners  already  collected,  principally  officers.  We  remained  od 
the  outside  of  the  buildino: ;  and  for  nearlv  an  hour  sustained  a 
series  of  most  intolerable  abuse.  The  term  rebel,  with  the  epithet 
damned  before  it,  was  the  mildest  we  received.  We  were  twenty 
times  told,  sometimes  with  a  taunting  affectation  of  concern,  that 
we  should  ever}'  man  of  us  be  hanged ;  and  were  nearly  as  manj 
times  paraded  widi  the  most  inconceivable  insolence,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  ascertaining  wiiether  there  were  not  some  deserters  among 
us ;  and  these  were  always  sought  for  among  officers,  as  if  die 
lowest  fellow  in  their  army  was  fit  for  any  post  in  ours.  *  There's 
a  fellow,'  an  upstart  Cockney  would  exclaim,  '  that  I  could  swear 
was  a  deserter.'  *  What  countryman  are  you  sir  ?  did  you  nol 
belong  to  such  a  regiment  ?'  I  was  not  indeed  challenged  ibr  a 
deserter ;  but  the  indignity  of  being  ordered  about  by  such  cod- 
temptible  whipsters,  for  a  moment  unmanned  me,  and  I  was  obHged 
to  apply  my  handkerchief  to  my  eyes.  This  was  the  first  time  in 
my  life,  that  I  had  been  a  victim  of  brutal,  cowardly  oppressian ; 
and  I  was  unequal  to  the  shock ;  but  my  elasticity  of  mind  was 
soon  restored,  and  I  viewed  it  with  tlie  indignant  contempt  il 
deserved. 

*'  For  the  greater  convenience  of  guarding  us,  we  were  remorod 
from  this  place,  to  the  bam  of  Colonel  Morris's  house,  already 
mentioned,  which  had  been  the  head-quarters  of  our  army,  as  il 
now  was  of  the  royal  one.  This  was  the  great  bank  of  depoeili 
for  prisoners  taken  out  of  the  fort ;  and  already  j»etty  well  filled 


XT  OP   PftUOXCES.  87 


I:  WIS  a  xc«il  arv  boOdiar,  ind  w  vei«  ushered  ioio  h  amooc 
3K  Ksc  ibe  vboie  bodv  cooststinc  of  from  a  hundnrd  and  fiftr*  to 
?vo  ikoadnfd.  ciMipcfe»Qc  &  modev  croap  lo  be  sure.  Hete  were 
am  tad  o&vc^  of  &U  de:j>cnpiioc$«  re^iulu^  iiul  miliiii.  iroo|» 
caaQKflCil  lad  5Cftie«  some  in  unijbniijs  ^Nue  vitboui  them,  ind 
sne  IB  bocdELr  shiitss.  the  moitil  STerskxi  to  i  red  coat.  Some 
«  tte  o&ers  Ind  beeo  pluodered  of  their  hats^  and  some  of  their 
OMB :  izxi  upon  the  oew  scNrietr  into  which  we  were  intiodiiced, 
vitt  vdom  a  sifeovr  ext>?noui  ws»  aU  in  iU«  we  were  oeiiiiiihr  nol 
:%L*u!BKd  Go  make  m  verr  aTourahle  imprv^s^sMo. 

"^  Tbe  iKDcer  who  coaunanded  the  iruaid  in  whose  cus^odr  we 

xm  vvre«  w;fc&  an  ilt-hMkinf .  low-bne^  leliow  of  this  ><^-Am^  corps 

«tf  I:rcc  uuaizQry.     As  I  sxood  as  near  as  jH-^Sisihle  to  the  docv  M* 

ae  5U?  o<  air.  the  encioMire  b  which  we  were  beis^  extremehr 

c<9votfd  and  taxpSem$ant«  1  was  partirularty  exposed  to  his  brvta- 

jct :  lod  repelling  with  $«iiie  sereritr  one  ot'his  attacks^  ior  I  was 

ieaxii::;^  ce»«eraie  and  careiesss^  of  $tM}\  the  ruSan  esLclaimed* 

S'f  £  xtj^z^  «r.  :*r  jT-V  ^ir  v.^*  w*  f^r:.  at  the  same  time  cluUMttf 

jtf  5see  aad  drawic;  it  back  as  if  to  pve  a  blow.  I  tuilv  expected 

^  b^ic  >»  coocenied  himse'u  with  the  threat.     I  oisiserred  to  him 

iaL  I  wss  L3  h^  power,  acnl  disputed  :o  subiuit  to  it.  though  not 

arx'i*  trt'r>tf  everr  prvkvocatiivi. 

-  As  »  see  the  :>rl:?ocers  was  a  raaner  of  ?ouie  curiusitr*  we 
»?r»  o?i:!>l::u!eiited  wi"Ji  a  con:inuil  sucv>?s;sioa  of  risltuits*  coo- 
35C£Si£  v>c  o-:5cer*  of  ;fae  Bndsh  in::y.  There  werv  several  of  these 
wbea  tbe  ser^ant-^uaior  sraaw  :o  rik*  ir.  aivouat  of  us ; 


d  sortie ujarv.  a  list  of  such  of  ••ts  as  were  ot^cx*.-^     This  ser- 
±c'jj:h  aoc  uncivil,  haii  ail:ha;an::aa:e\i.  iUTi^ee  iiKpudeoce 
■if  cLr.  w^ich  S!iOCj>  toaselHxHi^p-icen:  :HKh^v'.';::iIss;\H:td  oScer 
«  Be  ajct*c  imvast  array  in  the  worid  :  and  w::h  his  jvn   ia  hi* 
anni  lai  2l&^  p^p^r  on  his  kitee.  appIU\l  to  each  of  us.  in  :urT3.  tor 
m  :%2k.     He  iud  jus^  5et  :uine  down,  when  he  can^e  :o  a  link 
nfOL,  siilica  oocer  trv«a  York  cv>uarv.  i«ho.  s^^ir.c-wha:  to  the  de- 
armDoc  of  his  a;»reara::x-e.  had  suh>::::;:t*d  :he  vllrt}  crv^wn  of  an 
mi  su.  i?c  1  i*Lur.o<r^wv>cthy  beivtr  cr.A:  ravl  b^'Trn  rikf  n  trora  him 
If  1  Hese^ian.     He  was  kuow::  :o  >:  jt::  or-X-er  f>v.::  hiri::^  been 
KBiRQcr^v:  icx>r^  us.  for  ihe  j^ur.x^s*  o:*t  "u:v«:ri'iv>a-      IV*  %snf  K^m 
m.yr.  rr  /  slid  the  sercexnt :    Yis.  was  :1  o  ir^wt»r.      Y  %r  ruALc* 
W  w:o  1  six^ificaat  siiiile.     1  ini ,:  ir;y  .*.  re;.vi^x:  :he  *.:K;e  man 
*  t  :z\:sL  am:  tooe.     r^v>u  eiis.  th^'."^^  «-is  ju'  ::::::•  ^xu*^JL^i•  rvvir  of 
*icic?r  amoci  the  o5ce:^  about  th<  vw:.  who  were  inecdLui:  to 
^  xwese  :  aod  I  a.-u  coc  surv,  I  viU*  ::o:  ac:h  :'*.v<<*'.f, 
I        •  A!is»>j^^  the  div  wi<  seji<<v::A^.^"  cvxv.  vt:  iVv^n  :rie  nuiiiber 
^5w«ed  '-3  "Jse  barr,  :he  air  with:  •.:wx>  ovi>:^'>s:ve  i:ul  siidocaiivy:. 
▼ficfi^  in  addiDoa  U>  the  a^itatior-s  of  the  oiy,  had  prvxiuced  an 
^snsie  thirst :  and  there  w«s  a  coodnual  cry  for  water.     1  cao- 


88  CAPTUEE  OF  FORT  WASHINGTON. 

pot  saj  that  this  want  was  unattended  to  .  the  soldiers  were  con* 
tinually  administering  to  it  by  bringing  water  in  a  bucket  But 
though  we,  who  were  about  the  door,  did  well  enough,  the  supply 
was  very  inadequate  to  such  a  number  of  mouths ;  and  many  must 
have  suffered  much.  Our  situation  brought  to  my  recollection 
that  of  Captain  Holwell  and  his  party,  in  the  black  hole  at  Calcutta ; 
and  had  the  weather  been  equally  hot,  we  should  not  have  been 
much  better  off." 

These  prisoners,  added  to  the  men  taken  on  Long  Island,  filled 
the  prison,  the  hospital,  the  churches,  and  sugar  houses  of  New 
York  with  suffering  and  dying  Americans*  The  British  immedi'* 
ately  crossed  the  Hudson,  and  Washington  was  obliged  to  abandon 
Fort  Lee  with  loss  of  artilleiy  and  stores,  and  precipitately  retreat 
west  of  Hackinsack  River,  with  the  shadow  of  an  army,  every  day 
becoming  thinner.  General  Lee,  who  commanded  what  was  now 
the  principal  body  of  the  forces,  was  ordered  to  join  the  comman- 
der-in-chief as  soon  as  possible,  as  the  enemy  evidently  were  push- 
ing for  Philadelphia. 

One  of  the  evils  attending  the  fall  of  these  brave  men,  was  the 
loss  of  confidence  in  General  Washington,  which  it  occasioned. 
His  enemies  rejoiced,  and  boldly  declared  that  he  was  unfit  for  his 
station  ;  and  none  so  loudly  as  Major-general  Charles  Lee.  Ge- 
neral Washington  had  been  determined  by  a  council  of  officers, 
and  by  the  opinion  of  one  in  whom  he  ever  justly  placed  great  con- 
fidence. General  Greene.  Yet  I  believe  he  sorely  lamented  the 
not  withdrawing  these  men  from  a  post,  which,  if  even  more  strong- 
ly garrisoned,  could  only  have  been  held  for  a  few  days.  In  the 
commander-in-chief's  letter  lo  congress,  dated  from  Gen.  Greene's 
head-quarters,  the  1 6th  of  November.  1776,  he  says,  that  when  the 
army  was  removed  in  consequence  of  Howe's  landing  at  Frog's 
Point,  Colonel  Magaw  was  left  with  1200  men  at  Fort  Washing- 
ton with  orders  to  defend  it  to  the  last.  Afterward  "  reflecting 
upon  the  smallness  of  the  garrison,"  he  wrote  to  Greene,  who 
commanded  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Hudson,  to  be  governed 
by  circumstances,  and  revoked  the  absolute  order  to  Magaw. 
Hearing  of  the  summons  to  surrender,  the  general  hastened  from 
Hackinsack,  and  was  prevented  crossing  to  Fort  Washington  by 
meeting  Greene  and  Putnam,  coming  from  thence,  who  assured 
him  that  the  men  were  *^  in  high  spirits,  and  would  make  a  good 
defence."  Next  morning  the  attack  commenced ;  and  when  the 
column  of  Colonel  Rahl  had  gained  the  ground  on  the  hill  within 
one  hundred  yards  of  the  fort,  and  all  the  advanced  troope  bad 
been  driven  in  or  taken  prisoners,  a  flag  with  a  second  demand  of 
surrender  was  sent  in  to  Magaw,  at  the  same  time  that  Washing- 
ton, who  viewed  the  contest  from  the  palkades^  (the  rocks  oppo- 
site,) sent  a  billet  to  the  coloneli  directing  him  to  bold  out,  and  be 


RETREAT  TO  THE  DELAWARE.  89 

.Would  endeavour  in  the  evening  to  bring  liim  off.  It  was  too  late  : 
the  treaty  of  surrender  had  been  entered  into,  and  could  not  be 
retracted.  Magaw  and  hi©  brave  men  became  prisoners  of  war — 
the  soldiers  retaining  their  baggage  and  the  officers  their  swords. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

RureOt  to  the  Dehiwnrc — Lee's  mUcotiduct — Affairs  in  the  north 
"■^^Colofiel  Mcigs-^  Vermont — Starke* 

1776  Washinotox  wrote  to  his  brother  Augustine,  November 
19th,  1770,  and  mentioned  the  lo?s  of  Tort  Washington: — 
"We  have  lost  not  only  two  thousand  mon  tint  were  tliere,  bnt  a  good 
deal  of  artillery,  and  some  of  the  best  arms  we  had.*'  He  laments 
that  the  different  states  are  so  slow  in  levying  their  quotas  of  men  : 
"In  ten  days  from  this  date,  there  will  not  be  above  two  thousand  men, 
if  that  number,  of  the  fixed  established  regiments,  on  this  side  Hud- 
son's River,  to  oppose  Howe's  whole  army."  Two  days  after,  he 
informed  congress,  that  the  British  had  followed  up  the  blow  of  the 
16th,  by  crossing  the  Hudson  and  pushing  for  the  bridge  over  the 
Hackinsack,  obliging  him  to  retreat  so  as  to  secm-e  that  pass  ;  that 
the  cannon  of  Fort  Lee  were  lo4,  with  a  great  deal  of  baggage,  two 
or  three  hundred  tents,  a  thousand  barrels  of  flour,  and  other 
stores.  He  was  then  retreating  to  put  the  river  Passaic  between 
him  and  the  enemy.  He  orders  Lee  to  leave  his  present  position 
and  cross  the  Hudson  with  the  continental  troops.  On  the  27th  of 
November,  Lee  had  not  moved.  The  enemy  not  only  advanced 
on  the  track  of  the  retreating  Americans,  but  pushed  detachments 
from  Staten  Island  and  passed  by  Amboy,  Woodbridge,  and  the 
villages  along  the  Raritan. 

Lord  Stirling,  with  two  brigades,  was,  on  the  third  of  Decem- 
ber,  at  Princeton,  and  the  general  at  Trenton.  Two  brigades  of 
his  remaining  troops,  having  served  their  time  of  enlistment,  aban- 
doned him,  when  now  mon  wanted.  General  Lee^s  movementi 
were  unlyjown,  both  to  the  commander-in-chief  and  to  congress. 
An  express  was  despatched  "to  know  wlieret  and  in  what  situation, 
be  and  his  army  were."  It  was  known  that  some  of  the  regiments 
from  the  north  had  joined  him.     These  were  under  St.  Clair,  who, 

VOL.  u.  12 


90  LBB*8  M18C0in>rCT. 

on  tlie  27  ih  November,  had  written  to  Gates  that  be  wotild  do  all 
that  tie  could  to  inspirit  the  troops,  and  get  them  on  to  Washing- 
ton's army,  but  feared  that  he  could  not  keep  them  together. 

A  disjointed,  di.sohedient  md«:j :  but  that  the  head  and  the  heart 
were  i^oiind,  wh-i  would  have  been  the  fate  of  America !  This 
winter  .showed  to  t)ic  great  commander  those  on  whom  he  might 
depend ;  and  developed,  in  part,  the  false-heartedness  of  others. 
On  the  9ili  of  December,  General  Washington  received  a  letter 
from  Lee  by  the  hand  of  an  officer,  who  had  been  sent  to  seek  him 
and  his  army,  and  the  general  found,  that,  instead  of  obeying  his 
orders  to  join  him  as  soon  as  possible,  the  major-general  was  pur- 
suin:r  schemes  of  his  own,  and  ^*  handng  on  the  rear  of  the  ene- 
my," wlien  wanted  to  oppose  their  front.  The  commander  writes 
to  him,  (»n  the  10th  :  '^  Do  come  on  ;  your  arrival  may  be  fortu- 
nate ;  if  it  can  be  effected  without  delay,  it  may  be  the  means  of 
preser\'ing  a  city,  whose  loss  must  prove  fatal  to  the  cause  of  Ame- 
rica." And  airain,  the  next  day  :  ^^  Nothing  less  than  our  utmost 
exertions  will  be  sufficient  to  prevent  General  Howe  from  posiesir 
ing  Philadelphia.  The  force  1  have  is  weak,  and  entirely  incono- 
petent  to  that  end.  I  must,  therefore,  entreat  you  to  push  on  with 
ever}'  possible  succour  yon  can  bring."  Generals  Mifflin  and  Put- 
nam were  sent  to  Philadelphia,  and  they  persuaded  Congress  to 
flv  to  Baltimore. 

()n  the  1 1  th  of  December,  Lee  wrote  from  Morristown,  and  gave 
notire  tiiat,  in.-tead  of  intendin>r  to  follow  the  directions  be  bad  re- 
ceived, he  was  about  to  make  his  way  to  the  ferry  below  Burling- 
ton, in  case  the  enemv's  column  should  cross  the  Delaware — an 

m 

event  which  Washin<:ton,  by  securing  the  boats,  and  guarding  the 
passes,  was  endeavouring  to  prevent ;  and  farther,  Lee  bints  flat 
the  Jersey  militia  would  turn  out  **  if  they  could  be  sure  of  m 
army  remainivg  among  them."  I  have  copied  the  folkuring  from 
an  unpublished  letter,  in  Lee's  hand  writing,  dated  BiBkioridge» 
December  Kith,  1776,  and  addressed  to  Gates: 

'*  The  in^zenious  manoeuvre  of  Fort  Washington  has  onhinged 
ti.e  goodly  fabric  we  had  been  building :  tliere  never  was  so  damocd 
a  stroke.  Knfre  noy$,  a  certain  great  man  is  damnably  defiriesL 
He  has  thrown  me  into  a  situation  where  I  have  my  choice  of  difli- 
cullies.  If  I  stay  in  this  province,  I  risk  myself  and  anny; 
and  if  I  do  not  stay,  the  province  is  lost  forever.  I  have  oeilber 
guides,  cavalr}',  medicines,  money,  shoes,  or  stockings.  I  moit 
act  with  tlie  greatest  circums|>ection.  Tories  are  in  my  froot^ 
rear,  and  on  my  flanks ;  the  mass  of  the  people  is  stnmgelj  coo- 
taminated  ;  in  short,  unless  something  which  I  do  not  expect  turns 
up,  we  are  lost." 

The  comment  upon  this  epistle  is  the  fact,  that  sonethiEig  mikk 


▲FPAimS  IM  THE  NORTH.  91 

if  iiJ  n^  exptrt  lumed  up  voir  quickly.  On  the  monimi:  this 
lener  L^  dated,  (which  was  prohably  written  tlicoveniii::  heforo.)  this 
cirrum5|iect  major-^^nerdl  wa?  surprised  autl  carried  off  to  Penh 
Ambor  by  a  party  of  British  draiitHins. 

The  command  of  his  armv  falliiu  on  Sulli^'an,  it  was  safelv  con- 
dticced.  by  the  route  desi^rnated  in  the  coaiiniuulor-in-rliief 's  letters 
—thus  reinforciiisr  the  main  Imdv.  And  in  ten  or  tueKe  d.ivs 
iher  the  date  of  this  letter,  W  ashington  recnxsed  the  Hehiware 
with  his  troops,  wiihotit  the  necessary  comforts  of  **  shoes  or  stock- 
in^**  and  captured  or  drove  in  the  ad\ance  of  tiie  Hriiish  annv. 

l>eneral  Schuvler  having  dismissed  the  militia  umler  his  com- 
maod,  on  the  iL'th  of  November,  from  Alhanv,  ordered  (laies  to 
Mud  on  the  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania  tmops.  to  em[)ark  upon  tiie 
Hudson.  **  1  shall  have  slooi^s  in  reailiness  to  convey  them  down.** 
-^— '•  tieneral  Sinclair  or  Cieneral  Maxwell  to  mart^i  with  tlie 
ivdmenls  destined  for  the  southward/'  At  the  same  time  (^ates 
received  a  letter  in  a  ven'  different  stvie  : 

'•  The  enclosed,  I  received  from  <»wr  mufwil  tr,xhi  //iVm/,  Mr. 
Gerr^.  The  lorv  interest  is  (with:)  Ueneral  Sehnvler.  Walter 
Linn^Tston  is  to  be  nominal  contractor,  and  IMnlipSi*iitiyler,  miijor^ 
grmeml^  real  contractor.  That  I/iviuirston  will  take  the  contract, 
i*  now  ascertained  by  his  letter  to  me  of  the  Sth  instant,  (No- 
TCffiber.**)     This  is  signed  Joseph  TrumhulL* 

Schuyler  intormed  con^rress  that  he  had  supplied  the  post 
at  Ticonderosra  with  provisions,  and  pointed  out  measures  to  antici- 
pate any  attempt  of  the  enemy.  He  callson  Ciovernour  Trumbull  to 
send  on  tlie  troops,  raised  in  his  state,  to  *'  Ti**  and  Fort  (leor^. 
At  the  same  time,  we  tind  him  directing  (lates  to  proeeed  with  tn>ops 
ID  aid  General  \Vashin;;lon,  and  calling  upon  intluential  men  toes- 
idbltshthe  irovernment  of  the  State  of  New  York,  liiat  the  unprin- 
eipled  and  licentious  miirht  be  contntlleii.  To  his  old  frit'iul  and 
feilow^labourer,  Cieneral  (leorire  iMi.iton,  then  commandini;  at 
New  Windsor,  he  forwarils  timber  for  olistrneiin^^  the  navigation 
of  the  Hudson ;  and  instructs  him  in  tlie  manner  of  consti  noting 
and  sinking  casoons.  Such  were  the  cares  of  tiii-^  irre^it  man  ; 
vhile  those  who  were  undermininiT  him  were  04'onpied  with  Si^liemes 
of  selfish  ambition,  or  modes  of  obtaining  lucrative  contracts. 

With  great  dilhcuhy  and  reluctance,  iiates  n'in forced  the  com- 
mander-in-chief's army  uith  the  re::iments  wliich  wen*  t>ppo^ed  to 
Carletnn,  before  he  returned  to  C\niada  to  a\oid  the  freezin!:  of 
Lake  Champlain.  Ciates  then  wrnt  to  i\>ni:ress,  and  his  adjn- 
tant-zeneral  was  sent  with  Arnold  to  arramre  the  mil.tia  oi'  lihode 
Lland.     After  this,  on  the  ;^*3th  December,  did  W,i-iiini;!o:].  \\i;h 


•  Sm  GaIm*  Pspcn.  ia  N.  Y.  Hw.  Soc.  I^b. 


92  exfijOit  of  GOLosm* 

a  pbanrom  of  an  armj,  recrosj  tbe  Debware,  and  bj 
turn  ihe  ude  of  n^ar.* 

Wh<?n  Wa^hin^rton  had  withdrawn  hu  (brceSv  tbe  whole  of 
hon'r  lA^nA  had  become  tlie  store-honse  of  the  Brtti^  troopo, 
Sa?  harbour  \^ns  their  magazine  a-«  bein^  coovenieat  to  tbek  iUp- 
pin^y  and  a   garrbon  procerted   their  stores  of  bar,  comr  aw) 

cactfe. 
1777  Earfy  in  1777,  Colonel  Meigs  periormed  a  sen  ice  with 

2^^4  men,  nhirh  drew  the  follow  log  letter  froa  Genenl 
Wa^hinzton,  and  a  ;nrt  of  a  »word  from  congress  : 

*'  Heid-qiarters  MidJIebrook,  .May,  1777.  Dear  Sir- — I  am 
in.^t  novv  f^t^otired  i«ith  vour  letter  of  the  S^^th.  hr  Major  Hiin»» 
phrey.  Tl>e  inrellizence  communicated  by  it  is  truly  ifiteffesdDig 
and  agreeable.  And  now  I  shall  cake  occasioo  not  ooly  io  siwe 
you  my  heirty  approbation  of  your  conduct  id  phnouig  the  expe* 
dttion  to  Lonir  i'^lanfl,  but  to  return  mv  snicere  tbaoks  to  Lieafe- 
nant  Colonel  Metg-^,  and  all  tbe  officer?  and  meo  en^saged  io  tu 
Thi^  enterprlre,  so  fortunate  in  the  execution,  will  «:reatly  datres!! 
the  enemy  in  the  important  and  essential  aiticte  offbrase,  aod  re- 
flects much  honour  ii(>on  th«>.^  who  per6>rmed  it.  I  shall  ever  be 
happy  to  re  vard  merit  when  in  my  power,  atid  thereMe  wieib  jvm 
to  inqaire  for  a  vacant  en<(ixrncy  in  «oroe  of  the  regime nia  for  S^cr- 
geant  Geiininir^,  to  ivbirhyoH  will  promote  him,  ad? ising  me  of  ibe 
same  an«i  the  time." 

Colonel  Meic:*  embarked  from  Xewharen,  May  21st,  1777,  wiib 
two  him:lred  am)  tliirty-fuur  men,  in  thirteen  whale-boats^  He 
proceeded  to  fiuilford.  bu:  on  account  of  the  mughnei^  of  the  sea, 
could  not  f)a>:«  the  Sound  till  the  iwenry-ihird.  I  hi  that  cbj,  ai 
one  o'cl«xrk  in  the  afternoon,  lie  left  Goilford  with  one  buadieJ 
and  sevenry  men.  unrler  convoy  of  two  armed  sloops,  aod  r  rowed 
the  Sound  to  Sotjthold.  uhere  he  arri%ed  at  six  oViocfc.  Tbe 
enemy *5  troops  on  thi^  part  of  the  i.^bnd  had  marched  for  ? 
York  tnro  or  three  da>?  before,  but  it  fias  reported  that  ibcre 
a  party  at  t^^zz  Harbour  on  tlie  «outh  branch  of  the  island 
fifteen  mile*  di-ftant.  Colonel  Meiz-  ordered  the  wbale*fcoaB  M 
be  tran:% ported  over  the  land  to  the  bay  between  tlie  nortb  and 
socth  branches  of  the  inland,  where  one  hundred  and  tbirtr  neo 
embarked,  and  at  twelve  o'clock  at  nij^bt  arrired  safetr  oo  ttie 
ocLer  side  of  die  bav  within  four  miles  of  Saw  Harbour.     Here 


*  ^"bcB  Gencf^  WzsWinxton  ma«tcr«d  ha  armr.  aad  100k 
brook,  hm  whol^  et^riv-e  loire  w^<  5.7:^?.  From  cbii  9trmm 
Uoke^  the  tbuixuk.  tb^  nmd  m  Phjlaileiphia.  and  the  fimuk 
and  Penh  Amboj.  Bat,  what  an  army  wa^  thM  to  <Mead  1 
cicf  of  Phibdeiphia  afainat  the  beat  tnopfl  of  Bhtaia,  ftnof  is 


tlie  bent?  frere  secured  id  a  wotkI,  under  si  srusird,  and  the  remain- 
der of  the  deiarhineni  marriied  quickly  to  liie  Inrbour,  where  they 
irrired  at  i»o  oVIork  in  llie  momin*:,  in  liio  i^rvate^i  onler,  attack- 
iTit  ifte  ouipoM  uitli  fixcfl  Iwvonei*.  and  proceeded  directly  to  tlie 
siiijTpin;  at  the  wharf,  vliich  they  found  unpre;K:red  for  defence. 
The  alarm  uas  si^en,  and  an  armed  sclu^onor  with  Twelve  s^uns  and 
MT^ent\  men  besran  to  fire  u|>on  them  a  the  distance  of  one  hundred 
aski  Suy  }ards.  which  continnetl  three  <{narters  of  an  hour,  hut  did 
not  present  tlie  troop?  fn>m  execminir  their  design  with  tlie  p^eatest 
iMre;»idily  and  effect.  TweKe  hri::s  and  sUwjis,  one  of  which  was 
aa  arxne.i  ve^-sel  of  twelve  «.:uns«  and  one  hundred  and  twentv  tons 
of  iny.  com.  oars«  ten  ho:;sheaii$  of  rum.  and  a  larsre  quantity  of 
iDetrhandize,  werv  entirelv  deMrovetl.  Six  of  the  enemv  i»cre 
kiiied  and  ninety  taken  prisoners.  Not  0!ie  of  Coh>nel  Mei<rs*s  men 
v»«  either  kiile.l  ov  wounded.  He  retunied  to  (uiihbrd  at  two 
oVWk  in  T're  af'emoon,  havine  been  a!»sent  onlv  twen'T  five  hour»; 
ail  in  ihu  tim?  hi  I  in'i^:>orted  hi-^  troo-is  hv  land  and  water  full 
Dijf-ty  mile^,  and  c  >:n^ileted  hi?  undortikin|i  with  tlie  most  entire 


In  January  of  thi^  year,  (1777)  that  portion  of  the  state  of 
York,  which  hat!  lon^r  been  o;>|iO'5etl  to  her  irnvemnient,  and 
known  by  a  name  deriveil  from  the  s^'iuroe  of  dispute  ••the  New 
Harrp'iiire  cranio.**  a^umeJ  anosln^r  name,  and  a  morv  diirnified 
ftitio!i  ainon::  the  communities  of  the  Kanh.  A  ^neral  conrencioa 
of  ref-trv^entaiixe^  fiom  the  towns  on  Iwih  side*  of  the  Green 
MA*intai.i<^,  a<se:nbled  at  Westminster,  and  on  tlie  ll>thof  Januarv, 
1777.  pn>r!ii:ne.i  tiiac  tlie  ••disirii^i  of  lorrilory  comprehending, 
tnJ  u^niiiv  known,  bv  the  name  and  description  of  the  New 
aam,)^hire  C trims,*'  is  hereafter  a  IreQ  state,  and  must  be  known 
by  cue  name  of  New  Conne.^iicut,  alia.^  \'enuont.  Happily  the 
^t«  prcvaile<i. 

We  will  look  back  to  events  which  preceded  this  declaration  of 
adfpendence. 

After  war  had  fairly  commeiKrcd  with  («reat  Britain  in  selMefence, 
ife  content  between  New  York  and  the  settlers  on  the  New  Hamp- 
s^/ire  ( I  rants  ceased  for  the  time  lieinc-  The  countr\*  had  no  ci- 
*"Jrovemnient.  Thev  •^>vemetl  themselves  hv  town  nieetins5  and 
cvmmiitees:  appointed  officers  andobe^etl  them.  Sometimes  the 
fovQs  sent  deputies  to  a  convention  on  the  east  side  of  the  nK>un- 
^iv  and  sometimes  on  the  west.  No  ireneral  plan  was  adopted  ; 
J«  ill  went  on  smoothly.  A  convention  that  met  in  January, 
1776,  at  Dorset,  drew  up  a  petition  to  congress,  requesting,  that, 
H  tfaeT  were  willinc  to  sen  e  in  the  freneral  cause,  thev  mij^ht  not 

*  ^  ^  *  ^ 


Sm  noBpton't  Hbtory  of  Loaf  liland,  p.  Sid. 


94  TEEMOXT. 

be  called  upon  a.s  inhabitants  of  New  York;  bat  that  wbaterer  com- 
missions mii^ht  be  granted  to  any  of  them,  they  might  be  cotttidcied 
as  inriabitant^  of  the  New  Hampshire  grants.  Congress  adracd 
the  petitioners  to  submit,  for  the  present,  to  New  York,  in  such 
ner  as  that  their  submission  should  not  prejudice  their  claims 
the  present  troubles  had  passed.  But  when,  in  July  of  ibat  year. 
Congress  declared  that  the  people  of  the  United  Colonies  were  free 
and  independent  states,  the  people  on  the  grants  felt  themselves  ab- 
solved from  all  ties  which  might  be  presumed  to  connect  tbem  whfa 
any  government  whatsoever,  and  freed  from  all  claims  ibooded 
upon  grants  or  decisions  of  the  crown  of  Great  Britain,  and  tbej 
consulted  among  themselves  what  was  to  be  done  in  this  new  atua* 
tion  of  affairs.  New  Hampshire  had  renounced  all  political  eoo- 
nexion  with  them  :  not  so  New  York.  The  conventioa  of  that 
state  voted  unanimously  August  2d,  1776,  **  that  all  quit  rents  for- 
merly due  to  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  are  now  due,  and  oaring 
to  this  convention,  or  such  future  government  as  shall  be  bereafier 
established  in  this  state." 

To  come  to  some  determination  in  this  crisis,  the  people  of  ilia 
grants  met  in  a  General  Convention,  at  Dorset,  in  the  24di  Jolvt 
1776,  and  agreed  upon  an  association  for  defence*  On  the  85ch 
September  following,  they  met  again  and  resolved,  that  the  New 
Hampshire  Grants  were  '*  a  free  and  independent  district.*'  Tfab 
was  followed  in  Januarv  1777,  bv  another  creneral  convention  from 
the  towns  and  the  Declaration  of  Independence  above  meotionedv 
of  the  State  of  Vermont,  happily  named  from  their  central  chain  of 
Green  Mountains. 

This  declaration  was  transmitted  to  consress  with  a  petition  re- 
questing that  the  district  therein  described  might  be  ranked  amoog 
the  free  and  independent  States  of  America,  and  tlieir  delegates 
admiued  to  seab<  in  ihat  honourable  bod  v.  The  time  was  weD 
chosen,  or  happily  occurred,  and  thenceforward  Vernont  was  an 
independent  state. 

New  York  protested  a!rain.*ft  this  proceeding.  At  two  several 
periods  afterward  New  York  attempted  to  bring  congress  lo  such 
decision  on  this  question  as  she  considered  just,  and  in  June,  1777, 
resolves  passed  that  body,  dismissing  the  petition  of  the  people 
**  styling  themselves  inhabitants  of  the  Massachusetts  giants,**  and 
asserting  that  ^*  bv  raisins:  and  ofFicerin?  the  res:iment  comroanded 
by  Colonel  Warner,"  they  never  meant  to  ^ive  any  eocouiage- 
ment  to  their  claims  of  independence. 

Soon  after  this,  foHoweil  the  triumphant  progress  of  Bnrgojne* 
until  stopped  by  the  exertions  of  Schuyler.  It  was  during  thts  pn>- 
rress  of  the  enemy,  that  the  Convention  of  Vermont  called  upoo 
New  Hampshire  for  aid.    Starke  was  sent  with  a  bodjr  of  milida  to 


JOHN  STARKK.  Bfi 

co-operate  "  willi  ihe  troops  oi  that  tmr  iSV/r'r,"  and  otlier\vi:;e  ad- 
dressing Vermont  as  a  free  and  inde[)eiident  state. 

In  the  lecital  pf  the  military  events  of  this  period,  is  seen  the 
effective  assistance  brought  by  the  New  Hampshire  genei*al,  Starke, 
tbe  successful  co-operation  of  Warner's  regiment,  and  tlie  final 
result  of  the  invasion  from  Canada. 

John  Sfarke  was  born  in  Londonderry,  in  New  Hampshire,  in 
tbe  year  172S.  His  father  was  an  Irishman,  and  with  others, 
Scotch  presbyterians,  formed  riiis  settlement,  but  after  the  birth  of 
John,  removed  to  Manchester  in  the  same  province. 

In  the  year  1752,  John  became  acquainted  with  Indian  customs 
and  manners,  owing  to  his  going  on  a  hunting  party  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  white  population,  an<l  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
St  Francis  tribe,  who  captured  him  and  one  of  iiis  companions, 
ami  made  prise  of  the  furs  they  had  accumulated. 

Starke  showed  his  characteristick  hardihood,  and  gained  the  good 
opinion  of  his  captors  by  baffling  the  young  men  of  the  Indian  vil^ 
bijge,  when  he  was  condemned  lor  the  amusement  of  the  savages  to 
mo  the  gaundet.  The  young  warriours  formed  two  lines,  between 
vhicby  the  captive  is  obliged  to  run  and  receive  the  blows  of  the 
birbariaiis  in  his  passage  to  the  conncil-honse,  where  if  he  arrived 
be  was  safe.  iStarke  snatched  a  club  from  tlie  Indian  nearest  to  him^ 
ad  starting  for  the  race,  laid  about  him,  right  and  lefl  so  power- 
fidly  and  unexpectedly,  that  he  gained  the  goal  uninjured,  amidst 
the  applause  of  the  older  men  and  warriours. 

He  was  thenceforth  kindly  treated,  and  gained  a  knowledge  of 
Indian  character,  which  served  him  in  the  perilous  adventures  of 
atny  succeeding  years  of  his  life.  Their  customs  and  practices 
became  familiar  to  him  in  the  course  of  four  months  residence— 
ibeir  mode  of  hunting  and  of  threading  the  mazes  of  the  forest-^ 
and  this  knowledge  made  him  a  valuable  guide,  ranger,  and  scout^ 
vfaen  called  upon  to  serve  his  country  in  those  capacities. 

The  province  of  Massachusetts  sent  agents  to  ransom  certain  of 
in  citisens  who  had  been  captured  by  the  Indians.  These  agents 
nosomed  Starke,  though  not  of  their  province  ;  and  after  an  absence 
of  several  months,  he  was  returned  to  his  family.  Of  the  Indians 
Starke  always  spoke  in  terms  of  admiration  ;  and  asserted  that  he 
Wd  received  more  kindness  from  them  than  ever  he  knew  to  be 
bestowed  upon  prisoners  bj  civilized  men. 

A  short  time  after  bis  return,  he  was  engaged  as  a  guide  to  a 
company  sent  by  New  Hampshire  to  explore  the  country  to  the 
bead  waters  of  the  Androscoggin.  He  perfonned  this  service  to 
^  satisfaction  of  his  employers  ;  and  in  1754  was  again  employed 
ai  a  guide  by  the  government  when  they  sent  a  party  into  the  same 
'^poQ  to  dctennine  tbe  truth  of  a  report  that  tbe  French  were  build- 


* 


96  lOHX  STAKKB* 

iocr  a  fort  in  this  wildeme^^.  Thev  found  no  French ;  bnt  reported 
ihedLscoven*  ofibe  fertile  meadows  on  tLc-  banks  of  the  Comxcikui* 
where  novr  the  iDa?t  doLrL»hiog  viila:.e<  of  New  En^hiid  rcsr  ifaeir 
steeples  to  the  sLies. 

War  comnoenced  between  Great  Britain  and  France  in  1 754 — a 
year  memorable  for  tiie  congress  at  Albany,  which  adopted  a  plan  fior 
the  union  of  the  colooi^is,  on  the  4th  of  July,  on  the  same  clay  dial 
George  Washington  capitulated  to  a  superiour  force  of  French,  at 
the  Great  Meadows.  This  war,  occasioned  by  the  clashing  inter- 
ests and  riews  of  these  two  ;|Teat  nations,  called  into  aciioo  many 
Americans,  and  trained  them  for  subsequent  and  more  important 
military  acuons.  Its  evenu  I  have  already  detailed,  as  connected 
with  my  main  subject,  r^tarke  was  jusdy  considered  a  man 
fit  for  the  scoutin«^  service,  so  necessary'  in  the  war£ue  of  the  wi^ 
demess,  and  he  received  a  commi^i^ion  as  a  lieutenant  in  the  corps 
of  Rangers,  which  was  distinguisbed  under  the  comn  and  of  Major 
Rogers,  in  the  expedition  a£i:ainst  Crown  Point  and  Hibseqiienrly. 

In  the  actions  which  followed,  Starke  gained  some  knowled«:e  of 
roilitar}'  affairs.  He  was  present  wlien  the  ienorance  of  General 
William  Johnson  sacri6c(:d  tiie  worthy  and  intelligent  Coiooel 
Ephrairo  Williams,  and  when  accident  made  Johnson  a  hero  and 
a  baronet,  by  destroying  Baron  Dieskau.  This  accomplished 
miiitarv  man  was  monallv  wounded,  al'ier  his  armv  tad  bc«o  de» 
ieated,  and  died  in  tiie  quarters  of  his  fortunate  adversary.*  1  bcsc 
tran-sactions  were  the  M-iiOol  lessons  of  Starke. 

That  the  services  of  these  Rantrers,  to  n  iiorn  Starke  was  attached, 
were  valuable  as  ministers  of  destruction,  cannot  be  doubted :  but 
the  business  of  Ivinz  in  wait  an«l  shoocin'jr  men  betbnr  theT  are 
aware  of  the  presence  of  an  enemy — f>rni'»hins:  upon  tlie  dead^the 
dying,  and  tlie  wounded,  and  tearing  off  scal^H  a-^  trophies,  to  be 
exchanged  for  a  reward  in  mone\ — lioes  not  appear  very  consonant 
with  bumanitv,  morality,  or  the  Christian  relisrion.  The 
tiuns  given  to  the  Rangers,  ciiaracierizes  the  nature  of  the 
and  tlie  warfare  carried  on  by  the  civilized  nations  of  Engtaad 
France.  The\'  were,  *^  to  use  tlieir  best  eodeaTouis  In 
the  French  and  their  allies,  by  sacking,  burning,  and 
their  houses,  bams,  barracks,  etc.;  bv  kiHin«;  their  cattle  ofetcnr 
kind  ;  and  at  ail  times  to  endeavour  lo  waylay,  attack,  and  destroy 
their  convoys  of  provisions  by  land  and  w.iter,^*  wbera¥er  foynd. 

It  does  not  appear  that  Starke  wa?  distinguished  in  anv  remarka- 
ble manner  until  the  year  17-37,  when,  in  a  desperate  encoonier 
between  Rogers^s  Rangers  and  a  superiour  party  of  the  Freacb,  tba 


*  Tlw  reader  will  oociee  two  d'arrr pant  wuntmentm  ia  VoL  L  pp.  377. 376,  33, 
mtofhft  time  aad  pbee  of  Dieakaa'*  dcalk.    Tb«  im,  tken  -    _   .  - 

9m  ab«v«,  appcan  to  be  iht  correct 


JOHN  STARKE.  97 

Lieotemnt,  br  his  coura^  and  conduct,  (Rogers  being  severely 
voooded,)  saved  those  of  the  provincials  who  were  not  slain,  from 
a  capdrhr  almost  as  disastrous.  After  continuing  the  busii-fight 
cndl  night  enabled  them  to  retreat,  ;Starke  proceeded  fort}'  miles 
over  the  snow  to  the  nearest  fort,  and  procured  sleds  by  which  the 
wounded  men  wore  presened,  and  the  remnant  of  the  corps  brought 
03  in  salet\'. 

Shortly  after  this«  Starke  received  a  captain's  commission,  and 
continued  in  this  hard,  hazardous,  and  litde  enviable  service. 

In  17oS,  Starke  under  liie  command  of  IJo^ers  was  acdve  in  the 
operations  against  Ticonderoga,  and  present  in  the  action  where  the 
Toung  and  much  beloved  Lord  Howe  fell.  Itotrers  with  the  Ran- 
gers was  ordered  to  open  die  way  for  the  army  from  the  lake  to  the 
ion  through  the  surroundin:;  thickets.  Starke  commaniled  the  rear 
of  the  party,  and  at  his  commander's  halting  at  a  bridge  guarded  by 
the  enemy,  caiue  up  and  impetuously  charged,  driving  the  obstruct- 
ing torce  before  him. 

The  ill-judged  attack  of  Abercrombie,  and  the  murderous  result 
ve  have  seen.  Starke  and  his  rangers  shared  tiie  dan;:ers  without 
so&ring  the  loss  or  disgrace  of  die  day.  At  the  close  of  diis  cam- 
paign, the  captain  obtained  a  furlough,  returned  home,  and  married. 

Li  the  campaign  of  1759,  Starke  accompanied  Amherst  in  his  trT- 
amphant  progress  to  the  subjugauon  of  Canada — an  achie\  ement  so 
cIonoQslv  be<:un  and  insured  bv  the  in^Uant  Wolfe  the  vear  before. 

W"hile  Ro::ers  was  employed  in  the  destruction  of  the  St.  Fran- 
cis Indians^  Starke's  duty  was  to  o|>en  a  road  through  the  wilder- 
aess  to  Connecticut  River.  On  die  reurinc:  of  die  armv  to  winter 
quarters,  he  returned  home.  The  next  summer,  he  appears  to  have 
been  stationed  at  Crown  Point :  and  at  the  end  of  it,  retired  from 
the  armv  hx  resi^niini:  his  commission.  The  peace  which  followed 
and  secured  the  conquest  of  Canada,  left  Starke  to  pursue  the  tran- 
qaii  and  hoix>iirable  pursuits  of  agriculture  and  domestic  life. 

Al  the  Goaimencement  of  the  revolutionaiy  war,  Starke  espoused 
ibe  ciiise  of  his  countr%'.     He  was  a  member  of  the  committee  of 

m 

orgmnized  in  his  town,  and  was  looked  up  to  as  a  military 
by  his  neiirhbours.  At  die  first  tidings  of  bloodshed,  he 
mounted  his  horse,  called  upon  the  miliua  of  the  neighbourhood  to 
acet  him  at  Medford,  where  ihev  formed  two  rcj:imenis  and  elected 
Scarfce  colonel  of  the  first.  In  this  regiment,  as  we  have  seen. 
General  Dearborn  commanded  a  company :  and  we  have  seen  how 
aoblv  Starke  and  his  New  Hampshire  men  commenced  their  career 
of  nulitarv  seniceon  the  ever  memorable  17th  of  June,  1775. 

Colonel  Starke  was  informed,  in  the  heat  of  the  acuon,  that  his 
son,  a  youth  of  sixteen,  had  fallen.  He  continued  immoved  in  the 
dftBcfaarge  of  his  dut}*,  and  was  rewarded  by  finding  that  the  report 
bMiocaginated  in  mistake,  and  was  untrue. 

TOL.  n.  13 


98  JOHN  STARKB. 

After  this  event,  Starke's  regiment  was  stationed  at  Winter  Hill ; 
and  having  been  ordered  three  successive  days  to  Medfbrd  to  re- 
ceive pay,  and  in  every  instance  marched  back  without  it,  owing 
to  some  ill  natured  pique  of  tlie  paymaster,  the  Colonel  determined 
to  make  the  cashier  take  his  turn  in  marching,  and  sent  a  61e  of 
men  to  bring  him  to  the  soldiers  to  settle  accounts  in  their  quarters. 
Starke  remained  at  Winter  Hill  until  the  enemy  retreated  from 
Boston;  but  some  of  his  men  volunteered  to  join  in  the  arduous 
expedition  against  Canada,  led  by  Arnold.  Of  these,  Captain 
Dearborn  was  one. 

In  May,  his  regiment  was  ordered  to  Canada  by  the  way  of  Al- 
bany, and  joined  the  army  at  St.  Johns.  This  was  after  the  deaths 
of  Montgomery  and  Thomas,  and  General  Sullivan  had  command. 
In  tl)e  disasters  and  retreat  that  followed.  Colonel  Starke  had  his 
share,  and  was  stationed  on  Mount  Independence  when  the  decla- 
ration of  independence  was  read  to  the  army,  and  received  with 
cheers. 

After  the  retreat  of  General  Washington  through  East  Jersey 
to  Trenton,  Starke's  regiment,  detached  from  the  northern  army, 
joined  the  commander-in-chief  on  the  Delaware,  and  its  gallant 
colonel  led  the  van-guard  at  the  brilliant  attack  on  tlie  Hessians  at 
Trenton. 

In  all  the  transactions  of  this  winter  campaign,  which  turned  the 
tide  in  favour  of  America,  Starke  was  active  among  the  foremost, 
and  did  essential  ser\'ice,  when  the  time  for  which  his  men  had  en- 
listed had  expired,  by  using  his  powerful  influence  to  produce  a 
temporary  enlistment  for  six  weeks — six  weeks  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance. To  re-organize  his  regiment,  the  Colonel  was  ordered 
to  New  Hampshire,  in  which  he  fully  succeeded.  While  there, 
he  learned  that  his  name  had  been  omitted  in  the  recent  promo- 
tions, and  he  was  induced,  (in  consequence  of  this  neglect  or  in- 
tended slight,  which  originated  from  the  enmity  or  intrigue  of  men 
in  office  and  in  congress)  to  resign  his  commission  and  retire  to 
domestic  Hfe.  On  the  21st  of  March,  1777,  a  vote  of  thanks  for 
his  many  services  passed  the  council  and  house  of  delegates  of 
New  Hampshire,  and  was  communicated  to  him  by  their  president* 

Although  Starke  had  retired  from  the  army,  he  declared  that  he 
stood  ready  to  obey  the  call  of  his  country  if  she  needed  him  :  and 
that  call  was  soon  made.  Burgoyne  was  advancing  with  what  ap- 
appeared  to  common  eyes  an  irresistible  force ;  although  Washing* 
ton  and  Schuyler  saw  that  he  was  only  advancing  to  certain  defeat. 
The  alarm  which  induced  the  people  of  the  neighbouring  country 
to  fly  in  the  first  instance,  soon  was  succeeded  by  the  determina- 
tion to  rally  and  oppose  the  invaders.  The  settlers  from  New 
Hampshire  on  the  territory  west  of  the  Connecticut,  called  upon 
the  mother  state  for  aid ;  and  Langdon,  the  speaker  of  the 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 


99 


Vr.  o5>«\:  hi<  pro:^er:y  for  :;it^  scrvi.v  of iho  coiv.r.ry.  and  iirjod 
i>f  :  r-m-siiare  a>*i>i.i:>re  ri\;uirtvl.  "  Out  oM  fricrsii.  St.irko,"^  he 
«-.!,  ••  who  !ki  nohhr  !n.uniaiiu\:  ihe  i.op.our  of  our  <iaio  ;U  Kr.n- 
i^'*  Hi;-  r.iay  be  jiaft'':y  er.ini>trvi  wiili  the  ooiuluci  of  ihe  enter- 
rrrt"*.  in  A  uv»  \\\]\  rhet*k  the  pn"»jri^?s  o\  l^iirjoyne." 

A  K^n-^e  was  pl:»oed  iruior  vac  co\\\vm\\u\  of  (iener.il  Starke,  and 
r>f  -ntrx-ireii  ai  i:-.e  ho:.d  of  mo-i  wi.o  had  ur.plioh  eonfidenee  in  his 
-:ri;:.-:  ar:i;  oo;:r?.^o.  He  \\.\A.  houe\er.  siinnlaied  \M:h  the  iro- 
ifrrr.-jei::  of  New  Hanipsiiire  th.it  he  shosild  not  l»e  obiCod  lo  join 
:>r  -^LX'.Ti  anr.y.  a:i,'.  ovj'.y  he  aeeo;ia:ahle  to  iiisown  slate  :  and  that 
r-^eranttn;  had  cive:i  dirxviions  aecordip^ly.  la  eonsequenee  of 
r:>  arriii ^-nie::i,  w.irn  Siarke  was  met  h\  Lineohi.  wlui  had  orders 
»  r-or.iuv:  the  m\\,:\j  to  the  main  ari'.iy.  he  n'fii>rdoht  dienee*  and 
^^■x:.^-eli  the  insir.si'iii^ns  uiider  ui.ioli  h.e  a^toil.  l>iit  uihmi  re- 
3x>r.>:Tarjce  tn>:n  Schuyler,  he  a-rri ed  to  serve  usidfr  hi-  ordei^. 

l^taeral  Bunroyne.  already  straiiov.ed  for  jmn isior.s,  ainl  in  want 
c/.vvsps — ^11  the  same  time  aware  of  the  iil  wi:i  with  \vi;ioh  ihc 
ser>rs  on  the  crams  Kx>krd  ii:h^:i  xhc  state  of  New  \  ork — des- 
Mt.-nexi  a  detai'h::ient  i:nder  I'oio-e!  Har.in.  with  instruoiions  to 
ier<n:e  ;::to  i^onnecrioiit.     T:.e  rtvuli  will  Ih^  hcn^af:er  lold. 

h  Ju.v.  177  7.  lieneral  An:oid  joined  the  nor.IuTa  arm\.  under 

m  •  • 

Tre  in^t>-»r:a:":ce  of  his  mi^itarx-  sen* ices  make*  it  neeessan*  to 
!."*>£  'Mek  :o  ;:is  s:or\  from  th.e  lime  o\  his  dcftMt  on  Lake  l\;a:n- 
>:i  7  V"^  ;:-.e  ;*rf  ser.t  moment. 

Cir-etor.  i:.i\:-'!i:  retiirr.ed  to  l\i'n.:,"*i.  a  i^^rtiop  of  :::e  !rtv^!*s  on 

•J>f  3onr!er.i  iV\i'»:ier  oi  Niw  ^  ,v"n  wcrt^  '"^.an^ivvd  :o  ninfone  ilie 

SLJ-  arv.T  nhioii   had   re'.iiMUM  before  the  anrv  of  Sir  William 

Ho»e-     l*rders   w;':.':i   llc.or.^  \V.">:\:i^:vv^    V.i;i   ;lo<pa:ehed  to 

Ar>-  ■ .:.  d irtv : i •:  -  :\ . : :  ;o  rr  .^n " r : .->  1 J i, . > ■ :  *  U ' .'. ::  J.  ■: :\\  i :. ke  ro :n iv.an d, 
.  -•  .••,..  .... 

r>p  r^iir.  irr^.v.  \^:*c:i   :.e    -/.L-irrt:  h^   rro\i.;-. -.e  to  ?>s:s:  liercnl 

KIT.-*  SI*:  :o-.it^i  a :  \  o'a  : v>n .  T I  ■;  :* <  w  t  *e  f.  ^  r . •  - 1 .  i  ;*,  v  a : :  ;■  ■:  k  i !^  j  the 
c«-.  \  ;  Mi"  a  -.::'■  . •  • :  ft' :  c o  (\ v : \!  :: < ^:  1  -o  ■.  i • . ' j^ ;■ : i- . : :  a r. ,i  :i:e  w  in- 
»r  :.i>se-:  irs  ir:i:":iv  l:y.  ;::*>::/:  -.^:  ::\  i\  !*>■*:.■';  ::t  w::"  ;;:*»  a::bi- 
>>a«  Arr.'».d-  lV";e  ea-.i-o  of  ^-v^-:? :.:  r.o\^:.:  :':o:v.  :;.e  aiv"«^:nt- 
of  r^e  new  !:ir.^r-ce:u' :.::*.  \\i::;,v::  ::v!.:.ii;^j  \)\r.\^  and  Tl;eT 
al I  his  _i u r. iors.  I i t  :^ er.i  1  W  :-=  - i-.i  •  _: v^ n .  w h o  c -it i :"s at t* d  A : r.old'i 
rL!:tirr  :A!r:::s.  wa>  as  i\v.:-]\  >::r^!s:-i  .■:  :;\s  >;■«•  t.  as  :!;<»  ob'eci 

DT  .:.     He  wro:e  .1  s.vv."  ;-^-  \-:.  -   :,     ;. -.  5;,^  e\ir:;d  !:::i^se!f  to 

-•■•  ..  .  ^ 

'~B^..  »  .c  4.    ■  •  ^»«v  t  a.-ia   i'..»i  ..I..         ..»  i.i— 1.«.  t       ..>.  >  ■■>*ain 

:•  :3<e  -os*  o\    Ari^oivi.     Hf  1 1* \.....i  of  :!  ■:  ::',-r.i::!;:de  ot  his 

c"fti:rT.  but  tie:^u^3;':e»l  '.v.::^-e'.:"  wi:  .  a  <i  .f-v»v.:v..i:v.:  :;■.>.:  was  not 

iVoni   hifn.     In  re;'".y  to  :;:e  c-vnr.'iardo:-::''-'. ":  -ef.   he.  as 

with  him,  ex^>aua:ed  on  his  ucbleniiii.ed  cha.'^c:er« 


100  BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 

pure  motives,  patriotisin,  sacrifice  of  ease  and  happiness  (or  his 
couritr}',  and  did  not  forget  his  services,  risks,  sufferings,  and  loss 
of  hlood  ;  he  had  received  his  commission  with  pleasure  only  as 
a  means  of  scning  his  country,  and  he  can  resign  it  with  equal 
pleasure  when  he  can  no  ion^jer  serve  his  country  whh  honour. 
He  requests  a  court  of  inqnir}' ;  he  sensibly  feels  the  ingratitude  of 
his  countr)'men  ;  but  all  personal  injuries  shall  be  buried  in  his 
zeal  for  the  service  of  his  countn*. 

CJeneral  Washington  continued  hLs  exertions  to  remedy  this  in- 
justice done  to  an  efficient  and  popular  officer.  Congress  attribu- 
ted the  slight  to  a  necessity  of  gratifying  each  state  by  appointroeot 
of  officers  in  proportion  to  the  men  furnished ;  and  as  Connecticut 
had  already  two  major-generals,  another  from  that  state  could  not 
be  appointed. 

*'  I  confes.-*,"  said  General  Washinjrton,  "  this  is  a  strange  mode 
of  rcasoninjr,  but  it  may  show  you  that  the  promotion  which  was 
due  to  vour  seniority  was  not  overlooked  for  want  of  merit  in  von." 

Arnold  was  not  disposed  to  receive  consolation  (under  what  be 
knew  was  an  expression  of  the  opinion  of  congress  relative  to  his 
character)  from  the  lame  excuse  made,  or  from  the  soothings  of  his 
great  rommnndcr.  The  slifrht  rankled  in  his  breast,  and  with  the 
censure  of  hi:?  conduct  respecting  the  iroods  of  tlie  Montreal  mer- 
chants, contributed  to  the  sum  of  evil  which  was  accumulating  with- 
in. Dctenninin:::  to  visit  head-quarters  and  obtain  permission  to 
visit  conirress,  he  commenced  his  journey  ;  but  in  passing  through 
Connecticut,  lie  fell  in  with  a  l)ody  of  troops  commanded  by 
Ciencral  Woostor,  hastily  collected  to  oppose  the  ravages  which 
Tryon  wascoininittini^  upon  the  defenceless  towns  and  villages  near 
the  sound. 

Already  hatl  this  king's  ijovernour  of  New  York  penetrated  from 
Fairfield  to  Danbur}*,  and  destroyed  the  public  stores,  when  Arnold 
joined  the  troops  which  had  been  hastily  collected  by  Woosterand 
Silliman,  about  GOO  in  number,  of  whom  100  were  regular  soldiers. 
When  ihey  arrived  within  four  miles  of  Danbury,  they  learned  that 
the  mischief  was  done  and  the  incendiaries  on  the  retreat  It  was 
nij^ht  when  they  trained  this  intelliircnce  of  the  enemy^s  motioDs, 
and  they  rested  their  army  until  morning  ;  then  dividing  their  litde 
army  into  two  parlies,  Woosier,  with  one  third,  marched  to  harass 
the  rear  of  the  Kn^lish,  while  Arnold  and  Silliman,  with  four  hun- 
dred men,  took  a  direction  intended  to  intercept  their  retreat. 
Wooster  soon  ranie  up  with  Tryon's  rear  and  commenced  an  at- 
tack ;  but  his  men  recoiled  on  receiving  a  discharge  from  ihc  artil- 
ler}'  and  musketry  of  their  opponents.  The  veteran,  to  encoarage 
them,  rode  fonvard,  crying  **  Come  on  my  boys !  never  miodsudi 
random  shot/'  and  at  the  moment  received  a  ball  in  his  ade  and 
fell  from  his  horse.     He  was  carried  to  Danburv,  and 


BBNBDICT  ARNOLD.  101 

Before  noon,  Arnold,  with  his  coromand,  which  was  augmented 
on  the  way,  arrived  at  Ilidgefield  and  taking  a  position  at  the 
northern  extremity  of  the  village,  he  formed  a  barricade  of  carts, 
logs,  and  earth  across  the  road  the  British  were  expected  to  pass. 
Accordingly  they  appeared,  marching  in  a  column  in  front  of  the 
barricade,  and  commenced  firing  as  they  advanced.  The  right  of 
Arnold's  post  was  covered  by  a  house  and  barn,  and  his  left  by  a 
ledge  of  rocks ;  and  tlms  situated,  liis  little  band  maintained  a  fight 
for  some  minutes  against  four  times  their  number  of  veteran  soldiers. 
Tryon,  extending  his  column,  was  surrounding  the  barricade,  by 
stretching  to  right  and  left,  while  he  amused  the  Americans  in  front. 
Arnold  then  ordered  a  retreat,  and  as  usual,  was  the  last  man  to 
leave  the  ground.  While  thus  alone,  one  of  the  flanking  parties, 
having  ascended  the  rocks,  dischaiged  their  muskets  at  him,  and 
his  horse  fell  lifeless.  The  rider  disengaged  himself,  and  sat  on 
the  carcass ;  which  being  perceived  by  a  soldier,  he  rushed  forward 
to  bayonet  him.  Arnold  waited  the  soldier's  approach  until  he 
had  come  so  near  as  to  make  his  aim  with  a  pistol  sure  ;  then  draw- 
ing one  from  his  holsters,  he  shot  him  dead,  and  springing  from 
his  seat,  followed  his  retreating  com])anions  unharmed. 

Rallying  his  men,  he  continued  to  annoy  the  British  during  their 
march  to  their  ships,  and  seized  every  opportunity  which  pre- 
sented to  throw  himself  and  his  party  within  skirmishing  distance. 
This  was  continued  during  the  day,  and  recommenced  the  next, 
without  intermission.  Just  before  the  embarkation  of  the  enemy, 
while  exposing  himself  and  encouraging  his  followers,  a  second 
horse  was  shot  through  tlie  neck  and  sunk  beneath  him. 

The  news  of  these  exploits  soon  reached  congress,  and  Arnold 
was  immediately  appointed  a  major-general.  Still  he  ranked  below 
the  five  juniors  that  had  preceded  him  ;  and  although  he  continued 
in  the  sen'ice,  he  never  forgot  the  injustice.  General  Washington 
continued  his  good  ofiices,  and  to  heal  the  wound,  appointed  him 
to  a  command  of  high  responsibility.  He  declined  it,  and  asked 
permission  to  repair  to  Philadelphia,  which  was  granted. 

On  reaching  the  seat  of  congress,  Arnold's  complaints  were  loud 
in  proportion  to  the  popularity  his  daring  had  gained,  rather  than  to 
any  consciousness  of  moral  wortli.  As  was  usual  widi  him,  he 
descanted  on  his  sacrifices,  services,  and  patriotism,  and  demanded 
an  inquiry  into  his  conduct,  particularly  respecting  the-  charges 
brought  against  him  by  Colonel  Brown.  The  matter  was  referred 
to  the  board  of  war,  who  reported  that  the  character  of  General 
Arnold  had  been  **  cruelly  and  groundlessly  aspersed."  Congress 
confirmed  the  report,  but  did  not  restore  his  rank ;  although  they 
complimented  him  with  the  gift  of  a  horse  suitably  caparisoned. 

Unfortunately,  while  his  character  was  before  the  board  of  war, 
his  accounts  were  before  congress,  and  it  was  discovered  that  he 


102  BK7CEDICT  ABKOU). 

had  introduced  a  series  of  extra%'agaiit  charges  io  his  own  dr 
four  ;  some  of  them  dubious  in  tlieir  character,  and  <khen 
maoife^tly  unreaionable,  even  if  the  items  could  be  prored. — 
He  had  swelled  iiis  claims  upon  Congress  to  an  eoonnoiis  ainoiuit, 
although  it  via:?  uell  known  that  he  had  not  brou^'into  the  ser- 
vice eitlier  money  or  credit  to  irive  probability  to  such  advances. 

While  his  accounts  were  undergoing  scrutiny,  he  was  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  troops  at  Philadelphia ;  and  when  General 
Howe  advanced  from  Brunswick,  Arnold  was  ordered  to  take  post 
on  the  Delaware,  abo%'e  Trenton.  When  the  British  retired,  Ar- 
nold was  recalled  to  Philadelphia  ;  where,  impatient  that  his  rank 
was  not  restored,  he  tendered  hi^  resi^riation  to  consresis,  couched 
in  his  usual  style — in  which  his  honour  and  patfiotism  ever  figured 
most  conspicuously.  On  the  day  this  was  received  by  congress, 
tbey  likewise  received  a  letter  from  General  Washington,  recom- 
mending that  General  Arnold  should  be  immediately  sent  to  join 
the  northern  anny,  then  threatened  by  the  supposed  invincible  host 
of  Burgoyne.  General  Washington  described  Arnold  as  **  active, 
judicious,  and  brave,''  and  enforced  his  wish  that  he  should  be 
sent  to  the  scene  of  danger,  by  saying  that  the  *'  militia  had  ereat 
confidence  in  him.'* 

Flattered  by  this  appointment,  Arnold  suspended  bis  demand 
for  justice  in  respect  to  rank,  accepted  the  task  of  danger  so 
congenial  to  his  dL^por^ition,  and  re]>airpd,  in  July  1777,  to 
the  army  commanded  by  General  *^chtiyler.  Kosciusko,  the 
engineer  of  the  northern  departfnent,  selected  the  high  srounda 
near  Moses  Creek  for  the  encampment  of  tlie  army  ;  and  a  divisioo 
under  Arnold  was  so  situated  that  his  head  quarters  were  between 
that  place  and  Fort  Edward. 

In  the  meantime,  the  question  of  Arnold's  rank  was  decided 
against  him  in  Congress,  by  a  majority  of  neariy  three  to  one. 
It  was  the  first  occasion  on  which  the  veas  and  navs  wcie 
entered  on  the  journals.  Upon  the  news  of  this  dect&ion, 
Arnold  asked  leave  of  General  Schuvler  to  retire  ;  but  the 
persuasions  of  Schuyler  prevailed  upon  him  to  stay  where  he 
was  so  much  wanted,  and  Arnold  volunteered  to  lead  the  ex* 
pedition  against  St.  Leger  ;  and  on  his  return  to  the  maia 
army,  he  found  it  under  the  command  of  Horatio  Gates.  The 
left  w'lnor  of  the  army,  stationed  at  Loudon's  Ferry,  was  placed 
under  the  command  of  General  Arnold.  He  had  two  brii^ades, 
and  the  ever  efiective  corps  under  Daniel  Morgan,  who  likewise 
commanded  Dearborn's  lie:ht  infantrv.  These  were  intended  to 
arrest  or  impede  the  profrress  of  Bur£:oyne  towards  Albany.  But 
the  head  of  opposition,  gathered  and  prepared  by  Schuyler  vrkh 
dxe  defeats  of  Baum  and  St.  Leger.  had  already  stopped  the  Brit- 
general  in  his  previously  triiunphant  career.     He  lingered  al 


BUROOYNS  AT  8ABATOGA.  103 

Saratofifa;  and  the  American  army,  elated  by  the  late  successes, 
advanced  upon  him.  At  Uehmus^s  Heights,  Arnold  still  had  the 
command  of  the  left  division. 

It  was  on  the  1 :3th  and  l4th  of  September,  that  Burijoyne  crossed 
the  Hudson,  and  encamped  at  Saratoga.    On  the  noon  of  the  19th, 
he  advanced  in  full  force  towards  the  American  left.     Arnold  sent 
Morgan^s  liidemen  and  Dearborn's  Infautry  to  repulse  the  enemy, 
and  prepared  to  support  them,  if  necessary.     Thus  an  action  was 
brought  on,  which  was  supported  wholly  by  detachments  from  Ar- 
nold's division,  and  one  reo:iment  from  another  brigade.     Morgan 
bad  forced  the  enemy  to  retreat,  and  had  been  beaten  back.     Two 
regiments  advanced  to  his  su[>port ;  and  the  Americans  forming  in 
a  wood,  again  and  a<::ain  repul-^ed  the  advancing  enemy,  and  in  turn, 
wlien  pushinc:  forward,  were  obliged  to  retreat.     In  this  conflict, 
which  lasted  all  day,  three  thousand  of  our  troops  encountered  the 
whole  right  wing  of  the  British  army,  commanded  by  Burgoyne  io 
person. 

Gates  and  Arnold  were  together  in  the  camp  when  word  was 
brought  that  the  action  was  undecisive,  Arnold  exclaimed,  "  I 
will  soon  put  an  end  to  it !"  and  set  off  on  full  gallop  from  the 
camp.  But  Gates  despatched  an  aid  after  him  and  ordered  him 
back. 

The  most  distins:uished  officer  of  the  Americans  engaged  that 
day,  was  Daniel  Morgan.  The  British  claimed  the  victory,  and 
lay  that  niijht  on  their  arms  near  the  field  of  battle.  The  Ameri- 
cans, who  had  been  engaged,  retired  at  night  to  their  camp,  con- 
^mced  that  they  could  cope  with  their  enemies  on  equal  terms,  if 
not  beat  them.  The  loss  on  ea9tf  side  was  probably  much  the 
same. 

This  rencounter  inspirited  the  army,  and  brought  in  militia  frqm 
til  quarters.  General  Lincoln,  who  joined  Starke  after  the  battle 
of  Bennington,  fell  into  the  rear  of  Burgoyne,  and  pushed  three 
detachments  against  the  posts  Burgoyne  had  left  behind — ^most  of 
which  fell,  and  added  to  the  prospect  of  complete  success — al- 
though Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Independence  repulsed  their 
assailants. 

The  treatment  which  Gates  adopted  on  this  occasion,  aroused 
the  indignation  of  Arnold  ;  and  shortly  after,  the  jealous  comman- 
der withdrew  a  portion  of  his  command  from  him  without  his  know- 
ledge. In  Gates's  official  communication  to  congress,  he  made  no 
mention  of  Arnold  or  his  division.  Of  this  Arnold  complained* 
High  words  passed  between  thetn ;  and  Gates  told  him  that  he 
thought  him  of  little  consequence  in  the  army. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  Arnold  wrote  to  his  commander :  the 
correspondence  which  passed  is  characterized  as  "  haughty  and 
arrogant  on  the  part  of  Gates — intemperate  and  mdiscreet  on  that 


104  BBKBDICT  ABNOLD. 

of  his  unruly  associate."     Arnold  remained,  aldiougfa  deprived  of 
command. 

Colonel  Varick,  writing  from  camp  to  General  Schuyler,  three 
days  after  the  action,  said,  '^  He  seems  to  be  piqued,  that  Arnold's 
division  had  the  honour  of  beating  the  enemy  on  the  19th.  This 
I  am  certain  of,  that  Arnold  has  all  the  credit  of  the  action.  And 
this  I  further  know,  that  Gates  asked  where  the  troops  were  going, 
when  »Scammeirs  battalion  marched  out,  and,  upon  being  told,  he 
declared  no  more  troops  should  go ;  he  would  not  suffer  the  camp 
to  be  exposed.  Had  Gates  complied  with  Arnold's  repeated  de- 
sires, he  would  have  obtained  a  general  and  complete  victory  over 
the  enemy.  But  it  is  evident  to  me,  he  never  intended  to  fight 
Burgoyne,  till  Arnold  urged,  begged,  and  entreated  him  to  do  it." 
After  the  convention  of  Saratoga,  Colonel  Varick  again  wrote  as 
follows,  in  a  letter  from  Albany.  '^  During  Burgoyne*s  stay  here, 
he  gave  Arnold  great  credit  for  his  bravery  and  military  abilities, 
especially  in  the  action  of  the  19th,  whenever  he  spoke  of  him, 
and  once  in  the  presence  of  Gates." 


PLAdi  OP   TUK  CAUfAMBS.  106 


CHAPTER  MIL 
>-«ri  x*«^ —  KfT'-fi ::  •  ■*  >:•  L:^  oy — .  i  -'' :  •  r  ;  •"  iv  ■.  s  r>£7i)*i —  Tntn^ 


•  •  ■ 


The  Brliish  Han  of  ihe  cunpai^  of  1777,  wis,  thit 
Howe  fhv'fcuidi  wish  hi?  forvfs  ix^oupv  Washinir^on  ind  the 
ra."  ir."v.  >v  i::ack:r*  r:::Iaiit"..>::";a — in  w'r.vii  he  ^uooeeded — 
**:--■  B^""com:k\  \t:::i  a  well  a;>poin:eii  am: v.  *ho:i\l  iiivaiie  from 
^.n-isfi:  izd  C^inioa  nv^ra  the  oi:v  of  New  York,  cie*ir  ihe  Hud- 
*:•'.  :j  :-;a5%?l:s^  ihe  fort?  at  ihe  HUhlanii?.  Biir^oyne  arrived  trom 
^^c  IT.  i :  ir..:  \T::r.  iho  a^^Uiance  of  Carleion.  ?oon  aojvared  on 
i-Uf  Cri:"?liin  :  jj'ier  sc:u::!ic  ^i-  L^ctr  lo  i;i\est  i>*we^  and 

r^  :r.rj:  '.he  laner  j-^art  of  ire  \*:r/.rr.  Genera:  Gate?  had  irrinen 

i:  '*V^:„n^.oa,  v*^riow;nT  ris  a!>h  anii  hav:::^  received  hi?  request.) 

rj:  r>e,  tii:e5«  would  iv*:iRie  ris  for:r.r'r  o.T.oe  of  anv.itani-iieneril, 

ir:  v.zT.  alacrinr  and  cheerfi;"-ne>5  repair   iv^  Morri^iown.     The 

r:'=rir..:e>iD-chief  ihanked  h:ni  :ori:'i>  ir.>rk  of  r.i>  a::er.t:on  lo  a 

r»::fs:  ;;f  h:?,  asd  io!d  ::::'i  i::a:  :.o  IvX^kc.:  ;::v"  ::!<  rv^;: trillion  of 

•j*f  ?rir.-^  a*  :re  oalv  :-.:-: a::>  of  ^ivi-ir  ••  i>r:n  a".^;  rer'.s.ariiv  lo  our 

irr  T . "     > :.  C  *.  iim  i>  : o  :h7  5e  r. i  : o»  : ;.  k e  o  o ".'  :r  ,■::.:  a:  T :: :  i a li  e  1  p nia. 

£>::Gx:t<  haii  ro ir.itniion  of  eor-v.^xir;  wi:::  :::e  icc".:e>; of  Wa^h- 

rr::r.  'ra:«  or.  :::e  cop«rar\\  w~3<  v/a -..y  .:\r:::c  w:::i  a  ranv  in  cod- 

r***  :,^  <.:r^r?e\ie  Seh;:yl«:r  in  :he  r.vT.r.t'rr  liirarv.v.eri.     1;  was 

:•:  -j:-*    I .  'ir.  of  M  arc h ,  1 7  7  7 .  :ha :  W  a* : : : "  c  -o' ■  *  ^  a  "■  ke>.i  i  i  aie?  for 

r:  TO- :  r  -  w  [ir.  : he  i*  i > :: t*  >  v»  f  co :" ;  rf  >5.  a ::  i :  a  ;>  '.h*  i  re  d  : o  he  ce n ain 

:•"  :-^  t>r:f:.ir..."e  a>  a^:-.i:.'ir:-^e:!era"..     l*:::.:e  ir»::\  l^aie*  obi^ined 

i:  I -?••.- : ^- e r, :  :o r  a  c o i*: :V rt* ::oe  \* :: :;  co  •  ^rt" >^  :  a "d  on  the  i?-3ih, 

ze  ?: -•  T : -.  •  d  : . :>  or.it ^^ :":.- ".i  Pre<: v^ c :• :  li .; *'. c ^v k  :o  rejviir  :o  T :coa- 

c-errri.  ara  :ake   ire  v\  ..vv.i-n.i  of  :.io  ar:.v  oi  that  depar.ni^em. 

Ar«:  z :  :.-i<  i: r::e.  lie  r» c r.=. ":  I  i  i: e*  : ook  i ::: o  ::  i?  :x:v. '.  .y .  a ::  .i  ai::ic bed 

r  ZL-f  Lr Teres:*,  a  vo.irr  r:"an  -.vhou-*.  r>_\  hi?  i  \:rao:i::r in*  laienai, 

t  ?o^rrfui  act:::  ir:  hi?  fuiur?  o;Hr?.:iov.s,     T:::*  ^^a>  Ms/or  John 

*^-:2«:ro::^.  5or  :o  ;he  renerai  K"*ar:rc  :hai  name.     It  wa*  by  anach- 

r;  -^  hiniself  :hv>*e  who  had  :i!er.:>,  like  An^jsiror^,  or  family  in- 

faezce,  like  ibe  T^u^.:^l:il^-  iha:  ihi*  arfji  man  *ir^:>i:tr:e3ed  hiiw 

leif  aad  weakened  ihv>se  whose  orenhrow  he  contemplated.     For 

s  WW  flooD  Docoiions  that  the  men  known  to  be  anaciied  lo  Gates, 

TIM-  n.  1* 


106 

coa!d  DOC  be  confided  in  br  Washinztoo.  bowerer  much  he  nxLciit 
wish  to  employ  theni  for  tbe  service  of  the  coamrr. 

General  rkhuvler  endeavoured  bv  his  own  exertiooSy  and  br  as 
represencadoos  to  cor.zrtss  and  to  ^\  a^hingtoa  of  tbe  lii  1 1  mttj  lor 
zreac  exertions  in  the  nonb.  to  meet  the  coming  siDnn  vfaich  be 
foresaw  would  sweep  tlrom  Canada  to  New  York  by  the  lake&.  Hs 
exertions  were  eSectire,  bat  his  advice  was  too  linie  Mttmdgd  tt> ; 
and  when,  on  the  HOzh  of  March,  he  went  to  Philadelphia^  be  ia^rA 
be  was  s^iDer^eded  In  his  command  of  the  north  bv  General  Gases. 
who  received  his  orders  to  tha:  ecect  on  the  ^-Sfh.  Schorier  was 
no:  a  nan  to  sink  ur.'-ier  such  a  h'.o^.  He  took  his  seat  in  coozres 
as  a  delegate  irom  Ne*!v  York,  ar.d  re^ue^te*!  a  comminee  of  Laijui- 
ij  inco  bis  military  conduct.  This  resulted  in  coenplece  a 
tion  :  and  bv  a  resolve  of  zt24  Mav.  he  was  directed  to  resufne 
command  of  the  northern  deparL-nen:. 

James  Lovell.  a  member  of  congress,  writes  to  Gates, — •*  Ti 
who  fTorhi  well  to  our  cause,  judze  and  say  that  there  is  bet 
sin^ie  man  who  c^i  keep  their  subjects  united  against  the  cocnmoo 
enemv — and  that  he  stands  on  our  books  as  coauDander-iD-ehiirf 
in  the  middle,  or.  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  the  northern  depon- 
mect ;  that  r.Ls  ore^nce  is  ar>?o:fi:e".v  necessaLrv  in  his  home  oar- 
ters  for  their  imme'iiare  succo:^r  and  service,  as  well  as  thai  oc'  tbe 
United  States,  cecessarllv  cor.nec:ed ;  that  if  he  renxms.  be  b  a 
general  witnout  an  army  or  miiitary  chest,  and  *  why  is  he  thos  ce- 
eraded  r^  How  tills  maner  will  be  untanzled  I  cannot  now 
determine;   but  I  susoect,  not  entirelv  azreeabh*  to  vot? 


This  letter  was  dared  on  the  1st  of  Mar.  The  resolotloii  of  tbe 
22d  **  untarded"  the  matter.  The  resolution  was  in  these  wonb: 
•*  that  Albany.  Ticoriderora.  Fort  >:inwix.  and  their  depeode^- 
cies,  he  henceforward  considered  as  formin?  the  northern  depnrt- 
me::u"  and  "tha:  Ma'or-rer.erai  Schivler  be  directed  forthwith  :o 
proceed  to  the  nort^'-em  *i'ij\r.c:.^7.\.  ar.d  like  the  command  there.'* 
A  previous  order  that  Alhinv  T-.o-^!d  o^  ::.e  r^ead-quarters  of  that 
departmecr.  wis  repealed.  Durir.r  the  debate  on  this  snfaject. 
Love  I!  iives  G  =  :es  icfcnriatlor*  of  ir.e  irozres*.  and  what  is  said. 
It  was  asserted  that  by  ordering  him  :o  Ticoaderosa.  coorress  ^i. 
not  m:end  to  supersede  .S:r-.:;.ler  b  -J.e  command,  and  oi'  coorK 
that  (iates  had  u^arr-ed  a^i'i-orliy :  ar.d  by  dxinr  his  bead-qoarten 
at  Albany  and  issuir.r  his  orders  from  -J^ecce.  had  ekM  eonfanned  to 
the  direction  of  conrre^s,  whirh  re-^uired  him  to  repair  tn  Ticoo- 
derora.  \\  .iLe  this  was  pen«ihir  in  the  natiottal  *'^wnril,  Gaaes 
lent  on  letters  to  his  friends  by  another  person  who  had  basdhr 
resigned  his  commission,  which  had  been  accepted.  Mr.  Joi 
TrambuU  wrote  from  Philadelphia,  on  the  24th  of  Mar,  1777, 

''  I  aimad  last  Wedneid^,  and  immediately  delircrad 


EFFORTS  OF   SCHUTLSR.  107 

but  too  Ute:  cons:re$$  had  already  appointed  General  Schuy- 
*r  :o  command  in  the  northern  department.  Kver}-  possible  oppo- 
«i£oa  had  been  made  bv  vour  friend?,  but  in  vain  :  ilie  interest  of 
iyt  other  nam*  carried  it — hv  a  sin::le  vote,  howovor.  Cou;:res3 
fvnow  endeavourin:;  to  de\i>o  some  mode  of  reiaininir  vou  in  the 
«n:ce:  liiey  hojw»  to  |H?rsiKuie  you  to  accept  ilie  adjutani-conerars 
■.>5ce,  and  are  willing  to  comply  wiih  your  own  pni^xtsitions.  My 
brocher  wri:cs  vou  fuilv  :  as  he  has  been  on  the  si>ol,  he  knows  the 
nrious  manvFUvres  wliich  ha\ e  been  ix^rformcd  on  tliis  oicasion. 
I  actierstand  lieneral  Schi:vler  has  appointed  *T.  G.  Frazer,  Esq., 
»  "^v  laie  onice." 

m 

tii:es  had  been  prnliihiied  fn."^ni  ap;>oiniipj  liiis  irentlenian,  in 
bftpe  words  :  "it  is  not  the  i mention  of  con^ross  that  Mr.  Trum- 
bull si'.ouid  be  ro-appoin;ed."  i>!i  the  same  day,  Samuel  Adam* 
■rocc  to  lijtes,  sa\  inj,  "  1  have  not  for  jot  vou.  I  siiall  remem- 
ber  :he  last  words  vou  s;ud  to  me  :  tiie  bearer  is  able  to  teil  vou  mv 
■bole  meaning-  1  shail  not  be  wantiu::."  During  th.is  lime, 
Cir.es,  w  ho  had  been  sent  o\\  for  llie  defence  oi  Ticoiuien^ca  in 
Mirvh,  is  informed  bv  \Vi!kin>*>n.  one  of  his  aitis,  livai  there  is  at 
Lut  rs>s:  ro  prt*pa rations  for  d<.  fc:u*e,  and  reijut  s:s  l;im  "  to  let 
Kesoiiisko  co:ne  back  \\\ih  pro:HT  :-.i!::^.>nty." 

Anoi/.er  son  of  Cioverr.oiir  Trur.! {.»,:!!'>.  in  answer  to  a  letter  of 
Gaies's.  u:H»n  Ms  reiirinc  from  ii:o  ni»r:h,  e\c'uiiins — ••  Righteous 
Oc^  !  o\  w1:j.i  hijhtr  crimes,  iv.ore  i.Mn  others,  are  we  cniliv  in 
li::*  de;  Mn::\cni.  tji.ii  we  are  :i:iis  exposed  to  liiy  severt*st  punish-  ' 
rwc'^i"  ••  M:;v  hoax  en  e\er  blc?s  vou,  mv  dear  ::enond."  This 
WIS  l"ro:n  the  payi:iasior-;:ener.il,  and  written  when  St.  Claif  had 
iToided  captivity  or  death,  bv  retreat  from  Ticonilero;:a.  Si'huy- 
ier  K^und  that  "  literallv  notiiin/"  l^ad  been  done  durinir  his  ab- 
seoce  to  imprv>i  e  the  means  of  deffuce  on  liie  frontiers :  but,  as 
Cbanceilor  Kent  obsenes,  he  was  "  forlunaielv,  in  this  season  in 
r"od  heal:h,  a  blessiu::  Avhich  he  had  not  eniovcdthe  last  tAvovears, 
He  row  displaved  his  p.cliviiv,  U  nor.r,  and  eiuT^v  in  a  brilliant 
c:ir.r>er-  lienerAl  Si.  Clair  was  placed  l»v  h.im  in  xhc  conmiand  at 
T^-:i.'::«ieroj-a.  a:ui  espceiai'.y  di  reeled  lo  U»r:ifv  Mo  mil  l:!de|>en- 
ce.Tve.  He  irjU»nned  congress,  on  liic  14:h  of  June,  t:;.u  consider^ 
isj  tiw  e\le::>:xeness  k^\  li:e  vorks  at  Ticondero^a.  liu*  sr.iallnesa 
of  t:e  ::urrison  was  alarm i::^.  and  incompetent  to  maintahi  it.  and 
t:,a:  be  lound  the  department  in  liie  jreaie<t  confusion.  Appliea- 
Di>n  was  made  to  ihe  eas:-jrn  siates  to  l;as:en  on  :i:e  remainder  of 
tirir  troop*  :  and  he  informed  ihe:n  il^:U  liie  car  risen  at  Ticondero- 
Ci  did  not  liien  excccil  two  ihoij^anil  two  hundred  men,  si^  k  in- 
cluded. On  the  U»th  of  June,  iieiur.d  Washington  was  apprized 
by  him  of  the  fact  tiiat  he  had  no  troops  to  oppose  Sir  Ji»hn  John- 
on  the  Mohawk.  He  visited  Ticondero^ra  and  Mount  Inde- 
oa  the  dOthf  and  found  them  not  in  a  good  sutc  o(  de- 


lOS  EPFOKT8  OP  SCnVTLEB. 

fence,  and  very  deficient  in  troops  and  provisiona;  bat  it  was 
resolved,  at  a  council  of  officers  called  bv  him,  that  ther  be  de- 
fanded  a?  lon^'  a«  possible.  General  Schurler  then  hastened 
back  to  the  Hudson,  the  more  efiectually  to  provide  for  the  garri- 
son, reinforcements  of  provisions  and  men,  and  nothing  conducive 
to  that  irreat  object  was  omitted.  He  solicited  reinforcements  of 
everv  kind,  with  intense  anxietv.  On  the  2Sth  of  June,  he  com- 
municated  by  expres^^es  to  General  Washington,  to  the  govemour 
of  Connecticut,  to  the  president  of  Massachusetts,  to  the  commil- 
tee  of  Berkshire,  and  to  the  committee  of  safety  of  New  York,  fait 
appreheiLsions  for  tiie  **afety  of  the  garrison  at  Ticonderoga,  from 
the  inadequacy  of  the  means  of  defence.  On  the  2Sth  and  dOtb  of 
June,  (for  dates  now  become  important.)  he  encouraged  Sl  ClaiTt 
that  he  should  move  up  with  the  continental  troops  and  militia,  as 
soon  as  he  could  possibly  put  them  in  motion,  and  '^  he  hoped  to 
have  the  plea.-ure  of  seeinz  him  in  possession  of  his  post/*  So 
again  on  the  otii  of  July,  he  assured  him  that  the  troops  from  Peekskill 
and  the  militia  were  in  motion,  and  **  he  hofied  to  see  him  in  a  day 
or  two."  On  the  7ih,  hf.  informed  General  Washineton,  bv  letter, 
that  he  was  up  as  far  as  .Saratoira,  with  a)K)ut  seven  hundred  conti- 
nental troop.^.  and  about  one  thousand  four  hundred  militia.  He 
was  then  in  the  utmost  distress  for  provisions,  and  he  then  and 
there  met  the  news,  that  General  St.  Clair  had  abandoned  Ticon- 
deroga and  Mount  Independence  on  the  6th,  with  the  loss  of  all 
his  miliiaiy*  equipment*. 

The  last  seen*?  of  General  Srhuvler's  militarv  life,  was  full  of 
action  befitiinir  the  occasion,  and  worthv  of  his  character.  Evenr 
quarter  of  his  department  was  replete  with  difficulty  and  danger. 
The  frontier  on  liie  Mohawk  was  menaced  bv  an  armv  of  one  thoo- 
sand,  and  six  hundred  re^iulars,  tories,  and  Indians,  under  Lienten- 
ant-colonel  .St.  Le^^er,  anri  he  cheered  and  encouraged  Bri^dier- 
general  Herkimer  to  rour^e  the  militia,  and  act  with  alacrit}'  in 
defence  of  that  frontier.  He  addressed  the  civil  and  militarv  ao- 
thoritips  in  evf^rv  direction,  with  manlv  firmness,  and  the  most  for- 
cible  exhortation  to  assist  him  with  men,  arms,  and  provisions ; 
"  ever\'  militiaman.''  he  said,  "oujrht  to  turn  out  without  delar,  in 
a  crisis  the  most  alarmin.'*  since  the  content  beiran."  He  directed 
that  the  inhabitants  retire  from  before  the  enemv,  and  that  evenr 
article  be  brought  off  or  destroyed,  that  was  calculated  to  assist 
them — that  tJie  roads,  causeways,  and  Wood  Creek  be  rendered 
impassable.  He  issued  a  proclamation  to  encourage  the  country, 
and  counterart  that  of  Bur:;oyne.  He  assured  General  Washing- 
ton, on  tiie  12th  of  Juiv,  that  he  should  retard  the  enerav*s  advance 
by  all  possible  means.  ^'  If  my  countrymen  will  support  me  with 
Tigour  and  dexterity,  and  do  not  meanly  despond,  we  iball  be  able 
to  prevent  the  enemy  from  penetrating  much  farther  into  the 


EFFORTS  OF   SCHVTLBR.  109 

tn-/*  With  t  force  of  four  thousand  five  hundred  men,  regulars 
and  militia^  he  had  to  encounter  or  impede  the  progress  of  six  thou- 
sand of  the  finest  troops  of  Europe,  with  equipments  and  artillery 
equal  to  their  discipline. 

Fort  Georije  was  abandoned  on  the  14th  of  Julv,  for  It  was  ut- 
terly  indofons^ible,  being  only  part  of  an  unfuiished  bastion  holding 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men.  On  the  24th  of  July,  Schuyler  retired 
with  his  army  to  Moore's  Creek,  four  miles  below  Fort  Edward, 
as  the  latter  was  only  a  heap  of  ruins,  and  always  commanded  by 
the  neighbourinc;  hills.  The  enemy  kept  pressing  upon  his  ad- 
vanced posts,  but  in  the  midst  of  unparalleled  difliculties,  his 
retreat  was  slow  and  safe,  and  ever}'  inch  of  ground  disputed.  The 
distress  of  the  army,  in  want  of  artillery  and  every  other  military 
aod  comfortable  equipment,  was  aggravated  by  despondency  and 
sickness,  and  the  restlessness  and  insubordination  of  the  militia. 
They  could  not  be  detained.  Almost  all  the  eastern  militia  had 
left  the  army,  l^v  the  advice  of  a  council  of  general  ofhcerSy 
Schuyler  was  obliged  to  let  one  half  of  the  militia  go  home  under 
I  promise  of  the  residue  to  continue  for  three  weeks.  Though  the 
subject  of  popular  calumny,  he  did  not  in  the  least  despond  or 
shrink  from  his  duty.  **  I  shall  go  on,"  he  writes  to  General 
Washinffton,  **  in  doinff  mv  dutv,  and  in  endeavours  to  desen'e 
vour  esteem."  lie  renewed  his  call  on  the  eastern  states  for  as- 
sistance,  and  told  his  friend,  (iovernour  Trumbull,  of  Connecticut, 
(whom  he  always  mentioned  with  the  highest  esteem,  and  between 
whom  and  Schuvlcr  a  mutual  confidence  and  attachment  had  invari- 

m 

ibly  subsisted,)  that  **  if  the  eastern  militia  did  not  turn  out  with  spirit, 
and  behave  better,  we  should  be  ruined."  The  greatest  reliance  was 
placed  on  the  etforis  of  his  own  more  immediate  countrymen,  and 
his  most  pathetick  and  eloquent  appeals  were  made  to  the  council 
of  safetv  of  the  state  of  New  York  for  succours  to  enable  him  to 
meet  the  enemy  in  the  field.     lU*  the  beirinning  of  August,  he  was 

Sreparing  to  act  on  the  offensive,  and  by  his  orders  of  the  30th  of 
ulv  and  13th  of  Aujrust,  (General  Ijincoln  was  directed  to  move 
with  a  body  of  troops  to  the  north  of  Cambridge,  towards  SSkeenes- 
borough,  and  take  command  of  the  troops  under  General  iT^tarkeand 
Colonel  Warner,  who  had  orders  to  join  him ;  and  if  he  should 
have  force  enough,  to  fall  on  the  enemy  in  that  quarter.  As  Bur- 
goyne  advanced  down  the  Hudson,  there  was  constant  skirmishing 
at  the  advanced  posts,  and  General  Schuyler  retreated  slowly  and 
in  good  order  down  to  »Saratoc:a,  and  then  to  and  below  Stillwater, 
and  in  everv  instance  bv  the  unanimous  advice  of  his  officers. 

Durin?  this  eventful  period,  the  western  branch  of  Schuyler's 
inilitar>'  district  was  in  the  utmost  consternation  and  peril.  The 
army  under  St.  Leger  had  besieged  Fort  Stanwix ;  and  General 
Herkimer,  with  eight  hundred  of  the  frontier  militia,  marching  to 


110  TICONDBEOGA  TAKEN. 

the  relief  of  the  fortressy  was  attacked  by  a  detachment  of  the  ene* 
my,  under  Sir  John  Johnson,  and  defeated  at  Oriskany,  on  the 
6th  of  August  On  the  16th,  General  Schuyler  despatched  Ar- 
nold with  three  regiments,  amounting  in  the  whole  only  to  five  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men,  to  take  charge  of  the  military  operations  on  the 
Mohawk. 

But  the  period  of  his  eminent  services  was  drawing  to  a  close. 
Congress,  yielding  to  the  clamour  and  calumny  of  the  people  and 
militia  of  the  eastern  states,  suspended  General  Schuyler's  com- 
mand, and  on  the  19th  of  August,  (three  days  after  the  victory  at 
Bennington,)  General  Gates  arrived  in  camp,  and  superseded  bini* 
General  Schuyler  felt  acutely  the  discredit  of  being  recalled  in  the 
most  critical  period  of  the  campaign,  and  after  the  labour  and  ac- 
tivity of  making  preparations  to  repair  the  disasters  of  it,  had  been 
expended  by  him,  and  when  he  was  in  vigorous  preparation  to  win, 
and  almost  in  the  act  to  place  the  laurels  of  victory  on  his  brow. 
'*I  am  sensible,"  said  this  great  and  injured  man,  in  his  letter  to 
congress,  ''  of  the  indignity  of  being  ordered  from  the  command  of 
an  army,  at  a  time  when  an  engagement  must  soon  take  place ;" 
and  when,  we  may  add,  he  had  already  commenced  offensive  pre- 
parations, and  laid  tiie  foundation  of  future  and  glorious  triumphs. 

The  whole  country  looked  to  liie  Fort  of  Ticonderoga  as  a  safe- 
guard against  Burgoyne  and  his*  army  :  but  when  that  general  in- 
vested St.  Clair  at  Ticonderoga,  the  defences  were  found  insuffi- 
cient, and  the  number  of  tiic  garrison  too  small.  Burgoyne  had 
seized  upon  Mount  Defiance,  and  commanded  the  place  by  means 
which  had  been  pointed  out  to  (lates  by  the  adjutant-general,  Col. 
Trumbull,  more  than  a  year  previous.  St.  Clair  precipitately  aban- 
doned the  place,  and  with  his  retreating  army  crossed  to  the  east  side 
of  the  lake,  after  much  suffering,  and  was  pursued  by  General  Grant 
with  the  elite  of  Burgoyne's  army — who,  after  taking  possession  of 
Ticonderoga  and  its  dependencies,  and  despatching  aid  to  Colonel 
St.  Leger  by  Lake  George,  to  co-operate  with  Sir  John  Johnson 
and  the  Iroquois  under  Brant,  pushed  with  the  main  army  and  his 
fleet  to  Skeenesborough,  now  Whitehall.  Grant  followed  on  the 
north  side  of  the  lake  until  his  Grenadiers  overtook  part  of  the 
American  army  in  the  Hubbardstown  road,  and  were  repulsed. 
General  Reidesel  was  wounded,  and  left  at  Castleton. 

Governour  Morgan  Lewis,  who  was  then  quarter-master  general 
of  St.  Claires  army,  arrived  at  Fort  Edward,  now  a  village  of  that 
name,  to  receive  Van  Schaick's  regiment,  aud  quarter  them  there. 
At  that  time.  Fort  Edward  commanded  the  entrance  of  the  Hudson 
fiom  the  west,  a  little  below  the  present  village  of  Sandy  Hill.  It 
ii  now  scarcely  visible.  On  the  road  thither,  Gouvemour  Lewis  and 
suite  stopped  at  a  house  in  the  woods,  occupied  by  the  widow  of 


AFFAIR  OF   MISa  M*CRKA.  Ill 

I  Scotch  highlander,  and  a  country  girl,  of  the  name  of  McCrea,  who 
vere  unprotected — ^there  being  in  the  house  no  other  person  than 
a  negro  woman.  They  advised  the  old  woman  and  the  young  one 
to  remove,  as  the  British  were  coming  that  road.  As  they  appeared 
conGdent  of  their  situation,  they  were  left.  In  the  evening.  Van 
Schaick's  regiment  was  quartered  at  tiie  fort,  and  Lieutenant  Van 
Vccbten  and  a  sufficient  guard  were  placed  at  a  proper  diatanca 
bom  the  enemy.  In  the  morning,  Lewis  and  suite  rode  back 
the  same  way  to  gain  information  of  the  approach  of  the  Britiahi 
and  found  the  dead  bodies  of  the  young  women  and  Lieuten- 
iDt  Van  Vechtcn  stripped,  and  laying  side  by  side.  He  and  Ilia 
guard  had  been  surprised,  scalped,  and  tomahawked  ;  and  she  was 
killed  by  blows  of  the  tomahawk  on  her  head,  but  not  scalped  ;  and 
iter  hair  had  been  so  adjusted  as  to  form  a  covering  of  decency. 
The  party  rode  to  the  house  and  found  there  only  the  black  woman, 
who  said  she  had  hid  herself  in  the  cellar  while  the  Indians  took 
the  other  women  awav. 

It  appears  that  a  young  man  who  attended  a  mill  on  the  Hoosick, 
near  which  the  British  army  passed,  had  joined  them  as  a  guide; 
and  being  ensraged  to  this  young  woman,  and  knowing  his  proxim- 
ity to  the  armies,  employed  some  Indians,  with  the  promise  of  two 
kegs  of  whiskey,  to  brin£r  her  and  her  protectress,  the  old  Scotch 
iroman,  to  him.  These  Indians  had  surprised  Van  Vechten  and 
his  guard,  and  then  quarrelling  who  should  have  the  whiskey,  killed 
ibe  young  woman,  as  die  most  summar}-  mode  of  settling  the 
dispute. 

Gates  i^TOte  an  insolent  letter  to  the  Endish  commander,  mi^ 
stating  the  fact,  and  accusing  that  officer  (whom  he  sneeringly  calls 
"  the  famous  Lieutenant-general  Burgoyne,  in  whom  the  fine  gen- 
tleman is  united  with  the  soldier  and  the  scholar,")  with  hiring 
*'  the  Savages  of  America  to  scalp  Europeans  and  their  descend- 
ants," and  says  :  the  bride,  dressed  to  receive  her  promised  hus- 
band, "  met  her  murderer,  employed  by  you."  To  this,  the  an- 
swer of  C«eneral  Burgoyne  was,  though  indignant,  that  of  a  gentle- 
man and  a  scholar. 

Govemour  Lewis  says,  he  by  chance  entered  the  commander's 
tent  when  this  absurd  letter  was  in  preparation  by  Doctor  Potts, 
ike  surgeon-general ;  and  it  being  read  aloud,  some  remarked  upon 
ike  inaccuracy  of  the  statement ;  but  (lates  shouted,  **'  Nevermind 
—colour  it  high.  Doctor — colour  high." 

Schuvler  was  at  Stillwater,  endeavourins:  to  bring  his  army  to 
Ticonderoira  and  take  command  of  that  fortress,  when  he  received 
iafermatioiT  of  the  retreat  of  St.  Clair,  and  soon  after  was  joined  by 
die  retreating  army* 

At  Fort  Edward,  Burgoyne  made  a  halt,  and  sent  Colonel 
Banme  to  Vermont. 


112  SIBGB  OP   FORT  STAlffWU. 

After  giving  an  account  of  St.  Leger,  we  shall  reiuro  to  Starke 
and  Baumc. 

In  the  year  lSl-3.  the  house  of  James  Lynch,  £?q.,  corered  the 
cast  bastion  of  old  Fori  Sianv.ix.  The  writer,  from  a  window  in 
thai  house,  made  a  drawinir  of  the  remains  of  the  fort.  The  block 
house  still  occupied  the  centre  of  the  fortification,  and  the  mounds 
of  earth  wliich  formerly  made  the  ramparts  of  tlie  fort,  were  beyond. 
The  church,  and  other  publick  buildinirs  of  the  village  of  Rome, 
formed  the  distance. 

In  1777,  this  wa.-;  called  Fort  Schuvler,  and  sarrisoned  bv  Co- 
lonel  Gansevoort,  as  the  safe<ruard  of  the  vallev  of  the  Mohawk. 

St.  Le^rer  found  no  enemy  in  his  route  by  Oswe<ro,  stron<r  enoueh 
to  detain  him.  He  sent  Lieutenant  Bird  and  Brant  to  invest  the 
fort,  preparatory'  to  his  arrival  with  the  rest  of  his  forces.  Fortu- 
nately, Colonel  Marinus  Willct.  with  his  regiment,  had  been  thrown 
into  the  fort,  and  the  unfinished  defences  were  directed  henceforth 
by  him. 

In  June,  Gansevoort  wrote  to  .Schuyler — "  I  am  sorry  to  inform 
your  Honour  that  Captain  Gresrg  and  Corporal  Madison,  of  my 
regiment,  went  out  a  irunninff  yesterday  morning,  contrary  to  or- 
ders. It  seems  they  went  out  just  after  breakfast,  and  at  about  ten 
o^clock  Corporal  Madison  was  killed  and  scalped.  Captain  Grezz 
was  shot  through  his  back,  tomahawked  and  scalped,  and  is  stiU 
alive.  He  informs  me  that  the  misfortune  happened  about  ten  oVlock 
in  the  morning.  He  looked  at  his  watch  after  he  was  scalped. 
He  saw  but  two  Indians.  He  wa^  about  one  mile  and  a  half  from 
tlie  fort,  and  was  not  discovered  until  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
I  immediately  sent  out  a  party  and  had  him  brought  into  the  fell, 
just  after  three  o'clock ;  also  the  corpse  of  Madison.  Greee  is 
perfectly  in  his  senses,  and  speaks  strong  and  hearty,  notwitfa^uid- 
inir  that  his  recoverv  is  doubtful.^* 

And  in  Julv,  he  ai:ain  wrote  to  Schuvler — **  Havincr  taken  an 

•  '  ^  *  Urn 

accurate  review  of  the  state  of  the  irarrison.  I  think  it  is  incumbent 
on  me  to  inform  your  Excellency  by  express  of  our  present  circum- 
stances. Every  possible  assistance  is  iriven  to  Captain  Marquizee, 
to  enable  him  to  carr\'  on  sucli  works  as  are  deemed  absolutely  ne- 
cessary for  the  defence  of  the  ::arrison.  The  soldiers  are  constant- 
Iv  at  work— even  such  of  them  as  come  olT  cuard  arc  immediately 
turned  out  to  fatiirue.  But  I  cannot  conceal  from  vour  Excellencv 
the  impossibility  of  auending  fully  to  all  the  tn^at  objects  pointed 
out  in  the  orders  issued  to  the  commandin£r  officer  on  the  station, 
without  further  assistance,  r^endin?  out  sufficient  parties  of  ob- 
servation, felling  the  timber  into  Wood  Creek,  clearing  the  road 
from  Fort  Dayton,  which  is  so  embarrassed,  in  many  parts,  is  to 
be  impassable,  and  prosecuting,  at  the  same  time,  the  internal  bu- 
siness of  the  garrison,  are  objects  of  the  greatest  impomoce,  which 


SIEGE  OF    FORT  UTANWJX.  113 

vhould  if  possible,  be  immediately  considered.  But  while  no  ex- 
ertions compatible  with  the  circumstances  we  arc  in,  and  necessary 
to  gire  your  Excellency  satisfaction  with  respect  to  all  interesting 
matters,  shall  be  omitted,  I  am  very  sensible  it  is  not  in  our  power 
to  get  over  some  capital  obstructions  without  a  reinforcement.  The 
enclosed  return,  and  the  difiiculties  arising  from  the  increased 
number  ofhostile  Indians,  will  show  to  your  Excellency  the  grounds 
of  my  opinion.  One  hundred  and  fifty  men  would  be  needed 
speedily  and  effectually  to  obstruct  Wood  Creek  ;  an  equal  num- 
ber will  be  necessary  to  guard  the  men  at  work  felling  and  hauling 
of  timber.  Such  a  deduction  from  our  number,  together  widi 
smaller  deductions  for  scouting  parties,  would  scarcely  leave  a  man 
in  the  garrison,  whicli  might  therefore  be  easily  surprised  by  a  con- 
temptible party  of  the  enemy.  The  number  of  inimical  Indians 
increases.  On  the  affair  of  last  week  only  two  made  their  appear- 
ance. Yesterday  a  party  of  at  least  forty,  supposed  to  be  Butler's 
emissaries,  attacked  Ensign  Sporr  widi  sixteen  privates,  who  were 
out  on  fatigue,  cutting  turf  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  from  the 
(brt.  One  soldier  was  brought  in  dead  and  inhumanly  mangled ; 
two  was  brought  in  wounded — one  of  them  slightly  and  die  other 
mortally.  Six  privates  and  Mr.  Sporr  are  missing.  Two  parties 
were  immediately  sent  to  pursue  the  enemy,  but  they  returned 
without  being  able  to  come  up  with  them.  This  success  will  no 
doubt,  encourage  them  to  send  out  a  greater  number ;  and  the  in- 
telligence they  may  possibly  acquire,  will  probably  hasten  the  main 
body  destined  to  act  against  us  in  these  parts.  Our  provision  is  greatly 
diminished  by  reason  of  the  spoiling  of  the  beef,  and  the  quantiues 
that  must  be  given  from  time  to  time  to  the  Indians.  It  will  not 
hold  ont  above  six  weeks.  Your  Excellency  will  perceive,  in  look- 
ing over  Captain  Savage's  return  of  the  state  of  the  artillery,  that 
some  essential  articles  are  very  scarce.  As  a  great  number  of  the 
bullets  do  not  suit  the  fire-locks,  some  bullet  moulds  of  different 
sizes  for  casting  others,  would  be  of  great  advantage  to  us.  Our 
stock  of  powder  is  absolutely  too  Uttle ;  a  ton,  in  addition  to  what 
we  have,  is  wanted  as  die  lowest  proportion  for  the  shot  we  have 
en  hand.  We  will,  notwithstanding  every  difficulty,  exert  our- 
selves to  the  utmost  of  our  power ;  and  if  your  Excellency  will  be 
pleased  to  order  a  speedy  reinforcement,  with  a  sufficient  supply  of 

Provision  and  ammunition  to  enable  us  to  hold  out  a  siege,  we  will, 
hope,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  be  able  to  give  a  good  account  of 
any  force  that  will  probably  come  against  us." 

John  Jay,  then  sitting  in  the  convention  at  Esopus,  wrote  thus: 
— July  21st,  1777 — **  The  situation  of  Tryon  County  is  both 
shameful  and  alarming.  Such  abject  dejection  and  despondency, 
as  mark  the  letters  we  have  received  from  thence,  disgrace  human 
nature.     God  knows  what  to  do  widi,  or  for  them.     Were  they 

VOL.  II.  15 


114  srecc  of  fort  ^taxwix. 

alone  inoere^teJ  in  tbelr  &:c.  I  shoulil  be  for  leavia^r  Acircstia 
ihe  «lofj;h  till  ih^v  v^oaW  put  rhelr  •Loulder  to  the  wfaeeL 

"  .Srhrjvler  ha.«i  hL-  f:Ti^cn:*:^  hfrre,  and  ther  iwe  these  thing*  tt>hu 
rltfadTanriT'^.  f^u-rjicioo*  of  hi*  h\'i\r.z  been  priT^/  to  the  eracna- 
rion  of  Tironri^ro^i  ■•nr»:ari  virie  :  and  t^ventv  liule  circuraataaces. 
whirh  perh;ip-*  are  ULs:*.  ar«=r  tr:;rr.ped  tip  to  zive  colour  to  6e 
conj*?rtnr^." 

Brit  i'ieneral  H*:TkiTn^r  oonrrlved  to  arou-^e  the  militia  of  !» 
neirhhourhood  :  mirched  with  a  body  of  militia  to  sapport  Fart 
?ffan«zi,  and  had  arrived  ^Itiiin  bve  or  Ax  mile*  of  that  potstwim 
he  kamed  that  rfir  John  Johnson,  witli  hi*  «avazes,  bad  been  seoc 
bjr  Sf.  Lezer  to  intercept  hi*  force,  not  ron*istinj  of  more  tfasn 
ei^rht  hundred  undisciplined  men.  The  *tnfethat  ensued  ia  called 
the  liattle  of  (hl^kany,  and  the  field  L*  pointed  out  between  Ctsca 
and  Rome.  At  the  fir>t  fire  of  the  euemv,  manv  of  the  milxik 
were  killed,  and  «ome  A'rd  ;  Herkimer  and  a  bniTe  band  sustuned 
the  fijrht,  even  hand  to  hand :  and  the  Indians,  beinz  worsted,  are 
Mid  to  have  conceived  that  the  Br:tL*h  had  betraved  them,  and  in 
dieir  ra;e  killed  their  friend*,  makinx  the  coafosion  of  a  cootest 
carried  on  with  knives.  mii«ket*,  ba%'onet3,  and  tomahawks*  in 
clo«e  fitrhr«  or  from  behind  lo2!¥  and  trees,  more  awfoL  Sir  John 
and  hid  party  retreated,  and  cnm'ed  off  the  slain,  and  sererai  pri- 
«oners.  Herkimer  tea*  ivounded  and  carried  to  his  own 
where  he  dierl. 

Scarce  had  St.  Lerer  ient  on  Sir  John  Johnson  with  his 
and  Brant  with  hi*  Indian*  to  meet  Herkimer,  when  Colooei  W3- 
let  made  a.Arirtie.  and  fallinj  upon  the  enemy**  camp,  drore 
off.  and  carried  back  a  quantity  of  arm*  and  stores.  The 
rallied  and  attempted  to  prevent  hL<  return  to  the  fort,  bai  he 
charged  them  and  carried  off  hi*  booty  in  triumph.  The 
roander.  Colonel  fran-'*evoort,  findinz  that  the  enemv 
around  him  by  brinzinz  on  more  <avaze*,  wa*  anxiocB  to  caD  ix[k 
on  the  countrv  below  for  rt-iief-  Colonel  Willet  and  Li 
Scockwell  undertook  the  hazardous  enterprise  of  passinc 
the  surround  in  J  hfM  of  *avazes  and  other  ranjers, 
watchtul  by  the  previous  attack* :  and  these  zailant  s\ 
both  skilled  in  Indian  warfare,  crept  on  their  bands  and 
through  the  enemv'*  ramp.  e{:jdinz  even  the  keen  senses  of  die 
M\as:e  warriour^,  and  arhveii  safe  at  the  head-fjoarters  of  Gcaeiai 
Schuvler. 

Thi*  produced  the  effect  in  an  T.nexperted  manner.  As  Arnold 
was  advancing  up  the  Mohawk,  a  feiiow  vcho  was  a  torv.  and  ae* 
cixsed  of  beinz  a  «py.  i«a*  brought  into  hL*  camp.  After 
inf  the  cirrum*tances.  Arnold  wi*e!v  determined  to  arafl 
of  this  man's  serrice.  He  proposed  to  him  a  scheme  fer  alnrn- 
ing  the  enenn ,  particularly  the  sara^,  by  annoanciDf  lo  tbeot 


^   ■       <       .  <  I       w  I 


RETREAT  OF    ST.  LECIER.  115 

that  a  formidable  army  was  in  full  inarch  to  destroy  them  ;  iknd  as- 
sured him  of  his  life,  and  estate,  if  ho  would  enter  heartily  into  the 
interests  of  his  coiuitry,  and  faithfully  execute  a  mission  of  this 
nature.  The  spy,  who  was  shrewd  and  resolute,  versed  in  the  lan- 
guage and  manners  of  the  Indians,  acquainted  with  some  of  their 
chie&,  and  therefore  perfectly  qualified  for  this  business,  readily 
engaged  in  the  enterprise. 

Colonel  St  Leger  had  pushed  the  siejxe  with  considerable  acti- 
vity ;  and  advanced  his  works  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards 
of  the  fort.  Upon  the  spy's  arrival,  he  told  a  lamentable  story  of 
his  being  taken  by  Arnold,  his  escape  from  hanginij,  and  the  dan- 
ger which  he  had  encountered  in  his  i\ifr\n ;  and  declared  at  the 
same  time  that  a  formidable  army  of  Americans  was  marching  with 
full  speed  to  attack  the  British.  The  Americans,  he  observed,  had 
no  hostility  towards  the  Indians,  and  wislied  not  to  injure  them  ; 
but  added,  that,  if  the  Indians  continued  with  the  British,  they 
must  unquestionably  take  their  share  of  whatever  calamities  might 
befall  their  allies. 

The  Indians  being  thus  thoroughly  alarmed,  a  friendly  chief, 
who  was  in  the  secret,  arrived,  as  if  by  mere  accident ;  and  in  the 
mysterious  manner  of  that  people  be^an  to  insinuate  to  his  coun- 
trymen, that  a  bird  had  brought  him  intelligence,  of  great  moment. 
This  hint  set  their  curosity  atloat ;  and  excited  a  series  of  anxious 
inquiries.  To  these  he  replied  in  hints,  and  suggestions,  concern- 
ing warriours  in  great  numbers,  marching  with  the  utmost  rapidity, 
and  already  far  advanced.  The  Indians,  already  disgusted  with 
the  service,  which  they  found  a  mere  contrast  to  the  promises  of 
the  British  commanders,  and  their  own  expectations,  and  sore  with 
the  loss  which  thev  had  sustained  in  the  battle  with  (ieneral  Her- 
kimer,  were  now  so  completely  alarmed,  that  they  determined  up- 
on an  immediate  retreat. 

Sl  Leger,  who  had  unwisely  boastcfl,  at  first,  of  his  own 
Btrengthy  and  his  future  exploits  airainst  the  Americans,  and  spoken 
contemptuously  of  dieir  weakness  and  cowardice;  who  had  pre- 
dicted in  magnificent  terms  the  certainty  of  their  flight;  and  the 
esse,  and  safety,  with  which  the  Indians  would  reach  Albany ;  had 
disgusted  these  people  thorou<rhly  by  failing  altogether  of  the  ful- 
filment of  his  promises.  In  vain,  therefore,  did  he  exert  all  his  ad- 
dress, when  he  saw  them  preparing  to  quit  the  ground,  to  dissuade 
them  from  their  purpose.  He  exhorted,  argued,  and  promised  in 
▼ain.  They  reproached  him  with  having  violated  all  his  former 
promises;  and  pronounced  him  undeserving  of  any  further  confi- 
dence. He  attempted  to  get  them  drunk  ;  but  they  refused  to 
drink.  When  he  found  all  his  elforts  fruitless,  and  saw  that  thev 
were  determined  to  go,  he  urged  them  to  move  in  the  rear  of  his 
army  ;  but  they  charged  him  with  a  design  to  sacrifice  them  for  his 


116  ilFFAIH  OF 

own  safety.  Id  a  mixture  of  rage  and  despair,  he  brake  mp  Us 
encampment  with  such  haste,  that  he  left  hts  tents,  ramwn,  and 
stores  to  the  besieged. 

Thus  was  Bui^yne's  right  arm  withered  ;  and  the  A^/f,  which 
he  had  stretched  as  far  as  BenniostoOf  was  anested  hv  oar  old 
friendf  Starke,  of  Bunker  Hiil  memory,  who  had  heen  roused  by 
the  calls  of  General  Schuyler. 

*^  On  the  Idth  instant,  says  Starke,  whose  letter  I  copy,  I  was 
informed  that  there  was  a  part}-  of  Indians  at  Cambridge  on  their 
march  to  this  place,  (Bennincton.)  I  sent  Lieutenant-colooel 
Grey  of  my  brisrade  to  stop  them,  with  two  hundred  men.  In  the 
night  I  was  informed,  by  express,  that  there  was  a  large  body  of 
the  enemy  on  their  march  in  the  rear  of  the  Indians.  I  ralUed  aD 
my  hricade,  and  what  militia  was  at  this  place,  in  order  to  Mp 
their  proceedinars.  I  likewise  sent  to  Manchester  to  Colonel  War- 
ner's regiment,  that  was  stationed  there:  likewise  sent  expresKS 
for  the  militia  to  come  in  with  all  speed  to  our  assistance;  which 
was  punctually  obeyed.  I  then  marched  in  company  with  CiAo" 
nels  Warner,  Williams,  Herrick,  and  Brush,  with  all  the  men  that 
were  present.  About  five  miles  from  this  place  I  met  Colonel 
Grey  on  his  retreat,  and  the  enemy  in  close  pursuit  after  him.  I 
drew  up  my  little  army  in  order  of  battle :  but  when  the  enemy 
hove  in  sight  they  halted  on  a  ver}'  advantageous  hill  or  piece  of 
ground.  I  sent  out  small  parties  in  their  front  to  skirmish  widi 
them,  which  scheme  had  a  ?ood  ettect :  they  killed  and  wounded 
thift}'  of  them  without  any  loss  on  our  side.  But  the  ground  that 
I  was  upon  did  not  suit  for  a  ceneral  action.  I  marched  hack 
about  one  mile,  and  encamped ;  called  a  council,  and  it  was  agreed 
we  siiould  send  two  detaciiments  in  their  rear,  while  the  other  at- 
tacked tliem  in  front:  but  the  15th  rained  all  dav :  therefore  had 
to  lay  by,  could  do  noihins:  but  skirmish  with  them.  On  the  16th, 
in  the  morning,  was  joined  by  Colonel  Simmons,  with  some  militia 
from  Berkshire  county.  I  pursued  my  plan,  and  detached  Cok>- 
nel  Nichols  wid)  two  hundred  men  to  attack  in  tlie  rear.  I  also 
sent  Colonel  Herrick,  with  three  hundred  men,  in  the  rear  of  their 
right,  both  to  join  to  attack  their  rear.  I  likewise  sent  the  CiAo' 
nels  Hubbard  and  Sticknev  with  two  hundred  men  in  their  licht, 
and  sent  one  hundred  men  in  their  front  to  draw  awaT  their  attra- 
tion  that  way  ;  and  about  three  o'clock  we  eot  already  for  the  at- 
tack. Colonel  Nichols  beean  the  same,  which  was  followed  brail 
the  rest  of  those  that  were  detached.  The  remainder  of  my  litlle 
army  I  pushed  up  in  tlie  front,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  actioa  he- 
came  eeneral.  It  lasted  two  hours,  the  hottest  I  eTer  saw  in  mr 
lifc  it  represented  one  condnued  clap  of  thunder ;  howcTcr,  thv 
enemy  was  obliged  to  give  way,  and  leave  their  field-piecct  andaD 


TRANSACTIONS  AT  SARATOGA.     ,        117 

ibeir  bas:gage  behind  them.     They  were  all  environed  within  two 
breastworks  with  their  arlillen*. 

"  I  then  gave  orders  to  rally  again,  to  secure  the  victor}- :  but  in 
a  few  moments  was  informed  there  was  a  large  reinforcement  on 
ibeir  march,  within  two  miles  of  us. 

"  Luckily  for  us,  that  moment  Colonel  Warner's  re:riment  came 
up  fresh,  who  marched  on  and  began  the  attack  anew.  1  pushed 
forward  as  manv  men  as  I  could  to  their  assistance.  The  battle 
continued  obstinate  on  both  sides  till  sunset;  the  enemy  was 
obitsed  to  retreat :  we  pursued  them  till  dark  :  but  had  dayli£:ht 
lasted  one  hour  lonirer,  we  should  have  taken  the  whole  bodv  of 
them.  We  recovered  four  pieces  of  brass  cannon,  some  hundred 
flands  of  arms,  and  brass  barrelled  drums,  several  Hessian  swords^ 
about  seven  hundred  prisoners,  two  hundred  and  seven  dead  on 
the  spot ;  the  number  of  wounded  is  yet  unknown.  That  part  of 
the  enemy  that  made  their  escape,  marched  all  ni^ht.  We  re^ 
turned  to  our  camp.** 

General  (laies  arrived  in  time  for  both  these  victories  to  be  at- 
tributed to  him,  as  commander  of  the  northern  department. 

General  Bunroyne  made  a  Ions:  pause  at  Fort  Kdward.  JN'huy- 
ler  bavin::  im|)cded  Wood  Creek,  the  British  could  only  bring 
their  cannon,  batteaux,  provisions  and  other  material  by  the  carr}- 
'mz  place  irom  Lake  George  to  the  Hudson. 

Inspirited  by  the  fall  of  St.  Leger,  and  by  the  victory  of  Starke, 
the  militia  poured  in  from  all  quarters.  But  (lates  arrived  on  the 
19th,  in  time  to  receive  Starke's  report  of  the  battle,  and  the  con- 
Snitulations  of  all  his  partisans :  nay,  the  coimiry  generally,  attri- 
buted every  success  to  him  :  and  all  the  previous  rein>fi:rade  move- 
ments were  ascribed  to  want  of  skill  or  courage  in  the  man  who, 
by  his  foresight,  exertion,  perseverance,  and  firmness,  had  already 
stopped  the  progress  of  tlie  enemy,  and  prepared  the  victor}'  for 
bis  rival. 

C«ates  had  ordered  General  Lewis  to  make  his  camp  at  the  plain 
in  the  vicinity  of  Behmus's  Heifrhts  when  Kosciusko  arrived.  In 
Govemour  Lewis's  words  :  "  havinir  delivered  his  letters,  Kosci- 
usko came  to  the  spot  where  Colonel  Lewis  and  others  were  en- 
cased in  preparations  for  the  position  of  the  army,  according  to 
ite  cotnmanders  directions.  Kosciusko  entered  into  conversation 
with  the  Colonel,  and  remarked,  that  the  place  chosen  by  General 
Gates  was  commanded  by  hills  on  ever)*  side,  and  as  the  enemy 
WIS  approaching  their  commander  wouKl  undoubtedly  take  advan- 
tage of  the  heiirhts.  **  From  yonder  hill"  said  he,  **  on  the  left," 
pointin?  to  the  cround,  afterwards  the  tield  of  battle,  and  named 
from  a  farmer  there  residing,  **  your  encampment  may  be  cannon- 
aded by  the  cannon  of  the  enemy,  or  from  that  on  our  right  they 
mar  take  aim  at  rour  shoe-buckles."'     Colonel  Lewis  a^^reed  with 


118  TRAXSACTIOXS  AT  SABATOGA. 

him,  and  asked  liim  to  coromunicate  his  opinion  to  General  Gates. 
This  appeared  a  matter  of  difnculty.  It  certainly  would  be  qoesr 
tionins:  the  ^eneraKs  militar}*  science  or  judgment  of  positions. 
Who  then  was  to  break  the  subject  to  the  chieftain  ?  Wilkinson 
w-as  mentioned  a?  the  man  most  in  his  conBdence :  and  Cokxid 
Lewis  introduced  Kosciusko  to  him.  Conducted  to  Gales,  the 
eno^ineer  niade  his  objections  to  the  intended  encampment,  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  cause  an  order  to  Colonel  Lewis  and  others  of  the 
staff,  immediately  to  accompany  Kosciusko  to  tlie  neighbouring 
eminences,  and  to  lay  out  the  encampment  as  he  should  direct 
Arrived  on  Behmus's  Heights,  the  Polander  rode  rapidly  round  a 

Eart  of  the  hill  and  exclaimed,  '*  this  is  the  spot  !'^  It  was  Cotonel 
iCwis's  duty  to  design  the  plan  of  encampment ;  but  he,  acknow* 
ledging  his  inexperience,  applied  to  the  engineer,  who  immediately 
demandinsT  and  receivinir  a  statement  and  enumeration  of  the  Ti- 
rious  corps  of  which  the  army  was  composed,  and  their  seferal 
characters,  pointed  out  with  promptitude  and  decision  the  positioo 
for  each ;  and  before  nirrht  every  division,  brisrade  and  regiment, 
was  placed  in  the  quarter  allotted,  and  the  whole  was  found  most 
admirably  fitted  for  defence  as  well  as  adapted  to  the  number  of 
men  in  each  corps." 

Bursrovne  did  not  cross  the  Hudson  until  the  13th  and  14th  of 
September,  and  on  the  7  th  of  October  made  his  attack,  for  which 
I  again  recur  to  Governour  Lewis  :  ^*  Buro:oyne  having  advanced, 
taken  his  position,  and  reconnoitered  that  of  his  adversary,  saw 
the  necessity  of  turning  the  left  of  the  American  position,  and  oo 
the  19th  of  September,  ordered  the  62d  under  General  Frazer  to 
perform  this  service.  This  movement  of  the  British  appears  first 
to  have  attracted  the  attention  of  General  Arnold,  who  sent  an  order 

to  Colonel  Mor::aa  to  counteract  the  enemv's  intention. 

_  tf 

The  prominent  part  which  ^Sforgan  bore  in  the  events  of  this 
stirrins:  period,  render  proper  a  short  notice  of  his  previous  history. 

Daniel  Morgan  w  as  born  in  New  Jersev,  in  ihe  vear  1736.  He 
was  a  man  of  sriirantick  proportions,  and  athletick  beyond  most 
men.  Of  humble  parentacre,  he  had  little  school  education,  and 
earlv  in  life  went  to  \'ir:rinia  to  "  seek  his  fortune/'  He  was  at 
Monon^ahela  with  Braddock,  Washinsion, and  Gates,  but  probably 
unknown  to  either.  In  the  humble  station  of  a  wagoner  attendant 
upon  the  army,  youns:  Morcran  was,  on  a  charge  of  contumacy  to  a 
British  oflicer,  tied  up,  and  tortured,  mind  and  body,  by  five  hun- 
dred lashes  on  the  naked  back.  The  youth  bore  this  disgraceful 
infliction  in  a  manner  that  marked  an  intellect  as  powerful  as  his 
body  was  strong.  He  knew  it  was  unjust,  and,  in  a  few  days,  the 
officer  acknowledged  that  he  had  wTonged  the  young  provincial, 
and  made  an  apology.  Morgan  migrht  forpve,  but  such  humiliat- 
ing treatment  could  not  be  forgotten  ;  and  when  in  after  life  he  led 


DANIEL  MOBGA?(.  119 

acuon.  he  might  perha|w  reiueiuber  the  rvii-coaird 
otdered.  sdJ  the  red-coatetl  Jrvnimerthat  indicto\i«  five 
on  hb  quivering  desli.  He'  ;i:tonvurvi  st^n  t\{  uniier 
CoMoei  Oeoree  Wa^hin^rion  in  the  war  on  ttie  \  irji:::ji  frvtntier* 
ud  exr^frieov-ed  the  horrour?  of  Itivi'iJi!!  \var!lir\»  in  t,:o  orvnincbl 
ice-  Beiore  the  coauiu'uoeiuouc  of  iho  ii;<;»i;:o  wi:!i  Kn^land, 
Decaoie  a  man  oi  \^r\>p^n\\  Jiui  o'.wu\i  a  :>liR!aiu>n  io 
Frfoetick  countv.  Immeilucelv  mi  cho  ncw^  of  i:o<uilue:«  he  iva« 
2  a  capaiD.  and  his  oharaocor  for  courage  aiui  ttnhvalied 
nioe^i  aim  a  full  cwuploineui  of  ccunoe  :>ptr::ji.  This 
ira5  the  nucleus  of  ihe  celebrated  corps  iivxi  carried  con- 
lo  friends,  and  lerrour  lo  ihe  ejicr.iy.  icir\>u^hoiit  tiie  revi>- 
He  was  wlih  Arnold  in  ihe  u:tivarj! ivied  march 
SKoofti  the  wildemes*  to  Quebec — liHi  ihe  \\x:\  i:i  il:c  assauU  on 
att  ibrtrv-xa  he  was  a  vtccor.  a:id  in  (::e  towiu  v.  hen  c::e  death  of 
Hoa:D.XQen~  consUned  him  azni  his  companioiis  co  ca;ui%iiy.  Af- 
»  beLOf  excbaR.£ed,  he  was  apiHunted  a  colonel,  and  his  nrk*  c%>rps 
«« tbe  emcient  ri^t-hand  of  the  American  annv.     AI(h4>u«h  (he 

m 

iersD-ekief  could  ill  spore  sucit  a:i  odk^r.  and  a  re;:iment 

by  ihe  u>e,  he,  ia  August,  ITT7.  s<'n:  >L>rrin  and  hi*  ride- 

ft>  me  *u;>iH>rt  of  it a:es  and  ihe  nor.hcr.i  ar::i\.      I;  is  a  miller 

it  £eoef«I  hisionr,  iha:  in  ever%'  haitle  thai  i^rececxicd  the  surrender 

-  •  «  • 

^'i3e  Ea^tsh  anuy,  Mor^>*n  and  his  ct^qxs  i»cre  co.'^^picuous,  and 
ae  eoemy  acknowled^i  that  iheir  defea:  uas  i^T  x  jreat  siKasure 
«vuir  IP  che  deadiy  rltles  and  their  ur.ijiuir.c.:  it'uior. 

The  cuacrser  ia  which  Morrin  r^vt;\t*.i  Ar:>»'.^:"s  v':^:t'r  tvforeal- 
.noiMi  !<>•  WIS  witnessed  hv  iiove:'.o::r  l.e«>,  a:*.i  •>  *^  at::n;nhiv 
iescrijbeu.  that  I  rausl  endeavour  :o  j-se  ::»*  wv>r^:s  :  ••  Pr.  l\>its,  ihe 
farreco  feoeral,  w^s  in  the  hab;t  of  i;u:.:[j::?^  iiLtrs^r.f  ur.h  x  highly 
WkKned  iuach,  a  broiied  kidney,  if  a:  iiivl.or  **"i'.cc".;n^  tNiui%-aIcnt« 
wed  wtswred  and  called  a  devi;,  'l*:::*  ;•■:  :.:  wi*  -/rv-vired  fnf- 
maciy  ia  the  manj'jee  ol'Coionei  Lew>.  jtiv.::  r.-HV..  :o  a.vornmo- 
awe  tac  I><v:or  :  which  wiih  a  can  of  r^*j,  :>'  ro/n.t  i:  con^i-nient 
»  ^e  in  the  quarter*  of  the  chief  of  t::e  i-'.j.'z.  'i'.:-.*  d-iy  Uaniel 
Jlwvia  bad  HMoed  wlui  some  oi.'vr*  ::*.  the  -^^"..lifr-  ikc  indu'^ence. 
lTas'Ax4.is£  on  the  lenast  *aid  z.ie  iieivr;!.  ^:*d  >L>r^n  hid  the 
caa  apiined.  when  an  orvlerlv  er:ered  i::-c  wr.i.     •  A:^  vi«.:  iicneral 

_  •  ■ 

s  vwierlv  :'  •  Ve<,  sir.  inxi  1  :.i\t'  a  :H>:f  fori*o".«*nt'l  Mor- 
It  w»s  ^Iven  »  viirecsev: :  Morri:*  e •:::*: :t\:  ir.t^  can.  ivad  the 
,  asd  ihrowin-  it  uw*n  the  :i":»".e.  *:r-,:v*\  r.:*  iiri^^ivk  d*:  on 
3r  >Mtire  fe^\ir\l.  e\cijirRi:^i.  '  1:  >::i.!  ^e  %ivve  or  :v.y  rxivtt  yi  not 
Dial'  He  ir.iaievi:i:e':T  rvxae  and  ".«*ft  *.:*,  v*o:r.inu^\:  i'o'.or.Ci  Lewi«. 
Tae  oaere  w»s,  wnai  j^  'iris  :ha:  is  :o  he  dv»ne  :  Wr.i:  is  the  :^nor 
«  ae  aoce  :  There  it  lies,  open — shiil  we  read  si : — 1:  is  ieft  iot 
i»  ^  read  .'  said  Coloce!  Lewi*  ;  Til  know  xkhx:  i:  :s.  iod  accord 
read  akmd  : 


120  DEATH  OF    CBXERAL  FKAZES. 

'^  The  enemy  in  force  is  advancing  to  turn  the  left  of  our  posi- 
tion. Colonel  Moriran  will  meet  hira  with  his  command  and  im- 
mediately  ensraire  him."  We  now  knew  the  meaning  of  '  it  shall 
be  done  or  my  name  is  not  Dan  !'  and  we  were  all  ea^r  to  cee 
the  sport.  Out  hor-«es  were  ordered,  and  as  soon  as  we  coold 
mount  we  pu.^hed  toward  the  left  of  the  encampment.  The  sound 
of  musketry  directed  u.s  to  the  promontary  on  which  Kosciusko 
said,  'Thi.^  Is  the  position  for  u:«.'  And  looking  down  we  siw 
the  British  advancin^s  and  Moron's  riflemen,  with  Dearfaom^s  in* 
fantr}-,  (a  picked  corps  attached  to  thi:<  celebrated  regiment,)  in  the 
act  of  forming  in  three  columns.  Morris,  a  Jersey  man  as  well  as 
Moriran,  was  his  major,  and  commanded  one :  Butler  another : 
and  Dearborn  the  third,  beinir  his  command  of  350  light  inbniry, 
who  advanced  with  fixed  bavonets.*  Dearborn  led  :  and  the  rifle- 
men  followed — the  British  broke — and  as  soon  as  Mors:an*s  sharp- 
shooters had  grained  a  field  of  wheat  stubble,  a  clearing  on  which 
the  girdled  trees  Atood  lifting  their  dead  tops  to  the  sky,  and  afford- 
ing: bv  their  trunks  an  invitins:  shelter  for  the  marksman,  than 
every  man  selected  a  tree,  and  of  the  62d  redment  which  marched 
up  in  full  strength,  only  a  beggarly  few  were  \eii  to  answer  at  the 
next  mur*ter." 

It  was  here  that  General  Frazer  fell ;  and  it  has  been  ssid,  that 
Morgan  regretted  to  his  last  hour,  that  he  pointed  him  out  to  his 
riflemen,  and  ordered  them  to  take  aim  at  the  general  ofiicer  oo 
the  white  hori*e,  as  he  was  General  Frazer  and  the  soul  of  the 
field. 

This  story  in  all  its  part?  General  Lewis  controverts.  In  the 
first  place,  Morgan  did  not  know  F^razer ;  who  had  not  been  pre- 
viously in  any  action,  or  any  place  where  the  colonel  of  the  rifle 
corps  could  have  met  him  :  having  joined  the  army  of  Burgoyne 
directly  from  England,  ^^econdly,  he  fell  at  a  distance  so  great 
from  Morgan,  at  the  time,  that  (independant  of  smoke)  he  could 
not  have  i>ecn  or  distinsruished  him.  Third  Iv,  bv  the  testimony  of 
Captain  Bibby,  who  was  one  of  Frazer's  aids,  that  general  was  noC 
on  horseback  when  he  received  his  wound.  He  and  his  suite  bad 
been  mounted  and  reconnoiierins:  previously,  but  concluding  from 
appearance<f  that  no  action  would  take  place,  had  dismissed  the 
horses  of  the  company  ;  and  although,  when  the  Americans  were 
advancinc  he  had  again  ordered  the  steeds  to  bo  brought,  he  wn 
killed  before  their  arrival,  standing  in  the  rear  of  the  62d  regimenL 
This  statement  was  confirmed  to  General  Lewis  by  Captain  Val- 
ancey,  an  officer  who  was  neir  P^razer  when  he  fell ;  and  Valancey 
was  subsequently  a  prisoner  with  the  Americans.  So  uncertain  is 
history  !     So  dilnciilt  is  it  to  arrive  at  truth ! 


*  Morgan  directed  the  whole. 


CUXTON^S  EXPEDITION  TP  THE  HUDSOX.  121 

A'V.v  th-?  bitiu^  oft'^^  I  >•/:  o!"  S.^"»::'*:v^:"p,  Gc^i.  B;irrv'»vrii»  took  a 

.s  r  ,■  :  w!  .:,  aB:.i  ressoii  v.  /..:  i  :-  Uf:  ::  ^-j.'.  !..o  lliiii>on.  Thus  tiie 
?»'^  •-  r.  ."'-i  r.'.*.)  i::v.\i  \\r.\\\  ;.i-j  7 :::  o:'i  >.':'»!.'or :  T.  :!-.u  no  in  the  liope 
■V  !.  i  '-o  n  b'.'uv*v,\\:;cre  ho  k.'.o.v  h\  luUlcc  \\\y.\\K\.:\um  liw:  he  was 

m 

I :  i  1 .  v:  I  r;  J  :  :i  -i  d  C  t  .iie  ?  r  vV  v  ".'.in::  .: » i ,  i  i ; :  v^  •.:;•  1  ;  roo:^  -  in  c  rv  dA  v .  F  roni 
-v- .zrv-ss. i.se  jt*:;t.-r.i!  r;  't*:\ Ov! •.*o::i;>[i::-o:::.try  rc?o' vts :  lv.uI  iVorn one 

i\.  re^j-ion*  wliu^i  sImw  u:c  kti^ -:%:<<  o\  i\w  oahil  aj.u::>l  irie  com- 
ma J*  r-in-chief.  Ho  >us.  ifii  aosui^*:!.!  ;illo\v  l^iircovno  loi^iire, 
:^f  "^l^iit  wrii;^  a  Lirco  "  i-i  :::c  o\jk-.i-'J  of  i\»'iLr^*^>  >it  liM>t.  if  not 
::  :rv  cx.itfiiso  oi  coj)jro->  a;ui  iio  u'mI  \V-,>;:i:i^:o:i/'  lie  inli- 
=Ki:c^*  til  3 c  jHH'^;^ lo  ^1.1  y  1 1 o  wo  w «-» 11 1 .  i  i .  o :  i:  a \  o  ;i  »i  v  ;i  n  -.v^  vi  so  vo my 
r^.rs  ''r.Kv.  \y<  <hi|>>  if  Ivitt's  Iv.'.l  ^-.'on  ;::  !'.!<  ro!«;;lor.rjooii  :  and 
co:!.;..:  .it*s  w  iiii  this  onrlous  pa rarri p 1 1 :  "  Rv  ;iio  wiiU':r.  the  mi. idle 
a-^y  aili  i>e  diiiJoi  i;i:o  liroonilo*  a:ivl  Mirflinhe*,  if  iir::ij:>do  not 
ai-*  3  jTvai  turn  from  ihoir  rro-so::"  ^:!•l.lT•.;v^'* 

V\  .Wii^  :/.t?>o  ini:»o::a:u  cvoi^ts  woro  c^»ii*-:  f»rwaril  i.i  ihe  norllu 
IS  ex:»o  iition  f;o:.i  Now  York  was  i::;;i.*ri.:evOTi  i-v  Sir  Honrv  CMin- 
105.  Hi-  i^'vioii^  i.iion;ion  wa<  to  rollovo  (Jonoral  Uiir^ovno:  but 
.:»is  u*'-.:or:.i\e:i  at  i.k>  l,::o  a  n.*rio.l  to  ri:!.ior  h\\u  a::v  assistance 
— 1  \v:i  n.i'oittoil  bv  Sir  Hcrrv  ;-.:!"'ioif — who  oxouso^l  tlio  do  lav 
by  >:a:i:?j  :.  .u  i'lC  Ciu:!'.!  pot  .■t:c:r:>t  i:  >tv^nor  wit[!oi;t  Iea\in::  tiie 
c^?1f.l^^o>  of  Now  York  too  fo^^hly  ^uar».L\:.  Tii\?  oxpOiiiiion  con- 
5^e\1  of  aboiit  ifirt^  tlioiisinii  mon,  oomovt  J  hv  a  tlooi  under 
Cy-tntxii>.'\-  Hotitain.  who  proooodoil  un  ih.^  Huiison  Kivor  early 
3  tViocier.  aii.l  wa<  dostinod,  in  ii;o  f:r>;  iusi.iiioo.  a^v%ii:<i  Korls 
Mor'^o  "ery  ar«i  i.'li:i:o;i,  ikmp  ilio  soutisorii  iio-jmK'n  of  i::o  Hi/li- 
•i3i<.  Trro-e  fo  r:re>-os  ha  J  hoon  oopstnictt^l  oiiioriy  for  :;;o  pur- 
x*^  of  :wvonti:i^  i:;o  shi;»s  i»f  the  o:--.m\\  fro.u  ;i>ooni:in^  ii)o  river, 
I"  3  werv  i:ot  rlofonslbio  in  tiio  roar.  T-w  wore  oo:iMiianiiod  bv 
'.••ner:our  Clinion,  with  tiio  assisianoo  oi  Cloiioral  J  dines  Clinton, 
:»  bn>iiier. 

Tne  :n>o;'»#  of  liie  oiu^rv  were  lar:ii\i  at  Siorov  Point,  twelve 
S'.e*  tK:o-.v  tl'.o  tons,  A  >:u:\\\  luU.v.wcd  par:y  of  li^o  Americans 
»i*':ie:  arJ  attacked  a:  about  10  o\lov-k  in  ti;o  morning  of  the  Gih 
C4  *>;:ob*?r.  whr?:i  wit: -in  two  a:i,l  a  \\x\\  r.iiies  of  tiio  fort.  This 
?i:ty  ?\js  of  coiir.^  dri\e:i  i-i.  having  roturnod  ti.o  enemy's  tire. 
^^ben  arriveil  wiiiiin  a  mile  of  tno  Ions,  Sir  Henrv  di\iiied  his 
^^■^^s  iiiioiwo  columns:  tlio  one,  co:>i>:ii^::  of  nine  hundred  men 
S-cer  Lieutenan:  Colonel  Campbell,  wa^  destined  for  the  attack 
'■^  For.  Miint^oinerv  :  the  o::wr»  unvi-.r  the  iin mediate  command 
«  >>  Henry"  Clinton,  wil>  to  st^vin  ti.o  stronger  post  of  Fort 
^  .  ?:on.  Ascertaining  that  tiie  ciu^my  wore  advanci.u  to  the  west 
^■i^  of  the  moantain,  to  attack  his  rear.  Go\ernour  Clinton  ordered 
*  (ietachmeot  of  upwards  of  one  hundred  men,  under  Col,  Lamb, 

TOL.  II.  16 


122  CUXTOX  8  EXPEDITION  CP  THE  HUDSOSI. 

together  with  a  brass  field-piece  and  fifty  men  more,  to  take  a  stroo^ 
position  in  advance.  They  were  roon  sharp) v  enraged,  and  ano- 
ther detachrrient  of  an  e:\n:A  niipjber  was  sent  to  iheir  assistance. 
They  kept  their  field-piece  siiarply  playing  U(M>n  the  eoemy's  ad- 
vancing column,  and  were  only  cotnpeiied  to  rive  way  by  the  poiat 
of  the  bayonet — spiking  their  neid-piece  before  they  reiloquished 
iu  In  tiiis  preiiminar}-  encounter  liie  loss  of  Sir  Henry  was  se- 
vere. 

Pressing  rapidly  onward,  both  forts  were  in  a  few  minotes  at- 
tacked with  vigour  upon  all  sides.  The  fire  was  iocessaot  doring 
the  afternoon  until  about  five  o'clock,  when  a  fla?  approachinif 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Livinz-^ton  was  ordered  to  receive  h.  The 
officer  was  the  bearer  of  a  peremptory'  summons  to  surrender^  » 
he  alleged,  to  prevent  the  enuslon  of  blood.  Nor  would  be  treatr 
unless  upon  the  basis  of  a  surrender  of  the  garrison  as  prisoners  of 
war,  in  which  case  he  v.  as  authorized  to  assure  them  of  sood  usa^e. 
The  proposition  beinc:  rejected  wish  scorn,  in  about  ten  minutes 
the  attack  was  renewed,  and  kept  up  until  after  dark,  when  the 
enemy  forced  the  American  lines  and  redoubts  at  both  Ions,  and 
the  garrisons,  determined  not  to  surrender,  undertook  to  fi?ht  their 
way  out.  The  last  attack  of  the  enemy  was  desperate :  bm  the 
Americans,  militia  as  well  as  regulars,  resisted  ^ith  sjeat  spirit,  and 
favoured  by  the  darkness,  many  of  them  escaped.  Govemonr 
Clinton  himself  escaped  by  leaping  a  precipice  in  the  dark,  and 
jumping  into  a  boatr  in  which  he  was  conveyed  avi-ay.  His  brother 
was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  Of  the  British  forces.  Lieuten- 
ant-colonel Campbell  and  Count  Crabou:?ki,  a  Polish  nobleman, 
ensasred  as  a  volunteer,  were  slain.  The  loss  of  the  Americans, 
killed,  wounded,  and  mLsf^in^r.  was  stated  at  two  hundred  and  fiftv. 
The  British  loss  was  suted  at  two  hundred,  but  was  believed  to 
have  been  much  more  liian  ih»i  of  the  Ainericans- 

On  the  7ih.  a  summons  to  surreniier.  signed  ioinllv  bv  Sir  Henrr 
Clinton  and  Coinmodore  Hoth^m,  was  scni  to  Fort  Constitution; 
but  the  flag  was  tired  upon  and  returned.  To  avenge  the  insult, 
an  attack  was  unmediateiy  determined  upon  :  but  on  arriving  at 
the  fort  on  the  follow  ins:  dav.  tikere  was  no  enemv  to  assauh — an 
evacuation  ha vini:  taken  place,  so  preci[Htaie  as  to  leave  considera- 
ble booty  to  the  conqueror  ;  .*^ir  Henry  Clinton  proceeded  no  far- 
ther ;  but  a  strong:  detachment  of  hU  army,  under  General  Vausfaan, 
pursued  th?  enterprise,  with  Conimodore  Hocham,  as  far  noitb  as 
Esopus,  destroying  seieral  vessels  by  tlie  way.  At  Esopus  Creek 
there  were  two  small  batteries  a.^d  an  armed  iralley,  mounting, 
however,  in  all.  but  six  or  seven  frun*.  These  were  easilv  silenced. 
Geiieral  Vaugban  then  effected  a  1  mdin.%  marched  to  the  town, 
and  laid  it  in  ashes.  Lar^e  quantities  of  stores  had  been  aocunm- 
lated  at  ibis  place,  which  were  of  course  destroyed.    Diaappoioied, 


TRANSACTIONS  AT  SARATOGA.  123 

however,  by  the    disastrons  campaisjn  of  Burgoyne,    Sir  Henry 
Ciinton  made  an  expeditious  return  to  the  city.* 

To  return  to  the  north.     On  the  4ih  of  October,  Bunjovns  sent 
for  Generals  PhiHips,  Kiedescl,  and   Frazer,  to  consuU  with  them 
on  the  best  measures  to  be  taken.     His  project  was  to  attack  and 
attempt   to  turn  the  left  \vin<r  of  the  Americans  at  once ;  but  the 
other  ircnerals  ludacd  that  it  woukl  be  danirerous  to  leave  their 
Mores  under  so  feeble  a  protection  as  eiirlit  hundred  men,  accord- 
iDC  to  the  proposition  of  their  commander.    A  second  consultation 
was  held  on  the  -5th,  at  which  CJeueral  Uiedesel  positively  declared 
that  the  situation  of  the  armv  had  become  so  critical,  that  thev  must 
either  attack  and  force  the  entrenchments  of  Gates,  and  thus  bring " 
about  a  favourable  change  of  affairs,  or  recross  the  Hudson,  and 
retreat  upon  Fort  Cieorge.     Frazer  approved  of  the  latter  sugges- 
tion, and  Phillips  declined  giving  an  opinion.     General  Burgoyne, 
to  whom  the  idea  of  retreating  was  most  unwelcome,  declared  that 
he  would  make,  on  the  7th,  a  reconnoisance  as  near  as  possible  to 
the  left  wing  of  the  Americans,  with  a  view  of  ascertaining  whether 
it  could  be  attacked  with  any  prospect  of  success.     He  would 
afterward  either  attack  the  army  of  (Jates,  or  retreat  by  the  route  in 
the  rear  of  Battenkill.     This  was  his  6nal  determination,  ^and  dis- 
positions were  made  accordingly. 

Early  in  the  afternoon  of  tlie  7th,  General  Burgoyne  drew  out 
fifteen  hundred  men,  for  the  purpose  of  making  his  proposed  recon- 
noisance— which  he  headed  himself,  attended  by  Generals  Phillips, 
Riedesel,  and  Frazer.  Thev  advanced  in  three  columns  toward 
the  left  winrr  of  the  American  positions,  entered  a  wheat  field,  dis- 
played into  line,  and  then  began  cutting  up  the  wheat  for  forage. 
The  movement  having  been  seasonably  discovered,  the  centre  ad- 
nnced  guard  of  the  Americans  beat  to  arms  ;  the  alarm  was  re- 
peated throucrhout  the  line,  and  the  troops  repaired  to  the  alarm 
posts.  Colonel  Wilkinson  being  at  head-quarters  at  the  moment, 
^as  despatched  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  alarm.  He  proceeded 
U)  within  sixty  or  seventy  rods  of  the  enemy,  ascertained  their  posi- 
tion, and  returned — informing  General  (iales  that  they  were  forag- 
in? — attempting  also  to  reconnoitre  the  American  left,  and  likewise, 
in  hbs  opinion,  olFering  battle.  After  a  brief  consultation.  Gates 
•aid  he  would  indulire  them  ;  and  Colonel  Morii:an,  whose  rifle 
corps  was  formed  in  front  of  the  centre,  was  directed  '*  to  begin 
Ae  same."  At  his  own  sugcrestion,  however,  Morgan  was  allowed 
to  gain  the  enemv's  right  bv  a  circuitous  course,  while  Poor's  bri- 
pde  should  attack  his  left.  The  movement  was  admirably  execu- 
ted;  the  New  York  and  New  Hampshire  troops  aUacked  the  enemy's 


8toiM*f  Life  of  Brant,  Vol.  I.  pp.  381-283. 


121  TBASSJkCTIOSS  AT  SAmATOOA. 

firont  and    lex  vnnz  ^'h  cre^t  im^j^ao^ItT :   wfa3e.   troe  to  I 

torr*:*t  fro'.i  :h.r  r*;.-.  r^-:!  ^*.Li:-!':tr'i  !:.e  eaejsijV  rijri:  in  i">v>::r  \z»i 

eoemr  w::;*  itcj:  Cc**rr':.'.':'i::o-:-  ?»Ii'or  Arkwnd.  at  iTie  i**;  oc 
the  zre--;ai>r?,  r-i'iai-ir:  tr.-e  ^'.ur-A:  of  Poor  with  irriE  fmn^fea- 
Brji  o3  .';!.=?  r  jr.:.  !:,^  ['j;.:  ir-fir.:.-}-.  i::  «"enip!lr.z  to  cL-i-:::r^  &cgc. 
beinj  t'e-'reji  »/..  s.r  '>.-r  Lv  Col  >r.^:  DearboTc.  w-ere  fjcc€*i  :;> 
ieure  iiictr  a  ciorre  rlr^.  ar^J  ui  meat  iiL?order.  Taer  were  re* 
formed  Lv  the  Earl  of  fcilcirra-i- b-er/sr.'i  a  fence  in  the  rear  of  :beir 
fif«t  position  :  but  b*:;nz  iriln  atracke-i  with  zreai  andarxtr  in  &oac 
and  llacLs  bv  frJ3eno=j.r  .larit^.-er-.  rcrl-tAcce  Lecan>e  ^ain.  aad  ise 
wfaoie  line.  co.Ti:r*ai:(5vi  bv  ijur.'".;.  ne  is  per?oo.  save  waj"-  ar« 
made  a  pre-':I:;:Li:-?  arjd  dLior-ic-riy  re'Teai  to  hL-  cacap.  Toe  rsiac 
of  Bu^zov.^e  .1:1  i  riven  T^iv  tl.vi.  :rie  reirta:  of  wcuch  wa^  cohered 

*  —  *  ^^__ 

br  ibe  i'irli:  ir.-antn-  a::d  i  pzrt  of  the  24th  rerkaenu     Tb«  lies 

rf  _  •  «  - 

winz  in  iir  r:tr»ra:  would  tiave  in^vitaWj  have  been  cot  to  piec«s. 
but  for  the  i;j:rrveri:>j.i  of  the  sif:i<r  troop*,  perfoniiinr  in  itshefisif 
the  sane  ••^riic':  ::-3:.  a  Jewnior:;^:,!'?  b-?forc.  tl".ev  had  doce  for  the 
ri2ri:t.  T:,!*  rer:-r.;:  ro<>k  i#:5ce  In  exa^tiv  Lf:v-t':To  rrinuies  afeer  ifac 
first  shotWii  f;re  i — li^e  en^rr.v  IvaTinz  fvo  iwelre  aad  six  sx- 
pou c'ivr*  o.'i  ::.-;  :!-:! :.  -,-'.:'::  :r-^j  .•r^*  of  mere  than  four  bomired  oS- 
cei?  a-d  m^-n.  #.111 -.i.  vo^n'^lr::.  a:.d  rr^pr^red  :  and  aznoox 
the  KOTH-rr  of .:!-  or^lcir-.  viz  :  (IJez-en:  Fnjter,  M^jor  Ackkad.  S 
Fr?  r. -r U  C  .'Xr  •; .  s  r.  :  ::.  i  r. '.'  o* : . e  rr - 

T:.e  i>r/>:.  t:  ,0  -  1.- i  -^rsf/ij  er/-?.-^  I  their  iraes  raea  t&e 
A merl : a :. « .  !•:- - :  'r--  <  1  ^ r. •: r?  1  A r.y^ :  i .  0 :*■- -- /d  fori*  ird,  and.  'jodcr  a 
iren:e-.io'*T  f.n:  '■r'  ir*^r>'r— r:..',:  ^n^i  :.- j-ke:r}'.  if*5.-;ie«]  their  work» 
thro'j^r.oi:  :1:^L'  v. :...r  •::.:-::.:.  f:vT.i  rl^':.-.  to  left.  Toward^  t5sc 
clo^  of  ;r:e  div,  :l.e  »-:;.-r:r-v*.  i r.tre n-irt me r^'-r  were  forced  fcr  ih« 
left  of  i::e  .\:a-rrl'-?.^*-  ied"  by  Arr.o:d  in  person,  who.  villi  a  few 
of  hii  m^n.  »cMa!'iv  e.TCrre*:  t-.e  work*  :  brit  hi*  hor*e  Leiar  kiEicd. 
aiid  zh-:  -jr-  /:!  :.l  r.'-:.:  i^^ily  •^o.-j-led  i:-  ''leier.  they 
to  r "j  •- 1 : ': .  ir-A  * ' :  e  ':  r. :  ;•>  i .  ji  o ?' ' :  i  .'1-:  -. ;  •  r  :  r.  i  j «:  e.i  !i*e sn  to 
ine  £".1 '  •: .  M-' :  -> :  1  v.  ^ .  o  ■:  t !  .e  1-  f:  of  Ar .1  old' «  detac hmeM.  ifte 
M i^^':  ? '. :  ^^v.r  : :•: '- ..  - .  : .-  i  <:•  r  C  •:  1-  >i  i-l  hr^f^i k - .  hsd  been  <«ill  iB«re 
5 'jcc'^r <■': . — :.  !%>..•  :  . rr. ■: - :  : r :-  e ". e *:: *. *•  rl r :: :.  a nd  carried  br  iiom 
th V  -  o :  k  -  *•<  7  .  -> ;  -:- -d  ':.■  v  : r .  e  T i  v : : :  ^  i  re^e  r.  e .  C  oi onel 
the'r  T-*:-  '1-  i^-.  "■'*<  killei :  in»:  :.>  rorv^^  re^i^iced  10  two 
dre-i  -rv-,.  *-  :  iio:!;*  prer^ei  or.  il:  ?»>ie«,  ^a*  •>biijed  to  ei»e 
T:.:*  --  :.:-*ije  -.i.-  :-.'.-;!- r!  ^y  t  .^  Arr.-:r:cif:*  ;  aod  ^ftf^n  p^ 

*  •>  A  -  -•  •,-,  I-*    -, -^»  -.-    r..r-  ->    •-   -  •      ■--?'--'  ;»-''-..r«r*5'n*  fn  tl^  f*tf^ifi^*M» 

tai  irfTir-    Gre^i'  r.  :.".•: er*  of  :;.e  ere-^iv.  -.^  ^re  killed,  and  two  bvadml 
priso - e r »  •:i k «: .'. .      T :. v  1  o  -  =  of* i. e  A  r.  v .'Ici r. -?  wa*  12: 


•  Sc0B«'t  Ldt  of  Bnst  ToL  L  pp.  TTl-SX 


ARNOLD  AT  SARATOGA.  125 

In  ibe  night  Burgoyne  drew  off  his  army,  and  placed  them  Jn  a 
slronirer  pO::inon  on  tiie  heiu.hl'*,  nearer  lo  the  source  of  the  river — 
thus  aioiiiing  an  enjragcinent  with  an,  enetny  who  pos^e-^sed  part 
of  his  works,  and  lay  ready  to  renew  ilie  attack  in  the  morning. 

Of  Arnold's  behaviour  at  the  halllc  of  the  7  th  of  October,  Mr. 
Sparks*  <rives  this  account :  '*  Arnold  havinir  no  command,  was  dis- 
covered to  be  in  a  state  of  Wi^h  excitement  and  apparent  irritation. 
He  continued  in  camp  for  some  time,  but  at  length,  without  instruc- 
tions or  permission,  rode  off  in  a  full  gallop  to  the  Beld  of  battle. 
This  being  told  to  (iates,  he  sent  Major  Armstrong  after  him  with 
orders.     As  soon  as  Arnold  saw  Armstrong,  anticipating  the  pur- 
port of  his  message,  and  doubtless  remembering  the  peremptory 
order  to  return  while  on  his  way  out  to  the  former  action,  he  put 
spurs  to  his  horse  and  (piickened  his  speed.     Armstrong  pursued, 
tracinjs:  the  erratic  movements  of  Arnold,  and  keeping  up  the  chase 
tor  half  an  hour,  whhout  being  able  to  approach  near  enough  to 
speak  to  him.     Anil  in  fact,  Arnold  received  no  orders  during  the 
day,  but  rode  about  the  field  in  every  direction,  seeking  the  hottest 
parts  of  tlie  action,  and  issuino:  his  commands  wherever  he  went. 
**  Being  the  highest  pfiicer  in  rank,  tliai  appeared  on  the  field,  his 
orders  wpre  obeyed  when  practicable ;  but  all  accounts  agfee,  that 
his  conduct  was  rash  in  the  extreme,  indicating  rather  the  frenzy  of 
•  madman,  than  the  considerate  wisdom  of  an  experienced  general. 
He  threw   himself  heedlessly  into  the  iposi  exposed  situations, 
brandishing  his  sword  in  the  air,  animating  his  troops,  and  urging 
them  forward.     But  the  brilliant  man(puvre  with  which  the  enjra^e- 
njent  was  closed,  the  assaidt  of  the  enemy's  works  and  driving  the 
Hessians  from   their  encampment,  was  undoubtedly  owing  in  the 
first  case  to  Arnold.     lie  gave  the  order,  and  by  his  personal 
bravery  set  an  example  to  the  troop.^,  which   inspired  them  with 
tnlour  and  hunied  them  onward.     He  was  shot  throuich  the  leg 
whiUt  riding  gallantly  into  the  sally-port,  and  his  horse  fell  dead 
under  him.     The  success  of  the  assault  was  complete,  and  crowned 
tbedav  with  victory. 

"  It  is  a  curious  fact,  that  an  officer  who  really  had  no  command 
in  the  anny,  was  the  leader  in  one  of  the  most  spirited  and  important 
battles  of  the  revolution.  His  madness,  or  rashness,  or  whatever 
it  may  be  called,  resulted  mo«?t  fortunately  for  himself.  The  wound 
he  received,  at  the  moment  of  rushinir  into  the  verv  arms  of  danger 
twl  of  death,  added  fresh  lustre  to  his  military  i^lory,  and  was  a 
new  claim  to  public  favour  and  applause.  In  the  heat  of  the  action 
he  struck  an  olBcer  on  the  head  with  his  sword,  an  indignity  and 
t^ace,  which  might  justly  have  been  retaliated  on  tlie  spot  in  the 


*  Amencin  Biog.  Vol.  lU.  pp.  117, 118, 119. 


126  ARNOLD  AT  SARATOGA. 

most  fatal  manner.  The  officer  forbore  :  and  the  next  day,  when 
he  demanded  redress,  Arnold  declared  his  entire  iirnorance  of  the 
eel,  and  expressed  liis  re^jiel.  Some  persons  ascribed  his  wild 
temerity  to  intoxication,  but  Major  Armstrong,  who  assisted  in  re- 
moving him  from  the  field,  was  satisfied  that  this  was  not  true. 
Others  said  he  took  opium.  This  is  conjecture,  unsustained  by 
proofs  of  any  kind,  and  consequently  improbable.  His  vasaries 
may  perhaps  be  sufficiently  explained  by  the  extraordinary  circuni- 
stances  of  wounded  pride,  anirer,  and  desperation,  in  which  he 
was  placed.  Gates  was  not  on  the  field,  nor  indeed  did  he  leave 
his  encampment  durinir  either  of  the  battles  of  Behmus's  Heights." 

The  bone  of  Arnold's  Ipq:  being  fractured  he  %vas  removed  to 
Albanv,  where  he  remained  confined  to  his  room  all  winter.  His 
sufTerins:  situation  was  somewhat  miti^rated  bv  a  resolution  of  con- 
gress,  which  was  a  salve  to  his  wounded  honour.  They  srave  him 
the  rank  which  was  fully  his  due,  and  General  Washington  accom- 
panied the  information  with  a  request  that  he  would  repair  to  the 
army  as  soon  as  his  honourable  wounds  would  permit,  that  his 
country  might  have  his  services  in  the  ensuing  campaign.  In  the 
spring  he  went  to  New  Haven,  and  was  received  with  marked 
respect  for  his  military  character,  and  while  there  General  Wash- 
in^on  showed  his  sense  of  his  eminent  qualifications  for  the  tented 
and  enfbattled  field,  bv  dividin*:  with  him  and  General  Lincoln  three 
setts  of  militar}-  ornaments,  which  had  been  presented  by  a  person 
in  France,  to  the  first  of  American  captains,  and  the  two  chieftains 
he  should  consider  worthy  to  share  the  compliment  with  him.  This 
was  a  testimonv  which  the  conduct  of  Arnold  in  scenes  of  blood 
desened  :  when  next  he  becomes  conspicuous  in  the  history  of 
New  York,  we  shall  see  how  little  he  deserved  to  be  ranked  with 
Lincoln  and  Washinirton  as  the  assertor  of  his  countn's  risrhtsand 
the  promoter  of  her  happiness. 

We  now  return  to  tfie  the  closinc:  scenes  of  the  ereat  drama  of 
Saratoira.  After  the  decisive  victorv  obtained  bv  the  American 
army  on  the  7th  of  October,  rJI  were  now  animated  by  success. 
Next  day.  General  (latcs  threw  lar;:e  detachments  higher  up  the 
river  to  oppose  the  retreat  of  the  enemy  ;  but  did  not  venture  to 
attack  him  in  his  new  position.  Buriroyne,  however,  was  obliged 
to  abandon  the  strong  |)ost  he  had  chosen.  On  the  nifrht  of  the 
10th  of  October,  he  retreated  to  Saratoira  with  the  loss  of  his  hos- 
pital, and  part  of  his  baggage  and  provision.  He  gained  a  position 
on  the  bank  of  the  Hudson,  but  found  his  antaironists  already  on 
the  opposite  side  prepared  to  dispute  his  passaire.  The  British 
army  was  now  surrounded  by  a  constantly  increasing,  and  alh^ady 
numerically  superiour  force,  flushed  with  victory,  and  anticipating 
complete  conquest.  All  these  advantages  were  nearly  lost.  On 
the  mormng  of  the  11th,  Gates  infonned  his  general  officers  of  his 


CAPTURE  OF  BURGOYNE.  127 

having  received  certain  intelligence  ibnt  the  main  body  of  the  Bri- 
tish army  had  been  marched  off*  lor  Fori  Edward  ;  and  that  only 
the  rear  guard  was  now  in  the  camp,  who  were  to  follow,  leaving 
the  heavy  baggage  behind.  In  consequence,  orders  were  issued 
to  atts[ck  the  camp  forthwith  ;  and  the  oflicers  repaired  to  their 
posts  accordingly.  The  oldest  brigade  crossed  the  Saratoga  creek, 
and  a  second  brigade  was  following,  when,  by  the  accidental  en- 
counter of  an  English  deserter,  General  Glover  learned  that  the 
whole  army  were  in  the  encampment,  and  he  found  that  the  Ame- 
rican troops  were  marching  directly  upon  Burgoyne's  park  of  artil- 
lery, masked  by  a  li«ie  of  brushwood.  The  advancing  troops  were 
halted ;  Gates  countermanded  his  orders,  and  the  brave  men  so 
nearly  sacrificed,  retreated  ;  but  not  without  loss  from  the  fire 
opened  upon  them  by  the  enemy's  batteries.  It  was  on  this  oci  a- 
sion  that  the  British  burnt  Schuyler's  house,  mills,  and  other  build- 
ings, as  they  sheltered  the  Americans  from  the  artillery.  Burgoyne's 
situation  was  now  nearly  desperate.  His  Indians  and  Canadians 
had  deserted  him.  He  had  no  hopes  of  aid  from  Sir  Henry  Clin- 
ton. His  gallant  army  was  reduced  from  nearly  eight  thousand, 
to  three  thousand  five  hundred  fighting  men.  He  was  surrounded 
by  enemies  increasing  daily,  and  already  four  times  his  number. 
Of  provisions  he  had  not  more  than  enough  for  throe  days.  Thus 
circumstanced,  he  resolved  to  abandon  every  thing  but  the  arms  of 
his  companions,  and  such  food  as  they  could  carry  on  their  backs, 
and  to  force  a  march  up  the  river  by  night,  cross,  and  push  for 
Fort  George.  But  even  this  was  found  impracticable.  Every 
avenue  of  escape  was  gunrded.  He  was  obliged  to  open  a  treaty 
with  Gates,  which  terminated  in  surrender,  by  a  convention. 

Had  Schuyler  retained  the  command  of  the  army  as  much 
would  have  been  gained,  if  not  more.  He  would  have  had  the 
same  Morgan  and  Arnold  to  assist  him.  The  militia  were  already 
encouraged  by  the  success  of  Starke,  Willct,  and  Gansevoort ; 
and  the  jealousy  of  the  iNeu-  England  men  would  not  have  prevented 
them  from  defending  their  firesides,  or  sharing  in  the  triumphs,  a 
prospect  of  which  was  fully  open  to  them  before  Philip  Schuyler 
was  superseded  by  a  man  immeasurably  his  inferiour.  But  a 
British  army  surrendered  to  Horatio  (iates,  and  the  whole  conti- 
nent rang  with  shouts  and  songs  of  praise  to  the  conqueror  of 
Burgoyne.  Schuyler  was  forgotten,  or  vilified  ;  and  in  comparison 
with  the  triumphant  Englishman,  Washington  was  considered  un- 
worthy of  confidence.  Such  was  popular  delusion,  heightened  by 
the  artful  and  selfish. 

Mr.  Stone*  says,  "  flushed  with  his  fortuitous  success,  or  rather 


*  Stone*!  life  of  Brant,  Vol.  I,  p.  278. 


123  OATES'S  ARROOANCS. 

with  tlis  ?;ncre^5  atteiiflinz  Ins  fortditon?  position*  Gates  did  not 
wear  hi-  honour  with  nnv  remarkalile  meekness.  On  the  contrarv, 
his  benrinir  even  toward  the  eoinmaoder-in-chief  was  far  from  re- 
spectful. He  did  not  even  write  to  Washinjrton  on  the  occasioo, 
until  after  a  considerable  time  had  elapsed.  In  the  6rst  instance 
Wiikin.-on  was  sent  as  the  bearer  of  despatches  to  consrress,  but 
did  not  reach  the  seat  of  that  body  until  fifteen  days  after  the  articles 
of  capitulation  hail  been  signed  ;  and  three  days  more  were  occu- 
pied in  arranirinir  his  papers  before  they  were  presented.  The  first 
mention  which  Washington  makes  of  the  defeat  of  Burgovne,  b 
contained  in  a  letter  written  to  his  brother  on  the  ISih  of  October 
' — the  news  having  been  communicated  to  him  bv  Governoiir  Clio- 
ton-  He  spoke  of  the  event  airain  on  the  IGih,  in  a  letter  addressed 
to  General  Putnam.  On  the  :?oth,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  that  of- 
ficec  he  acknowledges  the  receipt  of  a  copy  of  the  articles  of  capi- 
tulation f'roin  him — addinir,  that  that  was  the  first  authentick  intelli- 
gence  he  had  received  of  the  affair,  and  that  he  had  besrun  to  grow 
uneasy,  and  almost  to  suspect  that  the  previous  accounts  were  pre- 
mature. And  it  was  not  until  the  2d  of  November  that  Gates  deisnned 
to  comnumicate  to  the  commander-in-chi^f  a  word  upon  the  sub- 
ject, and  then  only  incidentally,  as  though  it  were  a  matter  of 
secondary  importance/' 

Although  Schuyler  had  no  command,  he  had  never  ceased  hissei^ 
vices,  and  was  with  tie  American  army.  Gen.  Bur£:oyne  s:ives  this 
testimonial  of  Schuyler's  icentlemanly  deportment :  "  1  |M>sitiveIj  as- 
sert that  there  was  no  fire  by  order  or  countenance  of  myself  or  any 
other  officer,  except  at  Saratoira.  That  district  is  the  property  of 
General  Schuyler.  There  were  larjre  barracks  built  by  him  :  they 
took  fire  by  accident,  when  filled  with  my  sick  and  wounded  sol- 
diers. General  Schuyler  had  likewise  a  very  good  dwelling-house^ 
exceeding  larjre  storehouses,  great  saw-mills,  and  other  out-baild- 
ings,  to  the  value,  perhaps,  of  ten  thou'sand  pounds.  A  few  days 
before  the  nejxotiation  with  General  (Jates,  the  enemy  were  ap- 
proaching to  |)ass  a  small  river  preparatory  to  a  general  action,  and 
were  covered  from  the  fire  of  mv  artillerv  bv  those  buildincs.  I 
gave  the  order  to  set  them  on  fire :  that  whole  property  I  hive 
described  was  consmned.  One  of  the  first  persons  I  saw  after  the 
convention  was  signed,  was  General  Schuyler.  I  expressed  ray 
regret  at  the  event  which  had  happened,  and  the  reasons  which  bad 
occasioned  it.  He  desired  me  to  think  no  more  of  it ;  said  that 
the  occasion  justified  it,  accordinix  to  the  rules  and  principles  of 
war,  and  he  should  have  done  the  same.  He  did  more — he  sent 
an  aid-c^e-camp  to  conduct  me  to  Albany,  in  order,  as  he  express- 
ed, to  procure  me  better  quarters  than  a  stranger  might  be  able  to 
find.  This  gentleman  conducted  me  to  a  ver}*'  elegant  house,  and, 
to  my  great  surprise,  introduced  me  to  Mis.  Schuyler  and  her 


OSlfTLXMAirLT  DBPORTMXNT  OV  8CHUTLBB.  199 

fcrnOf ;  asd  in  this  general's  hoose  I  remained  during  my  whole 
ttiT  at  Albany,  with  a  table  of  more  than  twenty  covers  for  ma 
and  my  friends^  and  every  other  demonstration  of  hospitality." 

The  Baroness  Riedesel  says,  *^  when  I  drew  near  the  tent,  a 
food-looking  roan  advanced  towards  me,  and  helped  the  children 
from  the  calash,  and  kissed  and  caressed  them ;  he  then  offered 
■fee  his  arm,  and  tears  trembled  in  his  eyes.  *  You  tremble,'  said 
be ;  *  do  not  be  alarmed,  I  pray  you.'  *  Sir,'  cried  I9  '  a  coun- 
tenance so  expressive  of  benevolence,  and  the  kindness  which  yoa 
htve  evinced  towards  my  children,  arc  sufficient  to  dispel  all  appre- 
kosion.'  He  then  ushered  me  into  the  tent  of  General  Gates. 
The  geodeman  who  had  received  me  with  so  much  kindness,  came 
ttd  aid  to  me,  *  You  may  find  it  embarrassing  to  be  the  only  lady 
ia  such  a  large  company  of  gendemen ;  will  you  come  with  your 
diildren  to  my  tent,  and  partake  of  a  frugal  dinner  offered  with  the 
hot  will  ?'  *'  By  the  kindness  you  show  to  me,'  returned  I,  *  yoa 
mioce  me  to  believe  that  you  have  a  wife  and  children.'  He  in* 
fanned  me  that  he  was  General  Schuyler.  Never  did  a  dinner  give 
Be  so  much  pleasure  as  this." 

Bnrgoyne  did  not  receive  intelligence  of  the  success  of  Sir 
Heonr  Clinton  at  the  forts  in  the  Highlands  until  after  his  surren- 
der. This  may  be  attributed  to  the  failure  of  a  message  despatched 
bjr  the  English  commander-in-chief,  who  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Aaerican  Clinton,  by  one  of  those  apparent  accidents  that  rule  the 
fale  of  men  and  armies.  The  messensrer  bore  a  letter  enclosed  in 
I  dver  ball,  with  only  the  words  ^*  novs  y  toici :  and  nodiing  be- 
laeen  us  but  Gates."  The  unfortunate  bearer  had  to  pass  the 
American  posts  in  disguise,  and  would  probably  have  done  so  in 
afety,  but  that  a  New  England  regiment  under  Colonel  Webb  had 
joined  Govemour  Clinton,  who  was  at  New  Windsor  collecting 
troops,  and  the  soldiers  were  clothed  in  red  coats,  which  had  been 
lien  in  an  English  store  ship  :  some  of  them  were  on  guard  at  an 
ooi-pofit,  and  the  spy  mistaking  them  for  friends,  put  himself  in 
ikeir  power  and  beoayed  his  quality.  He  swallowed  the  silver 
ball,  but  too  late :  an  emetic  revealed  his  errand,  and  the  poor 
vretch  was  sacrificed  to  the  policy  (perhaps  the  justice)  of  war. 
To  this  circumstance  was  owing  the  ignorance  of  Burgoyne,  that 
(be  southern  British  army  ^i^as  on  its  way  to  his  relief.  Had  this 
nessenger  reached  him,  he  might  not  have  risked  the  fatal  en- 
eoanter  on  Behmus's  Heights;  but  it  is  vain  to  indulge  in  surmises 
of  what  might  have  been — the  duty  of  history  is  to  record  that 
vhich  we  know  has  been. 

Wilkinson,  as  we  have  seen,  was  entrusted  with  the  despatches 
of  Gates  lo  congress,  announcing  an  army  *s  surrender,  and  loitering 
b?  the  way,  a  member  proposed  as  his  reward  for  his  news  a  pair 

^  goUapoiB. 
▼OL^n.  17 


uo 

Tbis  jmr  (1777)  camiot  be  pamtd  over 
fannation  of  a  wrinen  CoosmodiKi  fiir  wint  was  mmt  dedmd 
be  tbe  State  of  New  York.  The  cooremioD  beld  at 
declared  that  no  ambontr  sbocld  on  anr  ynJbtatJt 
eserased  orer  tbe  people  or  memberi  of  tbis  stale, 
abould  be  derired  from  or  graDted  bjr  tfaem  ;  and  it  'wcmeA  fbm 
supreme  lecislatiTe  powers  in  two  dislinrt  bodies 
lectirelj  tbe  legisknue.  It  is  dated  at  Kinesloo,  2(Mi  April*  177 
and  siened  Ijamard  Gamaecoort^  Pro,  pro.  tern. 
members  of  tfab  cooreniion  we  find  some  of  tbe 
nimei  in  otir  stale  btstorr— ^John  Jar,  Gumeinem 
ocbers.  Of  tbe  patiiotisn,  inteilisence  and  integrity  of 
formed  die  old  eonstitntioo  there  can  be  do 
there  aqoestioo  hot  that  it  contained  its  fiudts  and 
But  those  mi^  bare  been  gtaduJlT  healed  bjr 
appBcatioiB,  or  what  were  beoer,  the  slow  bot  sleadjr  and 
i^nence  of  time  and  osa^.  This  Tenerable 
wisdom  of  our  high  nrioded  ancestors  has  been 
dost.  Not  cootent  with  roildlj  loppio?  off 
or  some  limbs  wfaicb  drew  awar  too  much  of  the 
the  other  branches  we,  mad  aod  reckleas  hare 
friiole  tree  ;  and  bj  the  CoiBdrotioo  of  November  10,  \SXU 
snbsiitnied  a  new  srstem,  which  has  ret  to  ran  its  career  of 
perimem — perhaps  of  mischief:  which  reduces  die  ftafU  t 
f^rpmlaot^  and  concedes  to  the  populace  the  riebt  of 
the  most  momeptoos  subjects — the  power  of  makine, 
abn^atin^  the  ftindamennJ  laws — the  coostitntion 
witbout  restraml.* 


niTBieinit  AaAnrsT  WASHUfaroif.  ISl 


CHAPTER  IX. 

burigmei  ugainsi  WashingUm — France  becomes  a  party  in  the  war 
'^Alarwdw  ntuatian  of  Washington — Noble  conduct  of  Colonel 
WiUiam  JDuer — Conway-^Lafayette — Falsehood  and  meanness 
^  Oates. 

1777  On  the  17th  of  October,  Burgoyne  surrendered.  Gates 
imitated,  on  the  meeting  with  his  humbled  adversary,  tha 
coiidact  of  the  Black  Prince,  when  from  real  or  affected  humility 
he  emered  London  with  the  captive  King  of  France. 

How  be  deigned  to  communicate  the  news  of  his  success  to  the 
ooomiaiider-in-chief,  has  already  been  stated  ;  yet  he  was  carrying 
oo  a  correspondeoce  with  his  Irish  friend,  Conway,  in  which 
Washington  was  treated  with  contempt 

This  slight  put  upon  Washington  was  premeditated,  as  is  proved 
by  a  letter  from  Wilkinson  to  Gates,  of  November  the  4th,  saying 
that  be  is  often  asked  the  cause  of  this  omission.  It  is  further  re- 
ined, respecting  Morgan,  that  when  the  conquerour  entertained 
the  British  officers  who  were  prisoners,  and  invited  his  own  to  meet 
diem,  Morgan  was  omitted ;  but  accidentally  coming  into  the  ge- 
aeraTs  quarters  on  business,  when  he  departed,  his  name  was  men- 
tioned, and  all  the  Britons  eagerly  rose  and  followed  to  see  the 
nan  to  whom  they  attributed,  in  a  great  measure,  their  defeat. 

The  flatteries  that  poured  in  upon  him  were  such  as  his  mind 
eoold  not  bear.  His  cabal  openly  declared  that  he  alone  was  fit 
far  die  supreme  command.  As  a  step  towards  it,  on  the  27th  of 
November,  he  was  appointed  president  of  the  board  of  war,  and  his 
friend  Mifflin  was  one  of  his  council.  The  board  appointed  Con- 
way inspector-general,  with  the  rank  of  major-general,  and  powers, 
^  in  effect,'*  says  Marshall,  *'  paramount  to  those  of  the  comman- 
der4n-chief,"  A  majority  of  congress  confirmed  this  appointment, 
akhoogh  this  man  had  been  recently  detected  in  an  infamous  cor- 
itspondence  with  Gates,  and  was  denounced  by  Washington  as  a 
^dangerous  incendiary."  Happily,  General  Greene  and  a  num- 
ber of  field-officers  would  not  submit  to  the  indignity  of  seeing  this 
upstart  foreign  officer  placed  in  such  an  office  in  defiance  of  the 
commander-in-chief.  They  remonstrated;  Conway  was  obliged 
to  retire ;  and  the  cabal  was  defeated  in  this  part  of  their  intrigue. 
OfGenenlGfllM  as  presidtnt  of  the  board  ot  war,  I  will  only  ob- 


U9  AJLMMumm  nrvAtum  or  WAnmmov. 

•ervey  that  none  of  his  plans  were  succearfiil,  or  anj  of  his 
efficacious. 

I  roust  limit  rojrself  to  events  in  our  state,  or  dxMe  immediatelj 
adjoining,  and  refer  to  MarshalFs  libtory,  to  Wasbiogton's  let* 
ters,  and  other  works,  for  the  movements  more  to  the  sooth.  Grot 
was  the  necessiiv  in  which  the  commander-in-chief  stood  for  le- 
inforcements,  and  urgent  his  call  for  the  troops  which  the  cooren- 
tion  of  Saratoga  left  available.  But  Gates  seemed  disposed  to 
withhold  them  as  much  as  possible.  Intoxicated  by  the  mpplmaam 
of  congress  and  the  country,  he  felt  that  the  supntDe  commuad  of 
the  armies  of  the  continent  was  within  his  grasp. 

The  bints  and  insinuations  of  Lee,  the  calumnies  of  Gales  aod 
his  adherents,  had  produced  a  party  in  congress  that  amoooted  to 
a  majority.  The  Irish  officer  who  had  been  in  the  French  aer- 
▼ice,  Conway,  soon  became  one  of  Gates's  faction,  and  Tiolemly 
opposed  to  Washington  and  bis  friends,  particularly  lo  the 
de  Kalb  and  the  Marquis  La&yette.  This  Conway,  became 
agreeable  to  Washington,  first  by  presumption,  and  thea  in 
sequence  of  a  disclosure  made  of  a  paragraph  in  a  letter  from  him  to 
Gates,  in  which  he  says,  **  Heaven  has  btan  determmed  to  ante 
country^  or  a  weak  general  and  bad  anaudloTM  wotJd 
named  kJ"' 

France  had  secretly  encooraged  the  discontent,  and  joyfuDy 
the  rebellion  of  the  subjects  of  her  great  rival.  Now  that  an  maj 
had  surrendered,  the  mask  was  thrown  off,  and  war  was  proclaimedy 
and  an  army  was  promised  the  United  States.  The  motive  waa  nor 
considered,  and  gratitude  filled  every  American  breast. 

General  Washington  attributed  the  successes  of  Sir  William 
Howe  in  Pennsylvania,  and  his  own  consequent  disasters,  to  the 
apathy  and  disaffection  of  the  people  of  that  state.  In  one  of  Ui 
letters  on  the  subject,  he  says — ^*  The  northern  army,  before  the 
surrender  of  General  Burgoyne,  was  reinforced  by  upwards  of 
twelve  hundred  militia,  who  shut  the  only  door  by  which  Bur- 
goyne could  retreat,  and  cut  off  all  his  supplies.  How  difimnC 
our  case !  The  disaffection  of  a  great  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
state,  the  languor  of  others,  and  the  internal  distraction  of  the  whole, 
have  been  among  the  great  and  insuperable  difficulties  which  I 
have  met  with,  and  have  contributed  not  a  little  to  my  embanaaa- 
ments  this  campaign.*'* 

Bfany  other  letters  from  the  commander-in-chief,  writlea  do- 
fiog  the  winter  and  spring  of  1778,  complain  of  the  oon- 
doct  of  the  people  of  Pennsylvania,  in  snppljring  the  eneoqr  m 
Philadelphia  with  provisions — particolariy  from  Bocks  Goaty. 


oozxnnu*  william  dubb.  183 

In  a  letter  to  Major-general  Armstrong,  of  that  state,  dated  at  Val- 
kj  Forge,  March  27 tb,  he  says — **  The  situation  of  matters  in  this 
state  is  melancholy  and  alarming.  We  have  daily  proof  that  a  ma- 
jority of  the  people  in  this  quarter  are  only  restrained  from  supply- 
ing the  enemy  with  horses  and  every  kind  of  necessary,  through 
fear  of  punishment ;  and,  ahhough  I  have  made  a  number  of  se- 
vere examples,  I  cannot  put  a  stop  to  the  intercourse." 

The  legislature  met  at  Kingston,  on  the  1st  of  September,  1777, 
bot  did  not  form  a  quorum  until  the  10th ;  when  Govenour  Clin- 
too,  in  his  speech,  applauded  the  garrison  of  Fort  Schuyler,  spoke 
of  the  bnve  General  Herkimer,  and  praised  the  militia  of  Tryon 
couDtj*  He  mentions  in  terms  of  exultation  the  complete  victory 
near  Bennington,  gained  by  the  militia  of  New  Hampshire,  Mas- 
Sftcbusetts  and  tiie  northeastern  counties  of  New  York.  At  this 
time  the  legislature  appointed  delegates  to  the  continental  congress* 
Tbey  were,  Philip  Livingston,  James  Duane,  Francis  Lewis,  Wil- 
liam  Duer,  and  Governeur  Morris.  The  assembly  was  interrupted 
in  its  work  of  peace  by  the  attack  upon  the  Highlands,  and  was  dis- 
solved October  7th ;  but  on  the  5th  of  January,  1778,  they  met 
again  at  Poughkeepsie. 

The  commander-in-chief  passed  the  winters  of  1777  and  '8,  in 
the  cantonment  of  Schuylkill,  his  best  troops  mutinous  from  want 
of  necessaries,  be  says,  the  want  ofprovisioHj  clothings  and  other  et- 
tmiials^  U  charged  to  my  account^  not  only  by  the  vulgar^  but  by 
thorn  impovxr. 

The  board  of  war  consisted  of  General  Gates,  president ;  Ge- 
neral Mifflin,  quarter-master-general ;  Joseph  Trumbull,  commis- 
nry-generel ;  and  Pickering,  Folsom,  etc. 

Gates,  Mifflin,  and  Trumbull,  were  all  absent  from  Little  York 

congress  sate,  the  enemy  being  at  Philadelphia. 
The  confederacy  of  sovereign  states  had  before  1777,  been  in 
instances,  found  wanting.  In  July,  1778,  the  confederacy 
signed,  but  October  the  14th,  1777,  congress  resolved,  that 
BO  state  should  be  represented  by  more  than  seven  members  nor  less 
than  two.  New  York  had  but  two  members  present,  barely  suffi- 
cient to  give  her  a  vote  ;  one  of  those  was  lying  sick ;  this  was  a 
iitaation  which  rendered  her  a  nullity,  and  a  day  was  appointed  by 
the  cabal,  to  nominate  a  committee  to  arrest  Washington  at  the  Val- 
ley Forge,  they  having  a  majority  owing  to  the  absence  of  New 
York. 

Francis  Lewis,  the  only  member  from  New  York  capable  of 
taking  his  place,  sent  to  the  absentee.  Colonel  William  Duer 
lent  Sir  his  physician,  Doctor  Jones,  and  demanded  whether  he 
eoaU  be  removed  to  the  courthouse,  (or  place  of  meeting.)  *'  Yes, 
bat  at  the  risk  <tf  YOur  life."  **  Do  you  mean  that  I  should  expire 
bdbn  leadbing  the  place  ?"   "  No ;  but  I  would  not  answer  for  your 


•% 


1S4  CONWAT*8  IZfTBXOUBS. 

lifev  tweDty-four  houn  afterward."  "  Yeij  well,  ur  ;  you  ban 
done  your  duty,  prepare  a  litter  for  roe-^if  you  reiuse — Bome  one 
else  shall — but  I  prefer  your  care  in  this  case." 

The  litter  was  prepared,  and  the  sick  man  ready  to  sacri6ce  his 
life  for  his  countr\%  when  the  faction,  baffled  bv  the  airiral  of  Go- 
▼emeur  Morris,  and  by  the  certainty  of  New  York  being  against 
them,  gave  up  the  attempt,  and  the  hazardous  experimeDt  on 
the  part  of  Colonel  Duer,  was  rendered  unnecessary. 

General  Gates  and  suite,  of  whom  Colonel  Lewis  was  one, 
were  detained  at  the  Susquehanna  three  days,  during  which  Gorer- 
neur  Morris  joined  them.  On  their  arri^-al  at  Little  York,  Colonel 
Lewis  and  Gouvemeur  Morris,  immediately  repaired  to  the  qoarteis 
of  the  New  York  delegation;  and  found  Colonel  Duer  on  the  lit- 
ter surrounded  by  blankets,  attended  by  his  physician  and  carrieiSv 
ready  to  go  to  the  court-house  where  congress  met. 

After  the  surrender  of  an  army,  few  of  the  military  events  wliiell 
passed  in  New  Yoik  seem  worthy  of  history.  Until  1778,  tbe  pei^ 
secutions  of  the  commander-in-chief  continued. 

The  expressions  of  Conway  were  repeated  to  WasliingtDn«  and 
(as  Mifflin  informed  Gates  by  letter)  were  enclosed  by  the  genenl 
to  Conway  without  remarks,  who,  says  Mifflin,  supported  the  opin^ 
ion  he  had  given,  ^^  the  sentiment  was  not  apologized  for."  GatsSv 
on  receiving  this  information  from  Mifflin,  wrote  to  Conway,  en- 
treating to  know  which  of  the  letters  was  copied  off,  and  to  Miflliny 
expressing  his  uneasiness  and  anxiety  to  discover  tbe  rillain  who 
bad  *'  played  him  this  treacherous  trick.^'  He  likewise  immedi* 
ately  wrote  a  letter  to  General  Washington,  conjuring  him  to  as- 
sist, as  he  says,  in  '*  tracing  out  the  author  of  tlie  infidelity  which 
put  extracts  from  General  Conway's  letters  to  me  into  your  hands." 
He  says,  the  letters  have  been  **  stealingly  copied."  This,  insmd 
of  being  sent  direct  to  the  general,  was  enclosed  to  congress.  Upon 
hearing  of  this  discovery,  Lafayette  wrote  to  Washington,  inlbnii- 
ing  him  of  Conii-ay's  endeavours  by  flattery  to  gain  his  confidence, 
and  to  make  a  breach  between  him  and  the  general,  so  o  to  in- 
duce Lafavette  to  leave  the  country. 

There  are  documents  extant  in  which,  at  this  very  time,  he  ex- 
presses his  enmity  to  Lafayette.  But  a  just  estimate  of  this  at- 
tempt upon  General  Washington  can  only  be  formed  by  reading  aD 
the  letters  published  by  Mr.  Sparks.  I  will  only  say  fiiitber,  that 
as  Gates  had  enclosed  his  letter  to  the  commander-in-chief  in  one. 
to  congress,  ht  sent  his  answer  in  the  same  manner.  Washington 
tells  Gates  that  he  had  viewed  Conway  as  a  stranger  to  him,  and 
had  no  thought  that  they  were  correspondents,  "  much  less  did  I 
suspect  that  I  was  the  subject  of  your  confidential  letters."  He 
says,  that  on  receiving  this  extract,  he  considered  it  o  a  friendly 
intfning  from  Gates  to  forearm  him  **  against  a  saerat  enemy,  or  in 


AKD  MEAXXSa  OF  8ATBS.  195 

-r    .«  .»?_    .-iA.-ir?5    V*.    .*.r.     L     ...-.»  c    .«.^ _»  ^: >  .--X;-.  .  l.lA«€^S 

ccTf  ■■•  ■->?  l:r'*>.  of  Fcr-:in-.  iTTS.  r.licd  w::::  5;:cr.  fi'.>crsxv!5  &5 
lie«  :  "  A*  :.^  zSi*  rer-iJeKur."  Cor.wi} .  "  1  have  no  -.vrs^ors'.  oo:> 

S2   >:  ro  :t."ror.."     Ho  lVl>?.^ow•^  ar.v  -r-.f-iio::  of  i-vl/c  onVr.o* 
**i?      r»x»?r..c-.  *>.    A..V.  lO.  t  .,.t.v>  r.*.....'.^       »•..,.  i.ri.-.i  rt>;'fd« 

•  .  *  * 


rw^  r.vi.T.   r:u5  :    '■  Your  rc:x"'i:ix:.^    anc  fo';i^v..!v   oi5s::A:rami: 

af  liiir  i«s  c^OTe5rK>rhi<'rhre.  :vske5  r.^c  wi!';:*.c  :o  c!o?<  w;:h  i^e  tie- 
«T  Tvx:  fsrops*.  of  b*jn:r^  :**f::i  h^'neanir  :r  >!'i-::s:e.  arc,  a<  m 


•        S^MTa 


rtr»>j*  ijiantrs,  of  ::*:'  fnor.<  r.-.aole  :o  ovir:'::"'x^-.v  :■.::-/.  ird  a 

ro«.k:r\f  ;r*cica:5on  of  :r.e:r  >;:0vV2k<.  "rv  ;:-r  ajvx^ir/.ir.c:*:.  *>  we 

c^  of  ihi*  Contriy,  co:)»":h5r*riIri:  :hs''  kr.v^nr.  v^;o:r.:or:$  of 

\Cica,  aad  Laive:tc.  :o  :he  oSoo  of  :">:xv^^r-;rr.en!  aad 

of  raa308^re7)^T£.  :o  :::o  fx^^fssixi*  o.:*^.:^:  of  ::.e  Aroenoaa 

—  _  •  ^  i 

6ear6:a  sa  «wxcT>PSi*s.  of  Gare*,  Cor-.viv  &:*.»:  o:h^\r*,  oi"i  or'\  be 
KUL'vcusted  St  nKtd:r-r  £-'  '-V  itvV.::r.t"'r:>  :••.:':  'Isr.f-i.  ir.ol  *or::o  vei 
iinr«B^'Sf«>i.  S3  iSe  M^rarv  of  u-^  Hi^:or!oi!  Svvic :v. 

"bee  Sir  Wi'/.iarr.  Hv»we  r,T£<  rori  '.i\-  fr-.^r.:  ::.o  Ovrr.r.^5rid  in 
A'aersra,  :be  Fr-r***  v>5osr :^  £ r. .:  T :* ". ', .7 .- 1 . .^".-  a  ! ^ •: rt-s.  c* v f  him  a 
raz  ip».  toSi  Sir  He::rk-  C.'::::or.  ivvk  :>;*  vX^.v:vi:x:  of  i:.*  :jvx'»». 
H«  ^ftrua:ed  ibe  c'.tc.  a=o.  e:r.S=rkivl  M*  .irw  .;:  >fo:v"o;::i:  5>r 
V»  Tcci.  bciaoc  before  Char't-^  I.oe  r.\*?  sv"*  Sci:i\tv!  a:  &.<  Kii- 
^  X  M>rooud^  »  :o  relieve  Wa^hir-iiton  aom  one  of  his  peaiest 


T^  Eridsb  fee:  and  arniT  arrircv!  b  the  harbor-r  oi  New  York 
»  essrar^  aa  acdon  widi  xbe  Fieoch  fiee:,  whx>  nr.d:r.r  wr 
so  ia»,  sftljed  lo  ibe  north.     The  cor::mar.v:t">ir-ch:ef,  and 
iTEsj*  were  »  disMsed.  a$  lo  p:>e\er.;  SI:  Henry  ironi 
1ST  anwnpi  oa  tbe  HodiOD. 


196  wmmammmB  AMD  rmmam 


CHAPTER  X- 

Prisonen  cmd  Prison  Ship$. 

1776  Thb  prisoners  taken  on  Long  Island  and  at  Fort  Wash- 
ington, were  at  first  shut  up  in  the  College,  and  in  the 
17S0  "new,  or  middle  Dutch  church,  in  Nassau  and  Cedar 
streets.'*  An  old  gentleman  living  in  1837,  who  was  one 
of  Captain  Vandyke's  grenadiers,  and  made  prisoner  on  the  27di 
of  August,  says,  he  saw  the  "great  fire"  from  the  College  windofwa. 
Another  gentleman,  Mr.  John  Pintard,  who  is  still  with  os,  and 
who  as  a  young  man  was  an  as^tant  to  his  uncle,  Mr.  Lewii 
I^ntard,  appointed  by  congress  to  supply  necessary  clocfaing  fior 
the  American  prisoners  during  a  part  of  the  war,  gives  os  some 
particulars  which  are  very  valuable,  as  he  was  in  New  Yoik,  and 
bad  an  opportunit}*  for  acquiring  knowledge  respecting  his  snfiering 
countrymen.  He  tells  us,  in  a  published  document,  that  in  the 
church  above  mentioned,  "  the  sick,  the  wounded,  and  well,  were 
all  indiscriminately  huddled  together  by  hundreds  and  tbonsanda— 
large  numbers  of  whom  died  by  disease — and  many  undonbcedly 
poisoned  by  inhuman  attendants,  for  the  sake  of  their  walcbes  or 
alver  buckles." 

We  must  remember  that  he  speaks  of  the  time  inmiediatelj  lot* 
lowing  the  battle  of  Brooklyn  :  the  recent  occupancy  of  the  city  by 
the  victors,  the  conflagration  of  a  great  portion  of  it,  and  the  capture 
of  the  brave  men  at  Fort  Washington — all  tending  to  create  disor- 
der in  every  department  of  the  then  conquering  army.  The  writer 
proceeds  to  mention  circumstances  witnessed  and  remembered  bj 
myself.  He  says,  ^'  This  church  (the  middle  Dutch)  was  after- 
ward converted  into  a  riding  school  for  training  dragoons.  The 
extensive  sugar-house  in  Liberty  street,  and  the  north  Dotdl 
church,  were  abo  used  as  prisons.  The  new  Quaker  mcetii^ 
house,  formerly  in  Pearl  street,  was  appropriated  as  a  hir^mil 
The  seamen  were  confined  on  board  the  prison-ships,  where  they 
suffered  every  hardship  to  compel  them  to  enter  into  the  British 
service,  and  were  consigned  to  disease  and  death  by  hundreds 
The  provost  was  destined  for  the  more  notorious  rebels,  civil,  iHtala 
and  military.  An  admission  into  this  modem  basdie 
10  ^pptl  the  stoutest  heart.     On  the  right  hand  of  die 


FusasTKAs  AXD  pmuox  sairs,  197 

C-iM&a  Cuii!un£inni*5  quaiter$«  opposite  to  which  wvi  th^ 
>nK«i.     Wiihia   the  first  himca«ltf  was  SerccdUit  Keefe^s 
At  the  eatnnce-door  tiro  ^entiiiek  wcrv  ilwijs  posied 
i:iT  aad  nicdt :  tvo  mocv  M  the  Dr?i  ukI  secood  bainindes« 
cnted.  barred,  and  cbuned :  ako  at  the  rear  door» 
uki  oa  ibe  plirxviu  at  the  irrated  door  a:  the  iboc  of  the  second 
&£ts  vV  5<e^^  leading  to  the  ruonfe^  and  crib  in  the  jecond  and 
nirvi  5twV>?t^     When  a  pri^ooer.  e^xmed  br  soMieis,  was  led  inio 
Sir  2ftLL  r>^  wixUe  pnrd  wjis  paraded*  and  he  wms  deUreied  orer, 
l11  Mi3ihtT«  to  Oapcftin  Cunningham  or  his  deputr*  and  quean 
i  as  to  hb  aia>e«  rank,  siie«  a^.  etc.«  all  of  which  w«re  en- 
a  rvcocd  book.    What  with  the  brisdin^  of  arms«  anbohin{ 
«  ^c^  aad  iockis.  cbnkini:  of  enormous  iion  chains,  and  a  restibala 
i^u<^  the  uoibrtuQate  captire  mi^t  well  sink  under 
siftit  and  parade  of  trrannical  power,  as  he  ciosagd  the 
Liod  of  that  diwr  which  probabk  closed  on  lum  for  life.     But 
X  k  aoc  OCT  wish  to  r^Tive  the  horrouis  anendant  on  our  neTolutioft- 
icy  war:  rrawf^  to  Dlrine  ProrideiKY  lor  its  propitioiK  iseue,  wo 
onhr  leinark  fin  the  eskxinf  and  risinc  pnieration,  that  the 
of  the  United  States,  and  the  civil  and  relij[i(Mis  13^ 
enjor.  were  achieved  and  puirhased  br  the  blood 
s«L&na£S  of  their  patriotic  ferelttither!^     Maj  ther  cuard  and 
the  boon  lo  their  latest  posterity. 
""TW  aoitfaeast  chamber,  turning  to  the  leJt.  on  the  second  doort 
jypeoptMigd  ui  oakef^  aiKi  characters  of  superiour  rank  and 
aihl  was  called  Coiuress  HalL    So  closehr  were  they 
mat  when  ther  hr  down  at  niirht  ui  rest,  when  their  bones 
OQ  the  hard  oak  planks,  and  ther  wished  to  turn,  it  was  alln-> 
bf  woid  ««  cocuaiand.  **  rr^r^r— <<r/K**  beini:  90  wed<ed  and 
as  «o  ionn  almost  a  soliii  rmss  of  huuttn  bodies.     In  the 
the  pncks  and  blankecs  of  ihe  prisoners  were  suspended 
die  walks*  ererr  piecautioD  beinc  used  to  keep  the  roomn 
attd  tlie  walls  and  dooi^  clean,  to  prevent  }ail  firver :  and» 
provost  ns  fennalhr  crowded  with  American  prisoners^  or 
Bcu&  coipncs  oa  every  deacription.  it  is  reaRy  wondcitul  that  in- 
ttcsiiK  sever  fc«\'^e  out  within  its  wills* 
**  La  this  rioomy  temfick  abode,  were  incarcerated  ai  dMfaent 
T  Arsetican  odk^»s  anvi  citiaens  of  distinctioa«  awaiiii^ 
r  hope  and  tanialxzinc  expectation  the  protracted  pe» 
of  iknr  eschanfe  and  liheradon.     Could  these  dumb  waBs 

of  ancuish.  what  tales  of  a^oaiaing  woe.  mijhl 


other  charicien.  there  were,  at  the  same  time,  the  &• 

Ethan  AUen.  and  Judce  Fell,  of  Berem  county^ 

When  Captain  Cunningham  entertained  the  young 

'  moommand  thn  ^eovost  guard,  br  cbm 

15 


of  cmfubig  die  prisoner's  ntions,  exchaneing  good  far  bad 
▼isioos,  and  odBerembezzlemeDU  practised  on  John  BidU  diecip- 
tnin,  hid  deputr,  and  indeed  tiie  commissaries  zenerallj,  vere  en- 
Ued  to  fare  somptoously.  In  the  drunken  oreies  that  nsaaBr  ter- 
minated his  diimers,  the  captain  would  order  the  rebel  prtsoDOf  l» 
turn  oot  and  parade,  for  the  amusement  of  his  guests — poin; 
them  out — ^'  this  is  the  damned  rebel.  Colonel  Ethan  Allei»--ihift  i 
rebel  jtidge,  an  Englishman/'  etc.  etc. 

The  writer  well  remembers  the  Rev.  Thomas  AndroSr  a  ptcdbf- 
terian  clervrman,  who,  when  a  youth,  shipped  himself  as  a  priia- 
teersman  from  New  London.  He  was  taken,  and  confined  in  im 
sepulchre,  where  the  living,  the  dyin?,  and  the  dead,  (brmed  oae 
mass,  of  which  the  latter  descripdon  was  the  moet  enviable.  I  wm 
far  from  charging  upon  the  deputy  commissaries  the  misefT  wbkh 
mj  countrymen  suffered  in  the  prison  ships ;  but  I  must  tlunk  dot 
there  was  culpable  neglect  or  designed  cruehy  on  the  port  of  the 
commander-in-chief  of  the  Britbh  armv,  or  a  criminal  tiunt  far 
riches  on  the  part  of  Sprout.     Mr.  Andros  says : 

"  We  were  captured  on  the  27th  August,  by  the  Soleb^  ^JP^ 
and  safely  stowed  away  in  the  old  Jersey  prison  ship,  at  Xev  lotk. 
This  was  an  old  sixty-four  gun  ship,  which  through  ace  had  be> 
eome  imfit  for  further  actual  service.  She  was  stripped  of  eteiy 
spar  and  aU  her  ringing.  After  a  batde  with  the  Frendi 
Uon  figure-head  was  taken  away  to  repair  another  ship  ;  no 
ance  of  ornament  was  left,  and  nothing  remained  bot  an  old, 
aighdy,  rotten  hulk.  Her  dark  and  filthy  external 
perfecdy  corresponded  with  the  death  and  despair  that 
within  ;  and  nothing  could  be  more  forei^rn  from  truth  than  to 
her  with  colours  dying,  or  any  circumstance  or  appendage  to 
the  eye.  She  was  moored  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  lo  tfaa 
eastward  of  Brooklvn  Ferrv.  near  a  ude-mill,  on  the  Lone  Uaad 
shore.  The  nearest  distance  to  land,  was  about  twentv  rod&  Aad 
doubtless  no  other  ship  in  the  British  navy  ever  proved  the 
of  the  destruction  of  so  manv  human  beinss.  It  is  com 
not  less  than  eleven  thousand  American  seamen  perished  m 
But  after  it  was  known  that  it  was  next  to  certain  death  to 
a  prisoner  here,  the  inhumanity  and  wickedness  of  doing  itt 
about  the  same,  as  if  he  had  been  taken  into  the  city  and 
aiely  shot  on  some  publick  square.  But  as  if  mercy  had  fled 
the  earth,  here  we  were  doomed  to  dwelL  And  never  while  I 
on  board  did  any  Howard  or  aneel  of  pity  appear  to  inqoiie 
or  alleviate  our  woes.  Once  or  twice,  by  the  order  of  a 
on  the  quarterHieck,  a  bag  of  apples  was  buried  proanKaDOsly 
iato  the  midst  of  hundreds  of  prisoners  crowded  together  as  thick 
as  thej  could  stand,  and  life  and  limbs  were  endangered  bf  the 
aaaaiUe.    This,  instead  of  compavioo,  was  a  crael  sport.  Wkn 


JBRSBY  PRISON  SHIP.  139 

I  air  b  about  to  commence,  I  fled  to  the  most  distant  part  of  the 
ihip. 

"On  the  commencement  of  the  first  evening,  we  were  driven 
down  to  darkness  between  decks,  secured  by  iron  gratings  and  an 
vmed  soidierv.     And  now  a  scene  of  horrour,  which  baflles  all 
description,  presented  itself.     On  every  side,  wretched,  despond- 
ing slnpes  of  men,  could  be  seen.    Around  the  well-room  an  armed 
guird  were  forcing  up  the  prisoners  to  the  winches,  to  clear  the 
liup  of  water,  and  prevent  her  sinking ;  and  litde  else  could  be 
keard  but  a  roar  of  mutual  execrations,  reproaches,  and  insults. 
During  tills  operation,  there  was  a  small  dim  light  admitted  below, 
but  it  served  to  make  darkness  more  visible,  and  horrour  more  ter- 
rifick.    In  my  reflections  I  said,  this  must  be  a  complete  image  and 
inticipation  of  hell. 

"When  I  first  became  an  inmate  of  this  abode  of  suflfering,  des- 
pair, and  death,  there  were  about  four  hundred  prisoners  on  board, 
but  in  a  short  time  they  amounted  to  twelve  hundred.  And  in 
proportion  to  our  numbers,  the  mortality  increased. 

**  All  the  most  deadly  diseases  were  pressed  into  the  service  of 
the  king  of  terrours,  but  his  prime-ministers  were  dysentery,  small- 
pox, and  yellow  fever.  There  were  two  hospital  ships  near  to  the 
old  Jersey,  but  these  were  soon  so  crowded  with  the  sick,  that 
they  could  receK-e  no  more.  The  consequence  was,  that  the  dis- 
eiaed  and  the  healthy  were  mingled  togetlier  in  the  main  ship.  In 
a  short  time  we  had  two  hundred  or  more  sick  and  dying,  lodged 
in  the  (ore  part  of  the  lower  gun-deck,  where  all  the  prisoners  were 
confined  at  night.  Utter  derangement  was  a  common  symptom  of 
yellow  fever,  and  to  increase  the  horrour  of  the  darkness  that  shroud- 
ed us,  (for  we  were  allowed  no  light  betwixt  decks,)  the  voice  of 
waniing  would  be  heard — '  Take  heed  to  yourselves ;  there  is  a 
iDsd  man  stalking  through  the  ship  with  a  knife  in  his  hand.'  I 
sometimes  found  the  man  a  corpse  in  the  morning  by  whose  side  I 
hid  myself  down  at  night.  At  another  time  he  would  become  de- 
itagsd,  and  attempt  in  darkness  to  rise  and  stumble  over  the  bodies 
that  e? ery  where  covered  the  deck.  In  this  case  I  had  to  hold  him 
m  his  place  by  main  strength.  In  spite  of  my  efibrts  he  would 
sometiroes  rise,  and  then  I  had  to  close  with  him,  trip  up  his  heeb, 
and  lay  him  again  upon  the  deck.  While  so  many  were  sick  with 
isgiog  fever,  there  was  a  loud  cry  for  water,  but  none  could  be  had 
except  on  the  upper  deck,  and  but  one  allowed  to  ascend  at  a  time. 
The  sufiering  then  from  the  rage  of  thirst  during  the  night  was  very 
great  Nor  was  it  at  all  times  safe  to  attempt  to  go  up.  Provoked 
by  the  continual  cr}'  for  leave  to  ascend,  when  there  was  already 
one  OD  deck,  the  sentry  would  push  diem  back  with  his  bayonet. 
By  one  of  these  thrusts,  which  was  more  spiteful  and  violent  than 
CODUDOD,  I  had  a  narrow  escape  of  my  life.    In  the  morning  the 


140  JBBSKY  PBBOX  SHIP. 

fattcfawajn  were  throvni  open,  and  we  were  allowed  to  ascend,  all 
at  once,  and  remain  on  the  upper  deck  daring  tbe  dar.  Bat  the 
first  object  that  met  our  view  in  die  morning  was  a  moat  appallikig 
n>ectacle.  A  boat  k>aded  with  dead  bodies,  conve\'ing  tbem  to  the 
Long  Island  sbore,  where  they  were  Terr  sUgfadj  covered  wkh 
sand.  I  sometimes  used  to  stand  to  count  the  number  of  times  tbe 
shovel  was  filled  with  sand  to  cover  a  dead  bodv ;  and  certain  I 
am,  that  a  few  high  tides  or  torrents  of  rain  must  have  disinterred 
them.  And  had  thev  not  been  removed,  I  should  suppose  the 
shore,  even  now,  would  be  covered  with  hu^  piles  of  the  bones  of 
American  seamen.  There  were,  probably,  four  hundred  on  board 
who  had  never  had  the  small-pox — some,  perhaps,  might  have  been 
saved  bv  inoculation. 

**  But  humanity  was  wanting  to  try  even  this  experiment.  Let 
our  disease  be  what  it  would,  we  were  abandoned  to  our  iaie. 
Xow  and  then  an  American  physician  was  brought  in  as  a  captive, 
hot  if  he  could  obtain  bis  parole  he  left  the  ship,  nor  could  wo 
much  blame  him  for  this ;  for  his  own  death  was  next  to  certain, 
and  his  success  in  savin?  others  bv  medicine,  in  our  situation,  was 
smalL  I  remember  only  two  American  physicians  who  tarried  oq 
board  a  few  days.  No  English  physician,  or  any  one  from  the 
citv,  ever,  to  mv  knowledge,  came  near  us.  There  were  thirteen 
of  the  crew  to  which  I  belonged,  but  in  a  short  time  all  but  three  or 
four  were  dead.  The  most  healthy  and  visorous  were  first  seized 
with  the  fever,  and  died  in  a  few  hours.  For  them  there  seemed 
to  be  no  mercy.  My  constitution  was  less  muscular  and  plethoritk, 
and  I  escaped  the  fever  longer  than  any  of  the  thirteen  except  one, 
and  the  first  onset  was  less  violent. 

'*  There  b  one  palliating  circumstance  as  to  die  inhumanity  of 
the  British,  which  ought  to  be  mentioned.  The  prisoners  were 
furnished  with  buckets  and  brushes  to  cleanse  the  ship,  and  with 
vinegar  to  sprinkle  her  inside.  But  their  indolence  and  despair 
were  such  that  thev  would  not  use  them,  or  but  rarelv.  And,  in- 
deed,  at  this  dme,  the  encouragement  to  do  it  was  small — for  the 
wbcJe  ship,  from  her  keel  to  the  ta&ail,  was  equaUy  infected,  and 
contained  pestilence  sufficient  to  desolate  a  world.  Disease  and 
death  were  wrought  mto  her  very  umbers.  At  the  time  I  left,  it  is 
to  be  presomed,  a  more  filthy,  contagious,  and  deadly  abode  for 
knman  beings,  never  existed  amon^r  a  christianixed  people.  It  fefl 
but  bde  shoit  of  die  Black  Hole  at  Cakutta.  Death  was  more 
fingcfiagt  but  almost  equally  certain. 

**  If  there  was  any  principle  among  the  prisoners  that  could  not 
be  shaken,  it  was  the  love  of  their  country.  I  knew  no  one  to  be 
aednced  into  the  BrUsh  service.  They  attempted  to  force  one  of 
nor jme  brig's  crew  into  the  navy,  hot  he  chose  rather  to'tlie  than 
psffapn  waj  duty,  and  he  was  again  restored  lo  the  prison  ship.** 


JERSEY  PRISON  SHIP.  141 

I 

In  addition  to  the  testimony  of  Mr.  Andros,  I  have  that  of  an 
aged  gf^ndeman  still  residing  with  iijs,  who  confmns  the  statement 
made  in  the  book.  He  says,  he  w  as  an  ofHcer  on  board  of  the 
United  States  frigate  Confederacy,  and  was  captured  by  two  Eng- 
lish frigates.  Being  at  the  time  of  capture  sick,  he  was  put  on  ' 
board  one  of  the  hulks  in  the  Wallabout,  that  served  as  a  hospital 
ship  for  convalescents,  but  was  as  soon  as  somewhat  restored,  trans- 
ferred to  the  "  Old  Jersey,"  to  make  room  for  others  more  help- 
less. Here  he  experienced  all  the  sufferings,  and  witnessed  tl\e 
honours  described  by  Andros,  for  five  months.  The  confinement 
in  so  crowded  a  place,  the  pestilential  air,  tlie  putrid  and  damaged 
food  given  to  the  prisoners,  (procured  by  the  commissaries  for  little 
or  nothing,  and  charged  to  the  English  government  at  the  prices  of 
the  best  provisions,)  soon  produced  a  fever,  under  which  this  young 
man  suffered  without  medicine  or  attendance,  until  nature,  too 
strong  for  even  such  enemies,  restored  him  to  a  species  of  health, 
again  to  be  prostrated  by  the  same  causes.  He  says,  he  never  saw 
given  to  the  prisoners  one  ounce  of  wholesome  food.  The  loath- 
some beef  they  prepared  by  pressing,  and  then  threw  it,  with  da- 
maged bread,  into  the  kettle,  skimming  off  the  previous  tenants  of 
this  poisonous  food  as  they  rose  to  the  top  of  the  vessel. 

Aiid  these  commissaries  became  rich,  and  revelled  in  luxuries, 
hearing  the  groans  of  their  victims  daily,  and  seeing  the  bodies  of 
those  who  were  relieved  from  torture  by  death,  carried  by  boat 
loads  to  be  half  buried  in  the  sands  of  the  Wallabout.  The  testi- 
mony proving  these  atrocities,  cannot  be  doubted.  Yet,  in  answer 
to  the  remonstrances  of  General  Washington,  Admiral  Arbuthnot 
denied  the  charge  altogether. 

To  save  his  life,  the  officer  referred  to  consented  to  become  deputy 
to  the  purser,  and  was  then  removed  from  the  darkness,  filth,  stench, 
and  horrible  sounds,  which  assailed  him  in  the  dungeons  of  this  float- 
ing hell.  In  the  office  of  deputy-purser  he  fared  well,  and  recovered 
health.  He  witnessed  a  mode  of  cheating  practised  by  the  clerks 
and  underlings,  less  criminal  than  tliat  of  the  commissaries  of  priso- 
ners. Such  of  the  capdves  as  had  money  were  liberated  by  bar- 
gain with  these  officials,  and  returned  on  the  report  as  dead ;  and 
the  deaths  were  so  many,  that  this  passed  without  inquiry. 

Many  of  the  prisoners  had  saved  their  money  by  sewing  it  in 
pieces  of  canvass,  and  fastening  them  in  the  inner  parts  of  their 
trowsers.  A  boat  would  be  brought  to  the  ship  at  night,  and  by  a 
system  of  collusion,  the  person  who  had  bought  his  liberty  would 
be  removed  on  some  specious  pretence.  Faitli  was  kept  with  them 
to  encourage  others  in  the  same  process. 

The  writer  went  to  school  in  Little  Queen  street,  now  Cedar 
street,  and  my  seat  at  the  desk,  in  an  upper  room  of  a  large  store- 
boose  kind  of  building,  placed  me  in  full  view  of  the  Sugar-house, 


14S  FSmOVKBS  AMD  THBIR  TBBATMBIIT. 


corner  of  Crown,  now  Liberty  street,  and  Nasao  street.  The 
reader  may  hav^e  noticed  the  tall  pile  of  building  with  litde  port- 
bole  windows  tier  above  tier.  In  that  place,  crowds  of  Americao 
prisoners  were  incarcerated,  pined,  sickened,  and  died.  Dming 
the  suffocating  beat  of  summer,  when  my  school-room  windows 
were  all  open,  and  I  could  not  catch  a  cooling  breexe,  I  saw  oppo- 
site to  me  erenr  narrow  aperture  of  those  stone  walls  filled  with 
human  heads,  face  above  face,  seeking  a  portion  of  the  external 
air.  What  must  have  been  the  atmosphere  within  ?  Andras^s 
description  of  the  prison  ship  tells  us.  Child  as  I  was,  this  ^we- 
tacle  sunk  deep  in  my  heart.     I  can  see  the  picture  now. 

In  Rivington's  Gazette,  may  be  seen  several  controversial  lellen 
between  the  commissaries  of  prisoners,  Sprout  and  Skiiuiert 
req>ecting  the  treatment  of  prisoners. 


CtTT  or  NSW  TOEK.  143 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Ot^  of  Sine  Tori  Jhm  1776  to  1780 — Battle  o/"  MonmotitA — 
lm£am  HntUities  <ni  the  JfoAaicA>r- Afossocrs  at  Ckcrry  VaOcy. 

Thb  Walton  House  in  the  city  of  New  York,  is  now  No.  326  Pearl 
arecc  This  fiunily  mansion  was,  in  its  time,  a  thing  to  wonder  and 
cue  at.  It  was  erected  in  1754  by  William  Walton,  a  prosperous 
lla^iiah  merchant,  who  resided  in  Hano%*er  Square,  (now  part  of 
Pewl  street,)  and  this  splendid  dwelling  was  built  out  oftouiu  It  was 
keqiieatfaed  by  the  founder,  who  died  a  bachelor,  to  his  nephew 
William,  who  was  one  of  the  king^s  or  goremour^s  council  before 
the  revolution ;  and  it  still  remains  family  property.  Built  of  bricks 
impoited  (rom  Holland,  and  ornamented  by  brown  stone  nmter-tables, 
Gniels,  and  jambs,  it  stands  a  nKMiument  of  ancient  English  archi- 
iBcnue.  The  staircase  in  the  ample  hall,  the  carved  woii^  in  various 
parts  without  and  within,  (I  presume  all  imported,)  give  it  an  air  of 
irislocratick  grandeur  which  our  modern  palaces  are  deficient  in. 
During  the  war  of  the  revolution,  the  commanders  of  the  British 
irmy  and  navy  occupied  the  Kennedy  House,  now  a  part  of  No. 
1  Broadway,  the  Beekman  House  in  Hanover  Souare,  the  Ver- 
ptuk  House  in  Wall  street,  and  others ;  but  the  Walton  House 
vii  the  residence  of  its  hospitable  owner. 

la  Gainers  Gazette  of  December,  1776,  the  repetition  of  the 
wd  rebels  in  every  paragraph,  becomes  ludicrous.  Of  Wasb- 
iagiQB^s  ibrce  he  aays^  **  such  a  miserable  set  of  ras^ged  creatures 
vtR  never  scraped  together  before,  as  those  who  form  the  rebel 
my  in  Pennsylvania.^^  Rinngton  had  advertised,  **  price  one 
shilling.  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn,  a  farce  in  two  acts,  as  it  was 
peribnned  on  Long  Island,  on  Tuesday,  the  27  th  of  August,  1776, 
kr  d)e  representatives  of  the  Tyrants  of  America,  assembled  at 
naiadelpfaia.'' 

The  rebel  army  was  supposed  to  be  annihilated.  Their  great 
General  Lee,  was  safe  in  the  old  City  Hall,  in  Wall  street,  with 
■»^nfh  in  hk  apartment,  and  before  its  door.  He  was  confined 
ii  one  of  those  dungeon-like  places  which  had  been  crowded  with 
dtt  victims  of  the  negro  plot.  The  English  army  was  cantoned 
<M  the  banks  of  the  Delaware,  ready  to  cross  when  the  ice  made 
thcidge.    Geoenl  Washington  had  secured  the  boats,  and  had 


144  BATTLE  OF   MONMOUTH. 

feeble  detaciiments,  under  the  coinmaDd  of  Lord  Stirling,  stationed 
at  the  p2tsses  down  the  river,  towards  Philadelphia.  The  trooptf 
now  fortunately  commanded  by  Sullivan  instead  of  Lee,  joined 
the  commander-in-chief;  but  most  of  them  were  unfit  for  adioo* 
Those  under  Gates,  likewise  arrived ;  but  their  term  of  Bernee 
had  expired,  (owing  to  the  short  enlistments,  so  (atally  adopted  by 
their  ereneral,)  and  only  by  the  great  exertions  of  Washington, 
were  a  part  of  them  persuaded  to  re-enlist  for  six  weeks.  Gates 
pleaded  sickness,  and  left  head-cjuarters  to  recruit  for  himself  in 
Philadelphia.  With  this  shadow  of  an  array,  the  commander-in' 
chief  meditated  the  blow  that  was  to  save  Philadelphia,  and  per- 
haps the  continent.  He  had,  however,  with  him,  *'  good  men  and 
true,"  Greene,  Knox,  Sullivan,  Stirling,  Cadwalader,  and  odier 
native  Americans,  to  whom  we  must  add  the  good  old  Scotch  pby^ 
sician.  General  Mercer. 

Sir  William  Howe  affected  to  treat  Lee  as  a  deserter,  and  threat- 
ened to  try  him  as  such  ;  but  Washington,  having  in  his  power  the 
field-officers  taken  at  Trenton,  and  others,  let  Howe  ondersland 
that  as  Lee  was  treated  t/tey  must  be  treated,  and  offered  to  ex- 
change a  certain  number  of  them  for  him.  In  the  meantinie,  as 
the  garrison  of  New  York  had  been  weakened  by  the  troops  thrown 
into  New  Jersey,  Washington  ordered  General  Heath,  with  socfa 
militia  as  could  be  commanded,  to  make  a  mqveroent  on  to  the 
British  line  at  Kingsbridge.  Heath  invested  Fort  Independenoef 
summon ned  the  garrison  to  surrender,  and  then,  (perhaps  reij 
prudendy,  considering  the  kind  of  force  he  had,)  as  diejr  refused, 

marched  awav  a^in. 
177b  On  the  2Sih  of  June,  177S,  occurred  the  raemoiable 
battle  of  Monmouth,  which,  althou0:h  occtirrins  in  New 
Jersey,  is  too  intimately  connected  with  the  history  of  New  York, 
to  be  passed  over  in  silence.  For  the  following  account,  I  am 
indebted  to  Mr.  Stone.* 

**  No  sooner  had  Great  Britain  been  apprized  of  the  alUanoe 
between  France  and  her  revolted  colonies,  than  it  was  determined 
to  evacuate  Philadelphia,  and  concentrate  the  royal  army  at  New 
York.  Accordingly,  on  the  1  Sth  of  J  une,  the  British  troops  croosed 
the  Delaware  into  New  Jersev,  and  commenced  their  march  far 
New  York,  ascending  the  east  bank  of  the  river  to  AUentown,  and 
thence  taking  the  lower  road  leading  through  Monmouth  to  Sandy 
Hook.  General  Washington,  anticipating  this  moTement,  bad 
preriously  deuched  a  division  of  the  army  under  General  Maxwell, 
to  impede  the  enemy's  march.  It  was  known  that  Genend  Gales 
was  approaching  with  the  army  from  the  north,  and  the  enemy's 


*  Life  of  Bfut,  Vol.  I.  pp.  343  to  346. 


BATTLE  OP  MONMOUTH.  146 

motioiui  were  no  sooner  ascertained,  than  General  Wayne  was 
despatched,  with  one  thousand  chosen  men,  to  strengthen  die  lines. 
The  Marquis  de  Lafayette  was  directed  to  take  command  of  the 
whole  force  thus  sent  in  advance,  while  Washington  himself  moved 
rapidly  forward  with  the  main  army.     It  was  his  design  to  bring  on 
a^  general,  and,  if  possible,  decisive  engagement     The  result  of 
his  movements  for  that  object  was  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  fought 
on  the  28tIvof  June.     The  dispositions  for  this  engagement  were 
admirably  arranged  on  the  night  of  the  27th,  the  position  of  the 
enemy  being  such  as  to  afford  the  best  advantages  for  an  attack 
upon  his  rear  the  moment  he  should  get  in  motion.     Such  being 
die  intentions  of  the  commander-in-chief,  they  were  communicated 
to  General  Lee,  who  was  ordered  to  make  his  dispositions  accord- 
ingly, and  to  keep  his  troops  lying  upon  their  arms  to  be  in  readi- 
ness at  the  shortest  notice.     At  five  in  the  morning  of  the  2Sth,  the 
fiont  of  the  enemy  was  observed  to  be  in  motion,  and  orders  were 
instandy  despatched  to  General  Lee  to  move  on  and  attack,  '*  un- 
less there  should  be  very  powerful  reasons  to  the  contrary."     Lee 
was  also  advised  that  Washington  was  himself  advancing  to  sup- 
port him.     After  marching  about  five  miles,   '  to  die  great  surprise 
and  mortification'  of  the  commander-in-chief,  he  met  the  whole 
advanced  corps  retreating,  by  the  orders  of  Lee,   *  without  having 
made  any  opposition,  except  one  fire  given  by  a  party  under  Colo- 
nel Butler,  on  their  being  charged  by  the  enemy's  cavalry,  who 
were  repulsed.'*     Lee  was  sharply  rebuked,  and  placed  in  arrest. 
Hurrying  to  the  rear  of  the  retreating  corps,  which  the  commander- 
in-chief  found  closely  pressed  by  the  enemy,  he  arrested  their  flight, 
re-formed  them,  and  with  the  aid  of  some  well  served  pieces  of 
artillery,  at  once  checked  the  enemy's  advance,  and  gained  time 
for  making  such  dispositions  as  the  emergency  of  the  case  required. 
The  battle  soon  became  general,  and  was  obstinately  contested  at 
various  points  through  the  whole  day,  until  dark — Sir  Henry  Clin- 
ton and  General  Washington  heading  their  respective  armies  in 
person.     By  the  misconduct  of  Lee,  however,  and  an  errour  of 
General  Scott  in  the  morning,  advantages  had  been  lost  which 
entirely  disconcerted  the  views  of  the  commander-in-chief,  and 
deprived  the  American  arms  of  a  victory  which  was  all  but  certain. 
Still,  the  fortunes  of  the  day  were  so  far  recovered,  that,  irom  being 
the  pursued,  *  the  Americans  drove  the  enemy  back  over  the  ground 
they  had  followed,  and  recovered  the  field  of  battie,  and  possessed 
themselves  of  their  dead ;  but,  as  they  retreated  behind  a  morass 
very  difficult  to  pass,  and  had  both  flanks  secured  with  thick  woods, 


*  Letter  of  Wuhington  to  the  Prendent  of  CoagreM,  July  1, 1778L 
TOI*.  II.  19 


146  BATTX.B  OP  MONMOUTa* 

f 

il  was  found  impracticable  for  the  Americans,  (ainting  with  fiitignet 
beat,  and  want  of  water,  to  do  any  tbing  more  that  night.'* 

^^  Both  armies  encamped  in  tbe  field,  and  lay  upon  their  arms ; 
Washington  himself  sleeping  in  his  cloak  under  a  tree  in  the  midst 
of  his  soldiers.  His  intention  was  to  renew  and  end  the  battle  oo 
the  following  morning,  not  doubting  as  to  the  issue.  Indeed,  the 
result  of  that  day's  fight  was  justly  considered  a  victory  by  tho 
American  officers,  and  but  for  the  conduct  of  Lee  in  the  morning, 
it  would  almost  beyond  question  have  been  decisive.t  But  tbe 
purpose  of  the  commander-in-chief  to  renew  the  engagement  was 
firustrated  by  a  silent  midnight  retreat  of  the  eneipy — so  silent,  in- 
deed, that  his  departure  was  not  known  until  the  morning.  A 
variety  of  circumstances  concurred  to  render  a  pursuit  by  tbe  Ame- 
ricans unadvisable ;  among  the  principal  of  which  were,  the  extreme 
heat  of  the  weather,  the  fatigue  of  the  army,  irom  its  march  through 
a  deep  sandy  country,  almost  entirely  .destitute  of  water,  and  the 
distance  the  enemy  had  gained  by  his  midnight  march.  A  ponniil, 
it  was  believed,  would  answer  no  valuable  purpose,  and  woold  cer- 
tainly be  fatal  to  numbers  of  the  men,  several  of  whom  had  perished 
of  heat  on  the  preceding  day.  The  American  commander  there- 
upon drew  off  his  army  to  the  Hudson,  crossed  over,  and  once 
more  established  his  head-quarters  at  White  Plains.  Meantime, 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  proceeded  to  Sandy  Hook,  and  thence  paaeed 
his  troops  over  to  New  York.  The  loss  of  the  Americana  in  this 
battle  was  eight  officers  and  sixty-one  privates  killed,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  wounded.  That  of  the  enemy  was  diree  himdied 
and  sixty-eight  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  and  about  one 
hundred  taken  prisoners.  One  thousand  of  their  men  deserted  oe 
their  march.  Both  parties  claimed  the  victory,  which  was  in  fad 
won  by  neither.  The  advantages,  in  the  earlier  part  of  tbe'day, 
were  in  fiivoiu-  of  the  British ;  in  the  after  part,  of  the  Americans. 
The  stealthy  retreat  of  the  former,  moreover,  covered  by  the  dark- 
ness, left  no  doubt  as  to  which  army  was  best  prepared  to  renew  the 
conffict  with  the  return  of  daylight" 

The  Indian  hostilities  on  the  Mohawk  are  among  the  important 
transactions  of  this  year,  for  the  particulars  of  which,  I  am  again 
indebted  to  Mr.  Stone,t  whose  language  I  have,  as  on  other 
sions,  borrowed,  with  little  or  no  variation. 


*  Letter  of  Waahingtoa  'to  his  broUier,  John  Aogiutiiie  WailiiBgio%  Jb|v4A^ 
1778 

t  Ib  m  letter  to  Genera]  Gansevoort  from  Colonel  WiUett,  who  wae  ob  a  vnitt* 
head-qomiters  at  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Moomoath,  the  colonel  nja:  "I 
had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  American  armj,  nnder  the  neat  General  Wi   ' 
ton,  triumph  over  the  haughty  British,  in  the  battle  of  Monmouth.    Tba 
was  jrandC  uid  ended  glonousljr." — ^Manuscript  letter  of  Col.  WiOvtt. 

\  Stono'a  Life  of  Brant,  Vol.  I.  pp.  3G2  to  266. 


ncDiAX  HosTiunE$«  147 

**  The  pctthioD  of  Fort  Schiirler  ira«  of  the  bivt  imponatnce^  aft 

ber  Ki  tbe  w«*an  enimico  of  the  Mohawk  counirr :  bill  il  wi» 

too  nnnoie  from  the  upper  Geraian  setdeinents  of  ibe 

7«  ID  adbfd  them  protrctioQ  frtnii  sinMen  imipiio!i5  of  the  ene- 

STOidhi^  dnt  fartness  in  their  ap^woich.     The  consequeiire 

that  di^  viMk  of  desotiedon  wi5  aciirely  pmstK'uted  unoiur  the 

lelifiii'd  m,  during  the  summer  of  ihi?  y«ur.     The  tint 

Unr  «nft$  smitk  upon  »  small!  and  nihor  secluded  hunlei«  called 

Aimed  aboai  six  mik>s  south-eAst  of  the  Gennan 

oa  the  ISlh  of  Juhr*  bv  a  smsll  oamr  of  Indians^  led  br 

Bi  pei^on*     This  settlement  consistt\l  of  s^ren  tamihes. 

apCMi  a  lot  of  one  thousand  an>e$«     Ther  weie  in  affloeftt 

t»  fer  boideierss.  aiKl  the  object  of  the  invasion  was 

The  scisleroent  was  utvriv  desiiored— -ererv  thinir  of 

that  could  be  lemo^vvl*  mis  carried  ainv — the  booses  and 

fcaildings  was  neduced  to  ashes — an  apf^l  roan  named  Bell, 

hi»  9oa  and  two  others  was  killed-^ne  other  inhabiiaat 

IB  the  Aames  of  his  own  knise — and  the  reniainder  of  the 

cokNir  were  earned  into  captivity.     Advices  of  this  caiaslio* 

DO  sooner  leacbed  the  FlaTts,  than  a  party  oi'  resolute 

C9  dcKi  mined  to  pursue  the  marauders^  an^on^:  whom 

Frank,  one  of  the  committee  of  salctv.    Arriving:  at  the  «< 

ther  hastihr  burie^i  the  deatK  and  continued  dicir 

accompanied  br  six  or  seven  frietnilv  Indians^  to  the  LMa 

.  Js«o*  was  a  small  white  colonv  kxK>wn  as  ••  Yottn*** 

**  from  the  name  of  its  bunder.    Heie  it  was  discovered 

file  enemy  was  50  far  in  advance  that  the  chase  was  relia- 

But  as  Yoonr.  the  head  roan  of  the  senlement.  wns  a 

X,  as  also  was  his  next  ncUhbour.  a  r.^12  name^i  Ci>IK-er^  tjha 

Whii:?  aveniied*  to  a  small  cxtcnu  the  «V$tnKtion  of 

by  plunderinr  and  bwriiT^  their  habiratioifes. 

■*  B«t  the  most  considerable  evert  of  the  season  in  that  ricinitr, 

B  file  entire  de$tnicti<Ki  i^  the  coropanuvcK-  extensive  and  popo- 

fgglemmi  of  the  German  FSs!t5,     Thi>  senJenwnt.  oriir^nallT 

Barsietsfield.  <n>m  the  cjrv«:^i>tancv  ::>st  the  ivitent  had  been 

by  Govrmour  Burnet.  cxtent1<Nl  over  the  richest  and  most 

Action  of  the  Mohawk  Valioy.  cxvnprehomimi:  the  broad 

bnds  direcdr  bevoml  the  MiiK-tion  ol"  the  West  Canada 

awl  the  river,  ami  incltidini:  abotit  ten  mi)cs  of  the  Taller 

nn  to  west.     Mi^iway  of  tiie  senle:iH^Rt.  on  the  <)0()th  side  of 

fivcr«  ret  stands  the  ancient  sto?>e  church,  the  westervmoist  of 

nfthofe  structures  buih  untkr  the  lusoioes  of  Sir  William 

A  short  distance  eas:  iM  the  ohuirh  siooil  the  laree  and 

siooe  n^asion  of  the  HeriJroer  tJimi?y»  which,  Kke 

ckmrji  ifidC  was  used  as  a  ton.     Hence  it  was  ealleil  Pott 

On  tbe  north  side  of  the  nver.  upon  a  ^reliy  pSain« 


148  INDIAN  HOSTILITIBS. 

elevated  some  ten  or  fifteen  feet  above  the  surrounding  flatts,  stood 
Fort  Dajrton. 

**  At  the  time  of  which  we  are  writing,  the  settlement  on  the 
south  side  of  die  river  numbered  thirty-four  dwelling-houses,  and 
there  were  about  an  equal  number  upon  the  north  side,  together 
with  as  many  barns  and  other  out-buildings,  and  several  mills.  The 
population,  for  the  number  of  houses,  was  numerous.  The  lands, 
rich  by  nature,  and  well  cultivated,  had  that  jrear  brought  forth  by 
bandfuls ;  so  that  the  bams  were  amply  stored  with  their  products. 

'*  It  was  at  the  close  of  August,  or  early  in  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember, that  this  fine  district  was  laid  waste  by  the  Indians  fuuter 
the  direction  of  Brant.  Most  providentially,  however,  the  invasion 
was  attended  with  the  loss  of  but  two  lives— one  man  being  killed 
outright,  and  another,  named  AFGinnis,  perished  in  the  flames. 
The  particulars  of  this  hostile  irruption  were  these : — ^Entertaining 
some  suspicions  of  Brant,  who  was  at  Unadilla,  a  scout  of  four 
men  had  been  despatched  into  that  vicinity  for  observation.  Three 
of  these  men  were  killed  at  the  Edmeston  settlement.  The  fourth, 
Jchn  Helmer,  succeeded  in  making  his  escape  to  the  flatts  at  half 
an  hour  before  sundown,  just  in  time  to  announce  that  Brant,  with 
a  large  body  of  Indians,  was  advancing,  and  would,  in  a  few  hoars, 
be  upon  them.  All  was,  of  course,  terrour  and  alarm  through  the 
settlement ;  and  the  inhabitants — ^men  women  and  children — ^were 
gathered  into  Forts  Dayton  and  Herkimer  for  security.  In  flying 
to  those  defences,  they  gatliered  up  the  most  valuable  of  their  stuff, 
and  by  means  of  boats  and  canoes  upon  the  river,  succeeded,  in 
the  course  of  the  evening,  in  collecting  a  large  portion  of  their  best 
articles  of  furniture.  But  they  had  no  time  to  look  after  their  flocks 
and  herds. 

''  Early  in  the  evening.  Brant  arrived  at  the  edge  oi  the  settle- 
ment, but  as  the  night  came  on  excessively  dark  and  rainy,  he 
halted  with  his  forces  in  a  ravine,  near  the  house  of  his  Tory  friend, 
Shoemaker,  where  the  younger  Butler  and  his  party  were  captured 
the  preceding  year.  Here  the  chieftain  lay  with  his  warriours  un- 
til the  storm  broke  away  toward  rooming — ^unconscious  that  bis 
^iproach  had  been  notified  to  the  people  by  the  scout  in  seaaon  to 
enable  them  to  escape  the  blow  of  his  uplifted  arm.  Before  the 
dawn  he  was  on  foot,  and  his  warriours  were  sweeping  thioagh  the 
settlement ;  so  that  the  torch  might  be  almost  simultaneously  ap- 
plied to  every  building  it  contained.  Just  as  the  day  was  breaking 
m  the  east,  the  fires  were  kindled,  and  the  whole  section  of  the  val- 
ley was  speedily  illuminated  by  the  flames  of  houses  and  bams, 
and  all  things  else  combustible.  The  spectacle,  to  the  poople  in 
the  forts,  was  one  of  melancholy  grandeur.  Every  family  saw  the 
flames  and  smoke  of  its  own  domicil  ascending  to  the  ikaes»  and 


IXDULX  HOSTIUTIBS.  149 

the  whole  product  of  his  labour  for  the  setsoo  dissolv- 


**  Havinc  no  fire-vms  lareer  than  their  ride»«  the  Indtans  avoided 

a  defDOQStniioii  acaiiisi  the  lbrts«  notwith^iaiHlini:  their  chacrio 

aeither  xalps  iK^r  pri^ooer^  wei^  to  ^ce  their  triumph.     But 

a»  ibe  ii^t  of  dav  ad^-aoced*  their  wnoursK  wen^  seeo  jinfiw  or 

3  asail  croups^  s«x>iiriivf:  the  deldss  and  dri\  ioc  a^-ay  all  the  hoi^es, 

sdKCfk  aiid  bbck  caale  tiiat  could  be  kniud.     Nothing  upon  which 

rr  cooU  iar  their  bands  was  left :  and  the  settiement,  which,  but 

diT  before*  for  ten  miles  had  smiled  in  plenty  and  in  beauty, 

hou5ele«$  and  destitute.     Happily,  however,  of  humao 

was  no  im^ier  saoridce  than  has  aln^ady  been  mentioned* 

the  Indtans  had  decam|XHi  with  their  booty,  a  forre  of  be- 

three  and  four  hundre^i  militianH^n  collected,  and  went  m 

owinf  as  tir  as  Kdnn^ton^s  plantation  on  the  I'nadilla 

imr«  wheie  the  bodies  of  the  three  scouts  were  fouini  and  buried* 

Bat  BO  other  results  auended  this  expedition.    A  part}*  of  the  i^Wt-> 

ei  Iwiiaiis  was  more  successful.     They  penetrated  icto  one  of  the 

rwwBlh  j«ttleuient»*  burnt  several  houses,  retook  some  of  the  catilt 

^orea  6010  the  German  Flatts*  and  broui^ht  of  a  number  of  prisi^ 


B«K  the  acquisitions  of  booty  by  the  Imlians  at  the  German 
more  than  counterbalanced,  a  tew  davs  atierward«  hx 
in  thetr  own  chief  u^wns,  Inadilia  and  OeUwaj^a, 
wete  innded.  and  in  turn  bid  waste,  by  Colonei  William 
r.  with  the  4th  Pennsvlvania  recinter.t.  a  detachment  of  CoL 
Mortaa's  ridemen*  then  recendy  sutioned  at  Schoharie*  and  a  corpa 
rangers.  Havini:  roarrhed  from  Schoharie  to  the  heaMl 
01  the  iVelaware,  and  descended  that  stream  two  day^s  march, 
Bvtier  struck  odf  thence  to  the  Susquehanna,  upon  which 
in  the  neij^hhourhood  of  UnadiCa.  He  approached  the 
vidi  cveat  caution :  but  the  enemy  had  left  the  phot 
dacTsbefoie*  Twoof  the  white  »ettlef».  Tories*  were  made 
however,  one  of  whom  was  compeljed  to  cuide  the  foiv«s 
10  Ochkwaca*  which  sennce  he  perfonued.  The  town 
poA!e»ion  of  without  interruption,  the  Indians  haTiii|r 
iad  riK  daT  before  in  the  cieatest  coiUusion — leaviiu:  behind  a 
•nandtr  of  corn,  their  docs*  some  catde.  and  a  treat  part  of 
hnniehold  giKMls.  The  march  of  Butler's  troops  had  been 
C»  ind  the  recetables  and  poultry*  which  they  found  here  in 
lb— dance*  enabled  them  to  £ire  sumptuously  during  their 
The  town  was  imcomroonlv  well  buik  for  an  Indian  jettic 
thete  beinc  a  considerable  number  of  x?ood  &rm4iotta«s  on 
liie  of  the  river.  These  were  all  de^roved.  tocether  with 
castle  three  miles  &rther  down  the  river*  as  also  largsn 

iuMKM  for  tfadr  winiar*s  supplr*    Tbajr 


150  MASSACRE  AT  CHERKY  VAULXT. 

saw  nothbg  of  the  enemy,  aiid  lost  only^one  man  at  that  phce,  who 
was  shot  by  ao  Indian  straggler,  lurking  in  ambush.  Retamins  to 
UnadiUa,  that  settlement,  upon  both  sides  of  the  riTer,  was  bonii, 
as  also  a  grist-mill  and  saw-mill — the  only  ones  in  the  Susquehanoa 
▼alley." 

We  now  come  to  the  melancholy  tragedy  of  Cherry  Valley,  m 
November  of  this  year.  In  consequence  of  the  exposed  sitnatioo  of 
that  place,  General  Lafayette  had  ordered  the  erection  of  a  for^ 
fication  there  early  the  preceding  spring.  The  command  of  the 
post  was  solicited  by  Colonel  Gansevoort,  but  it  was  given  to  Co- 
lonel Ichabod  Alden,  at  the  head  of  an  eastern  regiment,  unfefliK 
nately  but  liule  accustomed  to  Indian  wariare.  I  borrow  the  decaik 
from  Mr.  Stone.* 

**  On  the  Sth  of  November,  Colonel  Alden  received  a 
from  Fort  Schuyler  by  express,  advising  him  that  his  post 
be  attacked  by  the  Tories  and  Indians.  The  intelligence  had 
conveyed  to  Fort  Schuyler  by  an  Oneida  Indian,  reporting  that  ha 
received  it  from  one  of  the  Onondagas,  who  had  been  prneot  at  a 
great  meeting  of  the  Indians  and  Tories  at  Tioga,  at  which  the  de- 
termination  was  formed.  In  consequence  of  the  latenesB  of  the 
season,  the  inhabitants,  not  anticipating  any  further  hostilities  befcre 
spring,  had  removed  their  effects  from  the  fonification,  where,  da- 
ring the  summer,  they  had  been  deposited  for  safety,  back  to  their 
own  dwellings.  On  the  receipt  of  this  intelligence,  they  icquerted 
permission  to  remove  once  more  into  the  fort,  or  at  least  to  be 
allowed  again  to  depo«ite  their  most  valuable  property  withis  itt 
walls.  But  Colonel  Alden,  discrediting  die  intelligence  as  an  idle 
Indian  rumour,  denied  their  solicitations,  assuring  the  people  that 
he  would  use  all  diliirence  against  surprise,  and  by  means  of  vigi- 
lant scouts,  be  at  all  times  prepared  to  warn  them  of 
danger.  Accordincly*  scouts  were  despatched  in 
dons  on  the  9th.  The  party  proceeding  down  the 
as  it  were  in  the  ver}*  face  of  the  enemy,  ver}'  wisely  kindled  a  fire 

in  the  eveninfTt  bv  the  side  of  which  thev  laid  thennelvea 

^     •  *         ■__ 

sleep.     The  resuh  might  have  been  forseen.     They  weie  aD 
ners  when  thev  awoke ! 

''  Extorting  all  necessar}'  information  from  the  prisoiiere  ao  op- 
portunely taken,  the  enemy  moved  forward  on  the  10lb-«Balkr 
with  his  ransrers,  and  Thavendanesea  with  his  India 
for  the  night  on  the  top  of  a  hill,  thickly  covered  with 
about  a  mile  south-west  of  the  fort  and  village  of  Cbeny  Valky. 
The  snow  fell  several  inches  during  the  night — the  stonn  turning 
to  rain  in  the  morning,  with  a  thick  and  cloudy  atmosphere.     The 


Idft  of  Bffurt,  Vol.  I.  pp.  37S  t»  378. 


MiUBSACRB  AT  CUBRRT  VALI.Br«  161 

officers  of  the  garrison  were  accustomed  to  lodge  about  among  the 
families  near  the  fort ;  and  from  tlie  as:^urances  of  Colonel  Alden, 
the  apprehensions  of  the  people  were  so  much  allayed,  that  they 
were  reposins:  in  perfect  security.  Colonel  Alden  himself,  with 
Siacia,  his  lieutenant-colonel,  lodged  with  Mr.  Robert  Wells,  a 
gentleman  of  great  respectability,  recently  a  judge  of  the  county, 
who  was,  moreover,  an  intimate  friend  of  Colonel  John  Butler,  as 
he  had  also  been  of  Sir  William  Johnson.*  Having  ascertained 
the  localities  in  which  the  officers  lodged,  the  enemy  approached 
the  unsuspecting  village  in  the  greatest  security,  veiled  by  the  haze 
which  hung  in  the  atmosphere.  An  alarm  was,  howe\'er,  given, 
before  the  enemy  had  actually  arrived  in  the  village,  by  the  firing 
of  an  Indian  upon  a  settler  from  the  outskirts,  who  ni'as  riding 
Aaher  on  horseback.  He  was  wounded,  but  nevertheless  pushed 
fanrmrd,  and  gave  instant  information  to  die  vigilant  colonel. 
Sttsnge  as  it  may  seem,  this  officer  still  disbelieved  the  approach 
if  an  enemy  in  force — supposing  tlie  shot  to  have  proceeded  from 
a  straggler.  But  he  was  soon  convinced  of  his  errour ;  for  even 
before  the  guards  could  be  called  in,  the  Indians  were  upon  them. 
Unfortunately,  probably,  for  the  inhabitants,  the  rangers  had  halted 
JMC  before  entering  the  village  to  examine  their  arms,  the  rain 
baring  damaged  their  powder.  During  this  pause,  the  Indians 
iprmng  forward ;  and  the  Senecas,  being  at  that  period  the  most 
Cerocious  of  the  Six  Nations,  were  in  tlie  van.  The  house  of  Mr. 
Wells  was  instantly  surrounded  by  the  warriours  of  that  tribe,  and 
aereral  Tories  of  no  less  ferocit}-,  who  rushed  in  and  massacred  the 
whole  family,  consisting  at  that  time  of  himself,  his  mother,  his 
wife,  his  brother  and  sister,  John  and  Jane,  three  of  his  sons,  Sam- 
QeU  Robert,  and  William,  and  bis  daughter,  Eleanor.  The  only 
riTor  of  the  fiimily  was  John,  who  was  then  at  school  in  Sche- 
His  frther  had  taken  his  family  to  that  place  for  safety 
months  before,  but  his  fears  having  subsided,  they  had  just 
reaored  bock  to  their  home.  Colonel  Alden,  having  escaped  from 
the  house,  wis  pursued  some  distance  down  a  hill  by  an  Indian, 
who  repeatedly  demanded  of  him  to  surrender.  This,  however, 
be  refbaed  to  do,  turning  upon  his  pursuer  repeatedly,  and  snapping 
faii  piatol,  bot  without  effect.  The  Indian  ultimately  hurled  hu 
Maehawk  with  unerring  direction  at  his  head,  and  rushing  forward, 
lore  his  scalp  firom  him  in  the  same  instant.  Thus,  in  the  very  out- 
sit of  the  battle,  fell  the  commander,  who,  had  he  been  as  prudent 
at  he  was  brave,  might  have  averted  the  tragick  scenes  of  that  hap- 
less day.     Lieutenant-colonel  Stacia  u*as  made  prisoner ;  and  the 


*  Robert  Welb  was  tiie  father  of  the  Ute  dUtinfuithed  cooiif eDor.  John  WoOs, 
•C3I»  Yodu 


162 

Amcficjn  guards,  stationed  at  the  boiBe  of  Bfr.  Wdit 
either  killed  or  taken. 

««  The  destmctioD  of  the  fiunihr  of  Mr.  WeDs 
circamstances  of  peculiar  barbarity.     It  was  boasted  b]r  one  of  ihe 
Tories,  that  he  had  killed  )Ir.  Wells  while  engaged  in 
oertainlj  a  happy  moment  lor  a  sool  to  wing  its  fight  to 
slate  of  existence  ;  hot  what  the  degree  of  hardihood 
boast  of  compassing  the  death  of  an  tmarnied  man  at 
ment !     His  aster,  Jane,  was  distingmdied  afike  far 
her  accompBshments,  and  her  Tirtoes..    As  the 
die  house,  she  fled  to  a  pile  of  wood  oa  the 
Toured  to  conceal  herseUl     She  was  pmsued  and 
liMiigfi.y  who,  with  perfect  composore,  wiped  and  sheathed 
ping  knife,  and  took  ins  tomahawk  from  ins  girdle.    At  thii 
a  Tory,  who  had  former^  been  a  domestick  in  Ae  fennty, 
forward  and  interfered  in  her  behalf — ctainrii^  her 
maiden,  too,  who  understood  somewhat  of  the  LmGu 
impiored  for  mercy.     Bat  in  rain.     With  one  hand  the 
poshed  the  Tory  from  him,  and  with  the  other  pbmed  his 
deep  into  her  temple! 

**  The  fort  was  repeatedly  assanhed  during  the  dqr,  and  i 
with  spirit ;  hot  In^ans  are  not  the  right  description  of  UuufM  for 
soch  senice,  and  being  receired  by  a  brisk  fire  of  grape 
ketry  from  the  garriscm,  they  aToided  Ae  fort,  and 
attention  chiefly  to  plncdering  and  laying  waste  the  ▼ilhgr, 
saied  themselTes  in  the  onset  with  blood.     In  tins  work  of 
don  they  were  unmolested,  snce,  numbering  more  than 
many  as  the  garrison,  a  sortie  was  fek  to  he  unwarrantable. 

^  Among  the  femilies  which  soffisred  from  the 
the  Indians  and  Tories — for  the  latter,  as  at  W] 
not  to  be  ootdooe  by  their  uncifitiaed  allies — were 
Rer.  Samael  Donlop,  and  a  Mr.  MncbeD.  Misk  Dnniop  was 
kiDed  ootrigfat,  and  thus  shared  the  fete  of  Xrs.  Wdst  who  was 
her  daughter.  >Ir.  Donlop  and  another  daughter  wowU 
hare  been  murdered  but  for  the  interpomion  of  Litde 
chief  of  the  Orlikwa£:a  branch  of  the  Mohawks^  who  led  the  old 
gentleman,  tottering  beneath  the  weight  of  yeara,  to  the 
stood  beside  hini  for  bis  protection.  The  Indiana 
plunder  him  of  some  of  bis  attire,  but  the 
to  relinquish  that  portion  of  their  spoiL  The 
God,  shocked  by  :he  ereots  of  that  day  beyond  the 
nerres,  died  within  a  year  afterward. 

^*  The  case  of  Mr.  Mitchell  was  still  more  p*™^^ 
the  field  at  work  when  he  beheld  the  Indians 
being  already  cut  off  from  his  house,  his  only  eoune 
himaelf  to  die  woods.    On  rctnraittg  lo 


1 

\ 


MASSACRS  AT  CHERRY  TALLBT.  163 

had  retired,  he  found  his  house  on  fire,  and  within  its  plundered 
walls  the  murdered  bodies  of  his  wife  and  three  of  his  children. 
The  fourth,  a  little  girl  often  or  twelve  years  of  age,  had  been  left 
for  dead.     But  signs  of  life  appearing,  the  parent,  having  extin- 
guished the  fire,  which  had  not  yet  made  much  progress,  brought 
bis  linle  mangled  daughter  forth  to  the  door,  and  while  bending 
OTer  her,  discovered  a  straggling  party  of  the  enemy  approaching. 
He  bad  but  just  time  to  conceal  himself,  before  a  Tory  sergeant, 
oam^d  Newberry,  rushed  forward,  and  by  a  blow  of  his  hatchet 
exunguished  what  little  growing  hope  of  life  had  been  left,  by  a 
darker  though  less  savage  enemy  than  himself.     It  is  some  conso- 
UtioD,  while  recording  thb  deed  of  blood,  to  be  able  to  anticipate 
the  course  of  events,  so  far  as  to  announce  that  this  brutal  fellow 
paid  the  forfeit  of  his  life  on  the  gallows,  by  order  of  General  James 
Clinton,  at  Canajoharie,  in  the  summer  of  the  following  year.     On 
the  next  day,  Mr.  Mitchell  removed  his  dead  to  the  fort  with  his 
own  arras,  and  the  soldiers  assisted  in  iheir  interment.     Several 
other  families  were  cut  off — the  whole  number  of  the  inhabitants 
slain  being  thirty-two,  mostly  women  and  children.     In  addition  to 
these,  sixteen  soldiers  were  killed.     Some  of  the  inhabitants  es- 
caped, but  the  greater  proportion  were  taken  prisoners.     Among 
the  former  were  Mrs.  Clyde,  the  wife  of  Colonel  Clyde,  who  was 
absent,  and  her  family.    She  succeeded  in  reaching  the  woods  with 
her  children,  excepting  her  eldest  daughter,  whom  she  could  not 
find  at  the  moment ;   and  although  the  savages  were  frequently 
prowling  around   her,  she  yet  lay  secure  in  her  concealment  until 
the  next  day.     The  eldest  daughter,  likewise,  had  made  a  success- 
ful flight,  and  returned  in  safety.     Colonel  Campbell  was  also 
absent ;  but  hastening  home  on  hearing  the  alarm,  he  arrived  only 
io  time  to  behold  the  destruction  of  his  property  by  the  conflagra- 
tioo  of  the  village,  and  to  ascertain  that  his  wife  and  children  had 
been  carried  into  captivity.     The  torch  was  applied  indiscrimi- 
natehr  to  every  dwelling-house,  and,  in  fact,  to  ever>'  building  in 
the  village.     The  barns,  being  filled  with  the  combustible  products 
of  husbandry,  served  to  render  the  conflagration   more  fierce  and 
terrifick ;  especially  to  the  fugitive  inhabitants  who  had  escaped  to 
the  woods  for  shelter,  and  whose  sufferings  were  aggravated  by  the 
coosi  iousness  that  their  retreating  footsteps  were  lighted  by  the 
fiunes  of  their  own  households. 

"  The  prisoners  taken  numbered  between  thirty  and  forty.  They 
were  marched,  on  the  evening  of  die  massacre,  down  the  valely 
about  two  miles  south  of  the  fort,  where  the  enemy  encamped  for 
the  night.  Large  fires  were  kindled  round  about  the  camp,  into 
the  centre  of  which  the  prisoners,  of  all  ages  and  sexes,  were  pro- 
miscuously huddled,  and  there  compelled  to  pass  the  hours  till 
iaonuiig>— many  of  them  half  naked,  shivering  fix>ro  the  inclemency 

VOL.  n.  2^ 


154  MASSACRE  AT  CHEKRY  TXLLET. 

of  the  weather,  with  no  shelter  but  tiie  frownio?  heavens,  and  do 
bed  but  the  cold  irround.  li  was  a  dbmal  n»i:ht  for  the  hapless 
crouj) — rendered,  if  i)os<ihle,  s-ill  more  painful  by  the  savasre  yells 
of  exultation,  the  wild,  half-franiick  rcvelrv,  and  other  inanifestations 
of  joy  on  the  part  of  the  victors,  at  the  success  of  their  bloody  en- 
tcrprize.  In  tlie  course  of  the  night,  a  division  of  the  spoil  was 
made  anions:  the  Indians,  and  on  the  following  moniinc:  the  march 
was  resumed  ;  althoucrh  parties  of  the  Indians  returned  to  prowl 
amonc^  the  ruins  of  the  viliaire  or  hang  upon  its  outskirts,  during  the 
greater  part  of  the  day,  and  until  reinforcements  of  militia  from  the 
Mohawk  \'alley  began  to  arrive,  when  they  dispersed. 

**  The  retiring  enemy  had  not  proceeded  far  on  their  way,  before 
the  prisoners,  with  few  exceptions,  experienced  a  chani^e  in  their 
circumstances,  as  happy  as  it  was  unexpected.  They  liad  been 
separated,  for  the  convenience  of  travelling,  into  small  groups,  in 
charge  of  different  parties  of  the  enemy.  On  coming  to  a  hah, 
they  were  collected  tosrether,  and  informed  diat  it  had  been  deter- 
mined to  release  all  the  women  and  children,  excepting  Mrs.  Camp- 
bell and  her  four  children,  and  Mrs.  Moore  and  her  children. 
These  it  was  resolved  to  detain  in  captivity  as  a  punishment  to  their 
husbands,  for  the  activity  diey  had  displayed  in  the  border  wan. 
With  these  exceptions,  the  women  and  their  little  ones  were  inune- 
diatelv  sent  back. 

**  Having  thus,  in  a  great  measure,  disencumbered  themselves  of 
their  prisoners,  the  enemy  proceeded  on  their  journey  by  their  osnal 
route  at  that  period,  down  the  Susquehanna  to  its  confluence  with 
the  Tioga,  thence  up  that  river  into  the  Seneca  country, and  thence 
to  Niiirara.  Mrs.  Cannon,  an  aced  ladv,  and  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
i.'anipbell,  was  likewise  held  in  captivity;  but  being  un6tted  for 
travelling  by  reason  of  her  years,  the  Indian  having  both  in  charge 
despatched  the  mother  with  his  hatchet,  by  the  side  of  the  daughter, 
on  the  second  day  of  their  march.  Mrs.  Campbell  was  diiveo 
alon:r  bv  the  unlifted  hatchet,  bavins:  a  child  in  her  arms  ei^teeo 
months  old,  with  barbarous  rapidity,  until  the  next  day,  when  the 
was  favoured  with  a  more  humane  master.  In  the  course  of  the 
march  a  straggling  parly  of  the  Indians  massacred  an  Entdisih 
fiQiily  named  Buxton,  residing  on  the  Butternut  Creek,  and  reduced 
their  buildinirs  to  ashes. 

'*  Thus  terminated  the  expedition  of  Walter  N.  Butler  and  Jo- 
sepli  Brant  to  Cherry  ^'alley.  Nothing  could  exhibit  an  aspect  of 
more  entire  desolation  than  did  the  site  of  that  village  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  when  the  militia  from  the  Mohawk  arrived,  too  late  to 
afford  assistance.  *  The  cocks  crowed  from  the  tops  of  the  forest 
trees,  and  the  dogs  howled  through  the  fields  and  woods.'  The 
inhabitants  who  escaped  the  massacre,  and  tliose  who  returned  from 
captivity,  abandoned  the  setdement,  until  the  retoni  of  peace  sboold 


•     MASSACRE  AT  CHERRY  VALLJLY.  155 

enable  them  to  plant  themselves  down  once  more  in  safety  ;  and  in 
the  succeeding  Summer  the  garrison  was  withdrawn  and  the  post 
abandoned. 

**  Next  to  the  destruction  of  Wyoming,  that  of  Cherry  Valley 
stands  out  in  history  as  having  been  the  most  conspicuous  for  its 
atrocity.  And  as  in  the  case  of  Wyoming,  both  in  history  and 
popular  tradition,  Joseph  Brant  has  been  held  up  as  the  foul  fiend 
of  the  barbarians,  and  of  all  others  deserving  the  deepest  execra- 
tion. Even  the  learned  and  estimable  counsellor,  who  so  long 
reported  tlie  adjudicated  law  of  the  State  of  New  York,  in  the  tri- 
bute to  the  memory  of  the  late  John  Wells,  with  which  he  closed 
the  last  volume  of  his  juridical  labours,  has  fallen  into  the  same 
popular  errour ;  and  applies  the  second  stanza  in  the  striking  pas- 
sage of  *  Gertrude  of  Wyoming,'  which  called  forth  the  younger 
Brant  in  vindication  of  his  father's  memory,  to  the  case  of  his  de- 
parted and  eminent  friend.  It  was  indeed  most  true  as  applied  to 
the  melancholy  case  of  Mr.  Wells,  of  whose  kindred  *  nor  man, 
-nor  child,  nor  thing  of  living  birth,'  had  been  left  by  the  Indians. 
But  it  may  be  fearlessly  asserted  that  it  was  not  true  as  coupled 
with  the  name  of  Joseph  Brant.  It  has  already  been  seen  that 
Brant  was  not  the  commander  of  this  expedition  ;  and  if  he  had 
been,  it  is  not  certain  that  he  could  have  compelled  a  different  re- 
sult. But  it  is  certain  that  his  conduct  on  tliat  fatal  day  was  neither 
barbarous  nor  ungenerous.  On  the  contrary,  he  did  all  in  his 
power  to  prevent  the  shedding  of  innocent  blood  ;  and  had  it  not 
been  for  a  circumstance  beyond  his  control,  it  is  more  than  proba- 
ble that  the  distinguished  counsellor  referred  to,  would  not  have 
been  left  *  alone  of  all  his  race.'  Captain  Brant  asserted,  and  there 
is  no  reason  to  question  his  verachy,  that  on  the  morning  of  the 
attack,  he  had  left  the  main  body  of  the  Indians,  and  endeavoured 
to  anticipate  their  arrival  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Wells,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  affording  protection  to  the  family.  On  his  way  it  was  ne- 
cessary to  cross  a  ploughed  field,  the  yielding  of  the  earth  in  which, 
beneath  his  fread,  so  retarded  his  progress,  that  he  arrived  too  late. 

"Put  this  is  not  all.  On  entering  one  of  the  dwellings,  he  found 
a  woman  employed  in  household  matters.  *  Are  you  thus  en- 
gaged,' inquired  the  chief,  *  while  all  your  neighbours  are  mur- 
dered around  you?'  The  woman  replied  that  they  were  in  favour 
of  the  king.  *  That  plea  will  not  avail  you  to-day,'  replied  the 
warriour.  '  They  have  murdered  Mr.  Wells's  family,  who  were 
as  dear  to  me  as  my  own.'  *  But,'  continued  the  woman,  *  there 
is  one  Joseph  Brant :  if  he  is  with  the  Indians,  he  will  save  us.' 
*I  am  Joseph  Brant !'  was  the  quick  response:  *  but  I  have  not 
the  command,  and  I  know  not  that  I  can  save  you  ;  but  I  will  do 
what  is  in  my  power.'  At  the  moment  of  uttering  these  words,  he 
observed  the  Senecas  approaching.     '  Get  into  bed  quick,'  he 


166  UAMBACMM  AT  CBXBmT  TMLMMT. 

commanded  her,  ^and  feii^  yourself  sick.'  The  woinan  obejedt 
and  when  the  Indians  came  ap,  he  put  them  off  with  that  pretext. 
Instantly  as  they  departed,  he  rallied  a  few  of  the  Mohawks  by  a 
shrill  signal,  and  directed  them  to  paint  his  mark  apoo  the  woman 
and  her  children.  '  Yoo  are  now  probably  safe,'  he  remarked — 
and  departed. 

*'  Another  instance,  from  the  same  authority,  will  serre  fertber 
to  illustrate  the  conduct  and  bearing  of  this  distinguished  lodian 
leader  on  that  occasion.  After  the  batde  was  over,  be  inquired  of 
one  of  the  captives  for  Captain  M*Kean,  who  had  retired  to  the 
Mohawk  Valley  with  his  family.  *  He  sent  me  a  challenge  once,' 
said  the  chief;  *  I  have  now  come  to  accept  iu  He  is  a  fine  hA- 
dier  thus  to  retreat!'  It  was  said  in  reply:  *  Captain  M'Kean 
would  not  turn  his  back  upon  an  enemy  where  there  was  a  proba- 
bility of  success.'  *I  know  it,'  rejoined  Brant:  '  he  is  a  brave 
man,  and  I  would  have  given  more  to  take  him  than  any  other  mao 
10  Cherry  Valley :  but  1  would  not  have  hurt  a  hair  of  his  head.'  ^ 


stjujvan's  expbditiox.  167 


CHAPTER  Xn. 

SuHivan^s  Expedition — Van  Sc/iaicPs  Expedition  against  the 
Onofidngas — Capture  and  Recapture  of  Stony  Point — Exploit 
ofMojor  Lee — Other  militarij  (qir rations — Hot  summer — Second 
greoi  fire  in  New  York — Exp/osinn  in  the  Harbour — Severe 
JVifUer — Unsuccessful  attempt  on  Statcn  Island. 

1779  This  murderous  affair,  and  a  similar  massacre  at  Wyoming, 
led  to  the  determination  of  sending  a  force  to  lay  waste  the 
Indian  settlements.  General  Sullivan  accepted  the  command,  refus- 
ed by  Gates,  and  piarching  through  part  of  New  Jersey  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, arrived  at  the  desolated  Wyoming,  on  the  17tli  of  June,  1779. 
Here,  every  thing  being  prepared,  on  the  last  of  July  the  army 
pushed  forward  upon  the  Indian  settlements,  the  stores  and  artil- 
lery passing  up  the  Susquehanna  in  one  hundred  and  fifty  boats, 
tiaving  destroyed  an  Indian  town,  and  built  a  fort,  Sullivan  awaited 
the  junction  of  another  portion  of  his  army,  which  approached 
(under  General  Janjes  Clinton)  by  the  way  of  the  Mohawk.  The 
expedition  was  complete  in  its  effect.  Tlie  Six  Nations  sustained 
a  signal  defeat,  with  the  loss  of  about  thirty  men  on  the  part  of  the 
Americans.  Eighteen  of  their  villages  were  destroyed,  and  their 
whole  territory  laid  waste.* 

About  the  same  time  a  spirited  and  successful  expedition  was 
led  by  Colonel  Van  Schaick  against  the  Onondagas,  of  which  I 
will  extract  an  account  from  the  work  of  an  anonymous  writer,t 
bearing  strong  marks  of  authenticity,  and  which  he  declares  to  be 
derived  from  a  source  known  by  him  to  be  correct,  and  by  access 
to  private  papers  of  a  most  interesting  kind  : 

**The  defeat  of  Burgoyne  did  not  free  the  frontier  of  this  state 
from  the  most  harassing  alarms.  Sir  John  Johnson  and  the  famous 
Brant,  assisted  by  the  Senecas  and  the  upper  nations,  were  con- 
stantly, during  this  year  and  the  following,  engaged  in  the  detesta- 
ble pursuit  of  plunder,  in  6ring  settlements,  in  taking  scalps  and 
mandering  defenceless  women  and  children.     So  complete  was  the 


*  Manfaall't  Wadnogtoii,  Vol.  IV.  chap.  iij. 

t  Th«  gwaffjwiy  «r  Rtminmmnem  of  the  Amak^n  Rerolutiofl,  pp.  130  to  147. 


15S  VAX  SCrlXlC's's  EXPEDITION. 

lerrour  exri:o'.l  by  ih*Ar  proven en:5  liiai  a(  one  line  our  di>heater.*c 
citizen?  were  on  I :.•:  [■.•i::t  <">:  all?. :^io:i!nz  their  homes  forever,  *=: 
in  the  wnrdr?  <:i'Ci»!";::l  Van  r^c!irii.\N.  :a  an  official  letter  toG«ae- 
ral  Wailiiiu'Ton,  •  Sc-ie  ::-c:a.!y,  ;:n-jer  present  circ!ini<tance*,  cius 
incvi'ablv  bec«?me  oi:r  front  if  r  senlement."    Ti'.e  expotHtion  of  l»€- 
neral  Suilivan  iv\d  (icnerril  Ja::ie?  CMinion,  one  o\  {.le  hnrestand 
mo?i  rerioiiito  of  r-oIJiers,  h\A  lii.^ir  e:ieci  iii  one  quarter,  while  liBt 
of  Colonel  Van  Zelnick   was  a!?o   productive  of  llie  best  conse- 
quences in  another.     Tije  (V.ondp..-a«  liad  become  so  fahhle»  e 
to  act  in  alliance  with  ti;e  Knzli^h.  and  from  their  |x»itioii  weie  « 
immense  detriir.ent  to  o:ir  ca^ise.     On  the  morning  of  the  196 
of  April,  1779,  Fort  .Schuyler  was  a  scene  of  busy  prepandok 
After  lonz  continue. i  in^ctio:!.  which  was  only  interrupted  bj  pv- 
tial  skirmishes  between  vir  fDm^^ers  and  the  Indians  that  coolmih 
ally  h»jn-  abou:  ii;e  fort.  orJors  were  iriven  to  the  men  to  prepvc 
for  their  deparzurc.  I:  was  an  early  hour,  while  the  fog  and  giey  DBt 
of  the  morn  in  J  in  some  n^.easure  concealed  their  moTefneotei  ibi: 
the  detachment  sallied  forth,  consisting:  of  oOS  iceut  incliidiDg  oh 
ficers.     Colonel  Van  Soliaick, — ilie  gailant  Marinus  Willei,  ihea 
Lieutenant  Culoncl. — and  Major  Cochran,  were  the  field  o&m 
of  the  deiaciinient.     Ti^^v  wore  accompanied  bv  29  batteain,  iaio 
which  were  placed  pro**  is  ions  for  ei^ht  days,  and  which  were  oa 
the  previous  niz'ui  cau:io-j-Iv  and  skilfullv  removed  over  the  carrr- 
ini:  place  into  Wood  Creek.     A  sutiicient  number  of  soldiers  wiib 
five  oliicers,  were  !efi  in  ciinr^'e  with  tliem  to  assist  the  batteauz  mea. 
and  burr}'  them  on.     Ti;e  Olivers   pushed  on   smartly  to  the  old 
••  scow  place,"  a<  it  was  crilicii.  twenty-two  miles  by  land  from  ike 
fort-     They  rea:::i?d  t!:;s  plare  ai  three  o'clock  in  the  afiemooo. 
but  the  distance  beii.z  ::re.i:er  bv  water,  the  boats  did  not  all  aiiife 
until  ten  o'clock  at  rij'r.t.     Ir.iioed  the  numerous  obsiructions  of- 
fered bv  ii:c  tree*  i"..at  hid  \W\<:i\  into  i!:e  creek,  were  of  theauehei 
very  formidable  ii::::oi:I:ies.  overcome  only  by  the  determined  spirit 
of  the  men.  As  soon  a^  t-ie  boats  reached  the  place  of  rendexioMi 
the  troop?  were   a'.l  iii^iantly  einVurkeil,  and  the  flotilla  mored  10" 
ward  <.)neida  Lake.     V.v.e  in  the  n •,';.:  the  boats  in  front  weie  or- 
dered to  lie  loo  wiiile  tl'ose  '.n   ii;e  rear  came   up.     A  coM  and 
drean*  i^ead  wind  hiade  tiscir  vipijires'^   slow  and  tedious,  but  the 
oars  were  plieil  "^^it:!  unren^iittin^-  ii;!:jence.     It  was  not  until  elj;tti 
o'clock  in  the  ninrnii^.-  ti»ai  liit  v  arrivt-.i  in  Desser's  Bar,  where ibe 
batteaux  were  a^rair.  Co  ret)<lezvous.     The  detachment  then  moved 
forward  witli  as  much  » xpediiion  as    possible  for  the  Oooodaga 
landing:  at  the  head  of  the  Ijke  oppnsi:e  old  Fort  Brewenon,  whoe 
lliev  arrived  at  three  o'clf  k.  I\  M.     T::e  boats  were  then  lefiat 
that  place  under  proper  ^'liard.  and  i:.e  detachment  pushed  Ibcwaid 
towards  the  enemy.     Nine  miles,  h.owever,  was  all  the  difiaiice 
achiered  during  the  remainder  of  the  day.     The  lugfai  mt  a  daik 


I 


VAN  scuaick's  expedition.  159 

cold  one — ^ihe  heavens  gathered  blaokness  around,  and  the  men 
could  fancy  without  the  aid  of  very  lively  iiiiii«j;iiiation5,  that  the 
woods  teemed  with  sava jres,  ready  to  fall  upon  ihem.  Indeed  the 
movements  of  the  hostile  Indians,  aided  by  poworiul  bands  oftories 
and  refugees,  under  the  ronimand  of  Johnson  and  Brant,  had 
been  marked  by  such  fatal  celerity,  a?*  to  leave  room  for  apprehen- 
sions at  every  a:^sailable  point  throuirhout  the  western  wilderness. 
The  troops,  therefore,  lay  on  tiieir  arm?  all  night,  and  wjre  not 
porroitted  to  light  their  evening  fires.  ^Silently  were  the  watches 
kept,  and  with  a  few  wonU  the  weared  soldier  partook  of  his 
evening  meal.  Silence  and  secrecy  were  indeed  indispensable  to 
the  success  of  the  expedition,  and  the  soldier  of  two  wars,  who 
was  responsible  for  its  success,  made  every  arrangement  with  pro- 
feand  judgment. 

"  Early  the  next  day,  as  soon  as  it  was  practicable  to  proceed,  the 
detachment  moved  on  to  the  Salt  Lake,  since  so  celebi-ated  for  the 
villages  that  adorn  its  shores,  the  wTahli  poured  into  the  cofiers  of 
individuals,  and  for  its  salines  more  precious  tlmn  mines  of  gold. 
At  nine  o'clock  they  reached  an  arm  of  tlie  lake.  This  was  forded 
at  a  place  where  the  distance  was  two  hundred  yards  across,  and 
the  depth  of  the  water  was  for  most  of  the  distance  four  feet.  The 
men,  however,  marched  in  good  order  throuirh,  and  pushed  on  with 
redoubled  speed  to  the  Onondaga  Creek.  Here  it  was  tliat  a  war- 
riour  of  tliat  celebrated  tribe  was  captured  by  Ca|)tain  Graham,  who 
commanded  a  light  infantry  company.  He  was  the  first  Indian  dis- 
covered, and  was  instantly  taken.  Had  he  escaped,  the  result  of 
the  expedition  would  have  been  somewhat  uncertain.  At  this  point 
it  was  that  arrangements  were  made  to  effect  a  complete  surprise. 
Captain  Graham  was  ordered  on  in  advance  to  attack  the  nearest 
settlement  of  the  Indians  only  two  miles  distant,  while  the  old  Colo- 
nel hurried  his  men  by  companies  as  Aist  as  they  could  cross  the 
creek  on  a  log,  (which  fortunately  served  as  a  bridge,)  where  the 
stream  was  not  fordable.  One  by  one  the  troops  |)assed  over  in 
safety*  The  circumstance  of  this  log  remaining  in  its  place  over 
the  stream,  is  a  remarkable  one ;  it  was  of  immense  service  and  ob- 
viated the  delay  of  seeking  a  place  to  ford  at  a  critical  moment.  It 
was  the  redman's  Thermopylae.  On  this  occasion  a  few  could  have 
kept  off  our  troops,  for  a  time  at  least,  which  might  have  enabled  their 
warriours  to  rally  if  not  to  defeat  the  expedition.  It  allowed  the 
commander  to  get  into  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country  before  they 
were  apprised  of  his  coming.  The  careless  shouting  of  soldiers 
on  siroUar  occasions,  and  the  heedless  discharge  of  fire  arms,  would 
have  led  the  wary  and  powerful  Onondagas  to  a  knowledge  of  their 
impending  danger. 

**  The  advance  of  Captain  Graham  could,  however,  be  no  longer 
concealed  when  in  the  vicinity  of  tJie  castle  he  was  employed  in 


160  YAK  SCHAICK's  EXPEDITION. 

making  prisoners.  When  the  whole  detachment  arrived  at  this 
place  which  was  the  principal  town  situated  in  the  hollow,  and  was 
large  and  well  peopled,  the  alarm  spread.  Concealment  of  their 
purpose  was  no  longer  possible.  The  Indians  gave  way  on  all 
sides,  making  for  the  woods.  Colonel  Van  Schaick  tlien  despatched 
different  parties  by  different  routes  to  get  in  the  rear  of  the  other 
setdements,  which  were  scattered  over  in  different  directions  eight 
miles,  and  they  were  ordeied  to  move  on  with  the  greatest  despatcL 
The  alarm  spread,  however,  in  spite  of  every  previous  precaution, 
but  such  was  the  haste  in  which  they  Hed,  and  such  was  the  ardour 
with  which  they  were  pursued,  that  they  had  not  time  to  carry  off 
a  single  article.  Thirty-three  savages  were  captured,  and  twelve 
killed  in  the  melee.  One  white  (uan  was  also  taken  prisoner.  The 
whole  of  their  settlements  were  destroyed,  and  upwards  of  6fty  of 
their  best  houses  burned.  A  large  quantity  of  com  and  beans  was 
also  given  to  the  flaines.  A  hundred  English  muskets,  a  few  rifles, 
and  some  uncommon  fine  horses,  together  with  some  other  animals, 
were  among  the  booty.  Hard  as  was  the  task,  aud  severe  the 
punishment,  yet  it  was  judged  necessary  to  put  the  cattle  to  death, 
and  the  horses  were  shot  without  hesitation.  This  act  of  severity 
was  a  blow  which  the  Onondairas  lon^r  remembered.  A  conside- 
rable  quantity  of  ammunition  was  found  at  the  council-house.  Af- 
ter the  men  had  loaded  themselves  with  as  much  spoil  as  they 
could  carry,  the  residue  was  doomed  to  destruction,  and 

'The  wide  field,  a  waste  of  ruin  mide.' 

The  detachment  then  drew  off  and  commenced  their  return.  In 
crossing  the  creek,  however,  a  party  of  Indians,  who  bad  arrived 
there  during  their  absence,  tired  upon  them  unexpectedly  from  the 
opposite  side.  Lieutenant  Evans  was  ordered  to  beat  tliem  off 
with  his  riflemen,  which  he  effected  in  very  gallant  style  without 
any  loss. 

"  The  weather,  during  this  day,  was  propitious.  The  next  day 
the  troops  reached  the  place,  and,  finding  their  boats  in  good  order, 
sailed  to  the  sSeven  Mile  Island,  where  the  troops  encamped,  and 
had  time  to  rest  diemselves  after  their  great  fatigue.  A  more  pic- 
turesque bivouack  never  was  witnessed.  The  lake  was  quiet.  Its 
calmness  was  in  keeping  with  the  hour,  the  gratification  of  success 
and  the  anxiety  for  repose.  The  evening  fires  threw  their  blaze  of 
light  over  the  waters,  and  communicated  warmth  and  comfort  to  the 
sleeping  groupes  around.  There  was  one  who  surveyed  the  scene 
with  unmingled  satisfaction.  He  had  accomplished  the  desirable 
object  for  which  he  had  been  selected,  and  by  a  bold  stroke  had 
broken  down  the  strength  of  the  most  powerful  tribe  of  all  the  In- 
dian nations.  Numerous  and  warlike,  they  had  filled  the  country 
with  alarm,  and  the  cabins  of  the  white  man  with  blood.  It  was 
the  opinion  of  General  Schuyler  that  bad  not  somethiog  been  done 


EMBASSY  OF  THE  ONEIDAS  TO  VAN  SCHAICK*  IGl 

m 

tt  thU  crisis,  we  should  not  have  had  a  settlement  beyond  Schoneo 
tady.  Nor  were  the  emotions  which  belonged  to  the  hour,  diose 
of  the  more  obvious  feehngs  of  conquest.  The  recollection  that 
all  had  been  accomplished  without  the  loss  of  a  single  man,  was  a 
source  of  pleasure  that  surpassed  the  excitement  of  pride  and  the 
flush  of  victory.  The  next  day  the  detachment  crossed  die  Iake» 
and  landed  two  miles  from  the  mouth  of  Wood  Creek,  at  two 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  while  two  companies  were  left  to 
guard  the  batteaux  men  in  their  navagation  up  the  creek,  the  re- 
mainder of  the  detachment  marched  eight  miles  further  and  en- 
camped for  the  night  on  the  bank  of  Fish  Creek.  The  next  day 
several  sKowers  of  rain  impeded  their  progress  to  the  fort,  but  not- 
withstanding, the  troops  arrived  there  at  noon,  after  an  absence  of 
five  days,  and  a  journey  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles. 

"  The  thanks  of  congress  were  voted  to  Colonel  Van  Schaick 
on  this  occasion,  and  to  his  brave  companions,  to  whom,  in  his  of- 
ficial report,  he  declared  he  was  *  under  peculiar  obligations'  for 
their  cheerfulness  *  throughout  a  severe  and  laborious  march,  and 
for  the  truly  determined  spirit'  shown  by  diem  on  the  occasion. 

"  It  was  but  a  short  time  after  Colonel  Van  Schaick's  expedi- 
tion, that  the  Oneidas  appeared  in  all  the  pomp  and  circumstance 
of  an  embassy,  at  the  fort,  to  enquire  into  the  reasons  of  the  expedi- 
tion, and  perhaps  with  secret  instructions  from  the  Onondagas,  to 
threaten  or  conciliate  the  Americans,  as  circumstances  should  per- 
mit. Their  orator  was  priest  Peter,  as  he  was  called  ;  and  the 
famous  Skenandoah,  the  principal  sachem  was  present.  The  inter- 
preter, Mr.  Dean,  followed  the  speaker  with  dicse  words  : 

"  *  Brother,  you  see  before  you,  some  of  your  friends,  the  Onei- 
das»  they  come  to  see  you. 

"*  The  engagements  that  have  been  entered  into  between  us  and 
our  brothers,  the  Americans,  are  well  known  to  you. 

***  We  were  much  surprised  a  few  days  ago,  by  the  news  which 
a  wairriour  brought  to  our  castle  with  a  war-shout,  informing  us  that 
our  friends,  the  Onondagas,  were  destroyed. 

*•*  We  were  desirous  to  see  you  on  the  occasion,  as  they  think 
you  might  have  been  mistaken  in  destroying  that  part  of  the 
tribe. 

**  *  We  suppose  you  cannot  answer  us  upon  this  subject^  as  the 
matter  was  agreed  upon  below.  But  perhaps  you  may  know  some- 
thing of  this  matter. 

"  *  When  we  heard  of  this  account,  we  sent  back  word  to  our 
friends  remaining  among  them,  telling  them  not  to  be  pale  heirted, 
because  some  were  destroyed,  but  to  keep  up  with  their  former 
engagiements. 

**  *  We  sent  ofi*  some  of  our  people  to  Canasaraga,  to  invite  them 
to  our  villagei  but  they  returned  an  answer  that  they  had  sent  som^ 

VOL.  n.  21 


163  STONT  POINT. 

of  their  runners  to  Onondaga,  to  learn  the  pardculan^  and  tbej 
waited  for  their  return. 

** '  Our  people  brought  for  answer,  that  they  were  much  obliged 
to  their  children,  the  Oneidas,  for  attending  to  them  in  their  dis- 
tresses, and  they  would  be  glad  if  they  would  speak  snooothlj  to 
their  brethren,  the  Americans,  to  know  whether  all  this  was  done 
by  design  or  mistake. 

^' '  If  a  mistake,  say  they,  we  hope  to  see  our  brethren  the  prisoii- 
ers — if  by  design  we  still  will  keep  our  engagements  with  yon  and 
not  join  the  king's  party.  But  if  our  brethren,  the  Aroericam, 
mean  to  destroy  us  also,  we  will  not  fly — ^we  will  wait  here  and  ro* 
ceive  our  death. 

'' '  Brother,  this  was  the  answer  of  tlie  Onondagas.  As  for  us,  the 
Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras,  you  know  our  sentiments.  We  bare 
supposed  we  knew  yours. 

*' '  The  commissioners  promised  us  that  when  they  found  aoTthiag 
wrong,  they  would  tell  us  and  make  it  right. 

*' '  Brother — If  we  have  done  any  thing  wrong,  we  shall  now  be 
glad  if  you  will  now  tell  us  so.'  " 

'^  The  grunt  of  the  sachems  echoed  back  their  approbaticm  of 
the  speaker,  as  he  gracefully  threw  his  mantle  over  his  arm  and 
sat  down. 

"  Colonel  Van  Schaick  then  rose,  and  stepping  forward,  replied 
as  follows : 

'' '  I  am  glad  to  see  my  friends  the  Oneidas  and  Toscaroriii. 
I  perfectly  remember  the  engagements  of  the  Five  Nations  entered 
into  four  years  ago,  and  that  they  promised  to  preserve  a  striet  and 
honourable  neutrality  during  the  present  war,  which  was  all  we 
asked  them  to  do  for  us. 

'"But  I  likewise  know  that  all  of  them,  except  our  biethren 
the  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras,  broke  their  engagements  and  flung 
away  the  chain  of  friendship.  But  the  Onondagas  have  been  great 
murderers,  we  have  found  the  scalps  of  our  brethren  at  their 
castle. 

** '  They  were  cut  off,  not  by  mistake,  but  by  design— I  was  or- 
dered to  do  it — and  it  is  done. 

*' '  As  for  the  other  matters  of  which  you  speak,  I  reconunend  a 
deputation  to  the  commissioners  at  Albany.  I  am  not  appointed 
to  treat  with  you  on  those  subjects. 

*"  I  am  a  warriour — My  duty  is  to  obey  the  orders  which  they 
send  me.'" 

Stony  Point  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  British,  and  by 
them  was  strongly  fortified.  It  was  garrisoned  by  the  seven* 
teenth  regiment,  a  company  of  grenadiers  of  the  seventy-first,  a 
corps  of  refugees  or  Tories,  with  adequate  artillerists ;  the  whole 
commanded  by  Colonel  Johnson.     The  plan  of  this  entttpriM 


XXPLOIT  OP  MAJOR  LEB.  163 

bj  the  commtDder-iD-chief,  and  he  chose  Wtyne  to  exe- 
h,  who  tccomplished  tlie  object  with  his  wonted  skill  and 
iotiepiditj,  and  with  comparatively  a  trifling  loss.  But  such  was 
tbe  weakness  of  the  American  army,  that  a  sufficient  force  could 
Bot  be  spared  to  garrison  the  post,  and  it  was  soon  found  necessary 
to  abandon  it.     It  was  re-occupied  by  the  enemy.* 

A  very  short  time  after  this,  Major  Lee  performed  a  brilliant 
exploit,  still  nearer  to  the  city  of  New  York.  The  British  had  a 
garrison  at  Paulus  Hook,  now  Jersey  City,  but  then  only  known 
IS  the  ferry  and  first  stage  between  New  Y'ork  and  Philadelphia. 
Pinlus  Hook  is,  by  nature,  almost  an  island,  and  the  British  had 
made  it  quite  so,  by  cutting  a  deep  ditch  through  the  marsh,  intii 
which  the  tide  flowed,  and  rendered  it  impassable  except  at  low 
water.  They  had  a  diaw  bridge  over  this  ditch,  which,  of  course, 
was  only  let  down  for  tlieir  own  use  ;  and  a  strong  gate  appeared 
to  secure  this  pass.  The  post  was  well  fortified  and  garrisoned, 
but  being  far  removed  from  tlie  nearest  American  station,  was  con- 
sidered out  of  danger.  Lee  had  obseried,  or  gained  intelligence 
of  the  negligence  of  the  garrison,  and  formed  the  design  to  sur- 
prise them.  Lord  Stirling,  to  aid  the  enterprizo,  ordered  a  detach- 
ment down  towards  the  Hackinsack  river  to  forage,  which  caused 
BO  alarm,  and  followed  himself  with  five  himdred  men,  three  hun- 
dred of  whom  were  to  accompany  Lee  over  the  river,  and  to  tlie 
attack  of  the  point.  He  reached  the  creek  between  two  and  three 
m  the  morning,  crossed  the  ditch  undiscovered,  and  entered  the 
■aio  work  with  the  loss  of  two  killed  and  three  wounded.  A  few 
of  the  British  were  killed  at  the  first  charge,  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty,  including  three  officers,  made  prisoners.  They  were  borne 
off  with  the  standard :  and  the  victors  arrived  at  Hackinsack  river, 
where  boats  were  to  have  been  in  waiting.  These  had  been  with- 
drawn by  mistake,  and  the  men,  fatigued  with  a  march  of  many 
miles,  were  obliged  to  push  rapidly  up  the  river  fourteen  miles 
before  they  gained  the  bridge,  crossed,  and  were  met  by  their  friends. 
This  exploit  was  performed  within  sight  of  the  ainiy  at  New  York, 
lod  of  their  ships  of  war  in  the  harbour. 

Daring  the  summer  of  1779,  Sir  Henrj'  Clinton  received  a  re- 
mfbrcement  from  England,  and  made  preparations  for  detaching 
troops  from  New  York,  by  fortifying  the  approaches  on  the  land 
ade,  and  on  Long  Island.  The  inhabitants  were  enrolled  as  mi- 
fitia,  and  many  formed  volunteer  companies,  and  were  drilled  and 
wiifenned.  These  were  principally  English  and  Scotch  merchants, 
aid  refugees  from  Boston  and  elsewhere.  I  have  seen  these  vo- 
harteer  companies  acting  as  press-gangs  for  the  fleet,  and  arresting 


•  Ifanluai'i  WaihingtoD,  Vol.  IV.  cbap.  ii. 


164  SECOKD  GREAT  FIRS  IN  XBW  TOXK. 

sailor?,  and  sometimes  others,  at  the  point  of  the  bavonet.  It  ap- 
pears by  published  letters  that  Sir  Henry  Clinton  iras  dtscooteoied 
with  the  senice,  and  veiy  mnch  wiih  tlie  conduct  of  the  refoi^^est 
who  were  formed  inio  a  •'  board  of  lovalists'*'  under  Govemoar 
Franklin,  formerly  of  New  Jersey,  and  who  generally  infeiiered 
with  the  plans  of  ti^e  general,  by  representations  to  the  mioistnr. 

In  the  month  of  rreptember,  the  British  forces  bad  returned 
from  depredating  to  the  eastx^ard,  and  two  larre  coluBins 
moved  from  the  city  of  New  York  up  the  Hudson,  one  on  each 
side.  Comwallis  commanded  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  with 
bis  left  on  the  Hackinsack.  Knyphausen  led  the  column  on  the 
east  of  the  Hudson.     Colonel  Bavlor  crossed  tlie  Hackinsack,  on 

• 

the  27th  of  September,  uiili  his  cavalry,  and  took  posi  at  a  place 
called  HerrinfTtown.  where  a  party  of  militia  was  quartered. 
Comwallis  saw  that  this  post  was  uithin  his  reach,  and  ordered  two 
detachments,  under  Cienoral  (iray  and  Colonel  Campbell,  to  ad- 
vance on  Bavlor*s  cavalrw  Guided  bv  some  mercenarv  wretches, 
•  •  •  • 

inhabitants  o(  the  neidibourhood,  the  Briiish  eluded  the  patrols  of 
Baylor,  and  cut  off  his  advance  guard  without  alarming  tbe  main 
body  of  the  regiment,  who  were  asleep  in  a  bam.  Tlie  orders  of 
General  Gray  were  to  charge  upon  his  enemy,  thus  taken  by  sur- 
prize, and  give  no  quarter.  The  inhuman  order  was  obeyed  alinott 
to  the  letter.  Of  one  hundred  and  four  pri\'ates,  sixty-se%en  were 
bayoneted,  while  demandin:^  quarter.  Baylor  was  wounded  with 
a  bayonet,  but  recovered  ;  his  major  died  of  his  wounds.  One  of 
Gray's  captains  disobeyed  the  order  of  his  commander,  and  made 
prisoners  of  about  forty,  choosing;  rather  to  give  quarters  to  brave 
men  than  to  stab  them  defenceless  and  unresisting.  Three  days 
after  this,  the  crallant  Major  Lee,  with  his  ca\*alrv,  and  Colonel 
Richard  Butler,  with  some  infantry,  fell  in  with  a  party  of  German 
yagers,  of  whom  they  killed  ten,  and  carried  off  eighteen,  with  the 
commanding  officer,  as  piisoners. 

I  have  alluded  to  the  sufferings  from  heat  at  the  battle  of  Monroontb, 
on  the  2Stli  of  June,  177S:  and  on  the  ni^htof  the  7tli  of  August 
I  remember  that  I  lay  pnntinir  for  air  on  the  floor  near  a  window,  hav- 
ing left  my  bed,  when  I  was  roused  from  imperfect  sleep  by  ibecryct 
fire,  and  the  rinninir  of  alarm  bells.  In  those  davs  such  alarms  were 
rarely  known,  and  it  was  probably  the  first  time  I  had  e%*er  heard 
the  terrifick  stroke.  I  started  up,  and  saw  ever}*  thing  arouiKl  iUo* 
minated  by  the  blaze.  Three  hundred  houses  were  rapidly  con- 
sumed :  all  Dock  street  and  Little  Dock  street,  with  many  build- 
ings adjacent.  This  was  called  the  second  great  fire.  In  the 
morning  I  visited  the  ruins,  and  assisted  a  schoolmate  to  rescue 
and  guard  some  reniainin::  furniture  belonsing  to  his  widowed  mo- 
ther. Well  I  n> member  looking  at  the  sun  through  tbe  smcAe, 
with  wonder  at  his  fiery  fiice  disfigured  bj  the  curling  miiici  of 


16S 


led  SMoke«  »  ther  mounted  Irom  the  half  burnt 

There  ver^  no  fire  companies  orranized*  as  had  pferiiMuIr 

:  the  cubens  wvr^  aocii<to»it?vi  lo  tonn  ranks  froro  a  pump  or 

aad  iKich  to  briirx  tin?  buckets  of  hW  [louse  ia  case  of  6re; 

ms  tbi>  occasion  the  r:uii:jLn*  intertVrtxl*  a:cK!»  t»erbap>  tnteodizi^ 

wfU^  aaied  the  work  of  Jestnroiion.  Tiw  heat  of  the  >th  ot\\u^:xBt« 

IT7>w  was  tatoterabte*  and  the  spirits  of  tlie  ^Kop^^  of  New  York 

aepreased  bj  the  recent  conda^ddvHi.    About  one  oVlock.  masses 

vKtfeiack  clouds  overshadowed  us  froin  the  west,  attd  a  thundo^ 

cooMiieaced  with  vk>tetice :  but  the  dashes  of  Ib^Kniusr*  €r 

deaieatR:;  peals  of  thunder  did  not  prevent  my  father's  biail]^ 

jectiQ:^  dowa  to  dinner,  for  it  n'as  while  thus  en:rized  that  a 

startled  every  one  from  his  seat:  the  house  appeared  to  shake; 

hich  had  bi?en  left  near  an  i>pen  chau^ber  windt>w  came  Hutter* 

as  down  in  £iQtat>tick  ivrations-^**  the  hotise  »  struck  !'*  was  the 

CTT«  which  seemed  to  be  condmied*  as  the  tiled  roof  oo  die  front 

Euicd  IK>  the  pavement,  and  torrents  of  rata  poured  in  without 

■HWiHimiir 

O^  ranains:  into  the  street  it  was  seen  that  all  the  hoiBCs  with 

roo&  were  in  the  same  situatioo.     CoosteniatioQ  was  gene* 

and  the  cause  unknown  of  $o  violent  and  extei^ve  a  coociis-^ 

B«t  soon  was  seen  a  hbck  cohimn  of  smoke  ri^ins:  in  the 

HK  &r  €»ver  the  houses^  and  while  s:aiins:  at  this  new  phenonieiMM» 

aae  acrvred  firom  the  east  river  side  of  ti^?  town,  and  explained  the 

WiStl  appearances.     A  powder  vessel,  iyiog  ocT  in  the  stream,  had 

scittck  hy  the  li^hcnin^.  and  exploding,  produced  the  starding 

we  had  witnesfi«ed.     Everv  house  tbctn«r  the  river  was  nft-^ 

in  front,  exposed  to  pelting  rain,  and  every  face  that  was 

■■■  hwked  honour  struck. 

A  bri^  had  been  !ect  in  chari:e  of  a  boy.  who  was  the  ooiy  pet^ 
tan  that  sutiered  death.  Such  is  my  recollection  of  the  nij:hl 
ad  diT  of  the  second  ^reat  £re.  I  remember  that  dav  as  one  of 
Man  and  darkness 

The  winter  of  177!>-<S0.  is  still  known  as  the  hardest  winter.  In 
Vv  York  sreat  edbrts  were  made  to  increase  the  dejureciation  of 
^MiiHuiil  mooey.  by  nianu^mrin:^  cvxintertelt  bills,  and  dur)0|^ 
^winter  the  American  army,  quartereil  in  their  own  countrr, 
^<(re  in  a  state  of  extreme  suaerin:^:.  beln^  in  want  of  cloihin^  and 
^*rf-  The  ;cetieral.  describes  his  armv  is  •'cien  halK-starved.  in*- 
?MfeiiIy  doched.  riotous,  and  robblnj:  the  country  people  of  their 
*thsiB&nce.  from  sheer  necessity/'  The  soldiers  were  reduced 
^  ilaif  allowance  of  rations,  and  the  ^neral  to  the  necessity  of 
'•kincr  requisitiocis  apoQ  each  ci^unty  of  New  Jersey  lor  a  stated 
fiMinDr  of  ooeat  and  dour,  to  be  deiivered  within  six  days ;  irivini^ 
i^Btite  of  the  neceseitv  which  would  obil^re  him  to  resort  to  coer> 
**  To  the  hoQoar  of  the  magistrates,  and  people  of  New 


166  UNSUCCESSFUL  ATTEMPT  ON  8TATEN  ISULND. 

Jersey,"  Ch.  J.  Marshall  says,  "  although  iheir  country  was  much 
exhausted,  the  supplies  required  were  instantly  rumisbed,  and  a 
temporary  relief  obtained/'  Amidst  these  distresses,  a  blow  was 
aimed  at  the  enemy  on  Staten  Island.  A  bridge  of  ice  gave  oppor- 
tunity for  any  force  to  pass  from  the  main  land,  and  it  was  sup- 
posed that  the  state  of  the  harbour  of  New  York  would  prevent  re- 
inforcements being  sent  from  thence.  General  Washington  or- 
dered a  detachment  of  two  tliousand  men,  under  Lord  Stirling,  to 
attempt  a  surprise  of  the  troops  on  the  island,  principally  consisting 
of  Skinner's  new  corps,  computed  at  twelve  hundred  men.  The 
expedition  was  a  failure.  The  enemy  were  found  entrenched  and 
prepared.  The  tories  of  the  neighbourhood  would  not  allow  their 
friends  to  be  surprised.  It  was  likewise  found  that  a  passage  re- 
mained open  for  boats  from  New  York  to  Staten  Island,  and  that 
troops  could  be  thrown  across  die  bay.  Stirling,  under  tbesa 
circumstances,  retreated  with  some  loss,  and  many  of  his  followers 
frostbitten.  His  army  had  been  followed  by  the  most  licencioos  of 
the  New  Jersey  borderers  for  the  purpose  of  plunder,  and  the  o^ 
ficers  had,  after  their  return,  the  task  of  rescuing  part  of  the  tpoilf 
and  returning  it  to  the  owners.  This  transaction  took  place  in 
January.  Afterward,  the  long  continuance  of  severe  cold  doted 
the  bay  of  New  York,  with  solid  ice,  so  that  I  remember  to  bnw 
seen  a  troop  of  horse  and  artillery  crossing  to  Staten  Island  oo  dn 
immense  bridge,  which  connected  ail  our  islands,  one  with  the 
other,  and  with  the  main  land. 

This  occasioned  much  suflering  to  the  army,  more  to  inhabitants. 
Wood  was  cut  on  the  three  islands  by  the  military,  and  few  trees 
escaped  the  axe  that  winter.  But  fuel  and  provisions  were  scarce- 
ly to  be  purchased  by  the  citizens,  even  those  who  had  means  of 
paying  exorbitant  prices.  In  many  instances  household  .furniture 
was  broken  up  to  supply  the  fire  necessary  to  support  life.  From 
Cortlandt  street  to  Paulus  Hook,  I  well  remember  the  beaten  track 
for  sleighs  and  waggons,  winding  occasionally  around,  and  between 
the  hills  of  ice ;  and  a  similar  road  in  use  to  Hoboken,  from  whence 
some  wood  was  procured,  by  parties  of  soldiers  sent  over  for  tbe 
purpose.  On  the  17th  of  March,  I  saw  horsemen  crossing  the  bay 
on  the  ice,  but  it  w^s  tlien  considered  dangerous  to  make  their  road 
over  the  deeper  part,  or  channel. 


ASMOLO  COIIMANOS  AT  PHlLAOBIirHIA.  167 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


Arnold  commands  at  PhUadelphui — HU  misconduct  and  trial^^ 
Commands  at  West  Point — Intrigues  with  the  enemy  and  treason 
^^Capiure  and  execution  of  Andre — Escape  of  Arnold. 


1780  The  treason  of  General  Arnold  is  an  event  of  such  mag- 
nitude that  it  appears  necessary  to  recur  to  his  previous  histo- 
ry, from  the  memorable  battles  of  Behmus's  Heights,  in  which  b« 
played  so  conspicuous  a  part,  to  the  moment  of  the  capture  of  Ma- 
jor John  Andre,  and  the  discovery  of  the  infernal  plot  in  which  both 
participated.* 

General  Arnold  appears  to  have  passed  the  early  part  of  the 
of  1778  in  his  native  state  of  Connecticut ;  and  in  May,  he 
the  main  army,  at  Valley  Forge,  in  Pennsylvania.  Not 
yet  sufficiently  recovered  from  his  wound  to  take  part  in  the 
active  operations  of  the  campaign,  General  Washington  gave  him 
the  command  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  upon  the  retreat  of  the 
enemy.  It  was  here  the  weak  points  of  this  unamiabic  man*s  cha- 
racter became  again  conspicuous  ;  and  here  he  was  prepared  for 
the  vile  and  odious  transaction  which  has  handed  down  his  namt 
with  infamy  to  posterity. 

Even  a  prudent  man  might  have  found  himself  in  a  difficult  situ- 
•tioD  as  commandant  of  a  city  which  had  been  eight  months  occu- 
pied by  the  enemy,  replenished  with  British  merchandize  of  doubtful 
ownership,  and  still  occupied  by  many  adherents  to  the  cause  of 
royalty,  either  known  or  suspected.  It  was  likewise  very  difficult 
to  find  the  line  to  which  his  military  |K)wer  was  to  extend,  without 
interfering  with  the  civil  authority  and  laws  of  the  state. 

By  a  resolve  of  congress,  the  removal  or  sale  of  all  goods  in 
Philadelphia  was  to  be  prevented  until  it  was  ascertained  whether 
^y  of  the  property  in  them  belonged  to  the  king  of  Great  Britain, 


'  Mj  principal  antliontT  in  the  Trry  interesting  biography  of  Arnold  by  Mr. 
8ptru — not  omitting  to  connult  the  Gatei*  Papen.  in  manuiicript — the  Journals  of 
CoagreM  the  American  Reginter — ^farshall  •  History — Joshua  H.  Smith — and 
*^r  ioarcet  of  information.  Marshall  says,  he  received  from  Lafayette  the  infor- 
■ttioB  that  AmoM,  while  in  command  at  West  Point,  endeavoured  to  procnra 
^M  Gtnaial  WaaUngton  the  names  of  his  secret  emissaries  in  New  Yonu  Ut 
ffmmi  Laiayatu  on  iLa  «ait  mbfact. 


168  TRIED  BY  A  COURT  MARTIAI^ 

or  to  any  of  bis  subjects.  On  Arnold's  entering  the  city,  he  issued 
a  proclamation  in  conformity  with  this  resolve.  This  probibiiioQ 
appeared  arbitrary,  and  its  immediate  source  was  rendered  unpopu- 
lar. Shortly  after,  Arnold  either  had,  or  pretended,  a  wish  to 
serve  in  the  na\y  rather  than  the  army,  and  wrote  to  General  Wash- 
ington on  the  subject.  His  wounds,  lie  said,  prevented  active  ser- 
vice on  shore,  but  would  not  impede  usefulness  at  sea.  He,  per- 
haps, expected  the  sole  command  on  that  element,  and  bis  habitual 
extravagance  rendered  the  prospect  of  riches,  from  captures  at  sea, 
desirable.  General  Washington  gave  no  opinion  on  the  subject, 
and  the  scheme  dropped.  In  the  mean  time  Arnold  involved  him- 
self in  difficulties  with  the  president  and  council  of  Pennsylvania ; 
which  at  length  drew  from  that  body  a  resolve  that  the  course  of 
his  military  command  in  Philadelphia  had  been  **  oppressive,  on- 
worthy  of  his  rank  and  station,  highly  discouraging  to  tliose  who 
had  manifested  an  attachment  to  the  liberties  and  interests  of  Ame- 
rica, and  disrespectful  to  the  supreme  executive  authority  of  the 
state."  Her  attorney-general  was  authorized  to  prosecute  him  for 
such  **  illegal  and  oppressive  acts  as  were  cognizable  in  the  cooils 
of  law." 

Charges  were  issued  against  him — some  implying  crinunality, 
and  all,  wilful  abuse  of  power.  An  appeal  was  made  to  congresi, 
and  these  charges,  with  divers  papers,  laid  before  that  assembly. 
Many  difficulties  arising  in  the  course  of  investigation,  it  was  agreed 
to  refer  the  affair  to  a  military'  tribunal.  Four  charges  were  pro- 
nounced cognizable  by  a  court  martial,  and  these  were  transmitted 
to  the  commander-in-chief,  who  ordered  a  court  to  be  convened, 
appointed  the  time  of  trial,  and  gave  notice  to  the  parties  concerned. 

Highly  displeased  with  this  course,  Arnold  was  not  sparing  of 
complaints  and  accusations  of  injustice ;  but  desired  a  speedy  trial, 
declaring  *'  his  conviction  that  justice  would  be  rendered  to  him  by 
a  court  martial." 

It  ought  to  be  remarked,  that  during  this  controversy.  Riving 
ton's  paper  (which  was  under  the  control  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  the 
ex-governour  William  Franklin,  and  other  leaders  of  the  Englisb 
party,)  contained  a  succession  of  paragraphs  advocating  the  cause 
of  Arnold,  and  charging  the  rebels  with  ingratitude  to  their  beat 
militar)'  commander.* 

Difficulties  and  delays  occurred  in  respect  to  the  form  of  trial* 
Arnold  resigned  his  command  of  Philadelphia,  in  March,  1779. 
In  April,  he  was  married  ;  and  the  trial  was  appointed  for  the  1st 
of  June  :  but  the  indications  of  active  measures  taking  by  the  ene* 
my,  called  for  the  services  of  the  officers  selected  for  the  court. 


*  8m  Papers. 


▲XD  ftSPmiltA2IDB]>  BT  WA8HINQTOX.  109 

wmA  a  fbfftber  dehj,  much  to  the  displeasure  of  Amoldt  was  die 
consequence. 

He  continued  to  reside  in  Philadelphia,  and  held  his  commis- 
U  although  without  command.  But  his  character  and  manners 
so  unpopular  that  he  was  on  one  occasion  insuhed  by  the 
populace,  and  lie  applied  to  congress  for  a  guard,  but  they  referred 
him  to  the  government  of  Pennsylvania,  his  known  and  avowed 
eoemies*  Again  be  applied  to  congress,  and  reminded  them,  as 
usual,  of  his  ser? ices,  patriotism,  etc.  etc.,  but  again  they  declined. 
In  this  disagreeable  situation  his  atTairs  remained  until  the  cam- 
paign being  ended,  his  trial  commenced  at  Morri<town,  in  Decem- 
ber, and  was  concluded  on  the  t?Gth  of  Januarv,  1780. 

The  court  dismissed  some  of  the  charsres  ai::ainst  him,  and  only 

feood  that  in  two  instances  of  minor  importance  bis  conduct  had 

been  imprudent  and  improper.     The  sentence  was,  that  on  these 

charges  he  should  be  reprimanded  by  the  commander-in-chief. 

Thbduty  was  perfonned  by  that  great  man  with  his  characteristick 

delicacy,  and  in  a  manner  the  most  soothing.    ^^  I  reprimand  you/' 

he  said  ^*  that  in  proportion  as  you  had  rendered  yourself  formidt- 

fale  to  our  enemies,  vou  should  have  shown  moderation  towards 

ev  citisens.     Exhibit  again  those  splendid  qualities  which  hare 

placed  you  in  the  rank  of  our  most  distinguished  generals.     As  far 

ts  it  shall  be  in  my  povier,  I  will  myself  furnish  you  with  opportu- 

atties  br  regaining  the  esteem  which  you  have  formerly  enjoyed." 

But  before  these  wonis  fell  powerless  on  his  ear,  Arnold  had 

decided  on  the  step  which  was  to  free  him  from  the  difficulties  into 

which  his  profusion  and  ostentation  had  involved  him,  and  at  the 

ame  time  consign  his  name  to  lasting  infamy.     He  had  already 

•old  himself,  and  the  lives  and  fortunes  of  his  country  men,  as  far 

tt  be  could  betray  them,  to  the  arro<:ant  and  merciless  enemy  who 

looked  for  that  conquest  from  treachery,  which  he  could  not  achieve 

^anns. 

He  asked  permission  to  return  to  Philadelphia  to  arrange  his 
pritate  afiairs.  In  that  city  he  had  lived  in  a  manner  to  which  his 
JBxis  were  uneriy  inadequate,  One  of  the  first  houses,  furnished 
>>  the  most  expensive  style,  corresponded  with  his  appearance  in 
poblick,  riding  in  a  coach  drawn  by  four  horses  splendidly  capari- 
'^^oed,  and  attended  by  numerous  nienials  suitable  to  such  arrogant 
peiensions.  His  marriaii^e  with  a  fine  lady  who  had  been  the  belle 
^  the  Bridsb  beaux,  while  the  place  was  an  English  garrison,  and 
^  entertainments  given  to  correspond  with  his  other  ambitious 
^laj,  all  increased  tlic  debts  he  necessarily  contracted.  To  sup- 
Pptt  in  part  this  splendour,  he  entered  into  partnerships  with  indi- 
^Qtls  who  speculated  in  goods  purchased  clandestinely  upon  the 
*>MQy*8  liiies»  and  with  others  in  privateering  adventures  against 
n.  92 


17t  ABiioLD*t  nmaaVMM* 

those  with  wbom  be  was  already  in  negociatioo  Umt  the  betiajia^ 
of  bis  country. 

Among  bis  various  attempts  to  supply  tbat  extnTagaiice  wbich 
be  bad  not  the  courage  or  magnanimity  to  abandon,  he  penified  ■ 
bis  exorbitant  claims  upon  congress  for  balances  pretended  lo  ht 
due  for  advances  made  by  him  in  tbe  course  of  service.  Diigpit 
ing  friends  and  enemies  by  his  pretensions  and  efirootery,  he  failed 
in  this  resource,  and  before  6nally  concluding  bis  bngain  of  Mood 
with  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  through  the  knight's  agent,  Andre,  Aivold 
offered  himself  to  tbe  French  ambassador,  M.  de  Liizeme, 
ing  a  loan,  wbich  was  understood  to  be  a  bribe,  by  which  the 
rican  general  was  to  become  the  creature  of  France.  This  was 
declined,  and  now  the  only  calculation  was  to  inflict  as  nnieh  injinj 
on  bis  countr)'  as  possible  by  way  of  enhancing  tbe  price  he  wh  id 
receive  from  the  enemv. 

With  this  view,  he  asked  and  obtained  tbe  cmnroand  of  West 
Point,  tbe  great  pass  of  the  Highlands — tbe  poesesaioo  of  which 
would  divide  the  Eastern  states  from  theu*  sisters,  open  the 
nication  to  the  interiour  of  New  York,  and  perhaps  Canada, 
inflicting  a  wound  on  tbe  army  of  tbe  United  States,  both  in 
to  tbe  brave  men  to  be  sacrificed,  and  tbe  warlike  material  that  woold 
be  lost  to  the  couotrv. 

Arnold's  wife,  a  lady  who  bad  probably  been  captirated  widi  tfatt 
splendour  which  was  one  cause  of  his  baseness,  had  been  the  hen^ 
'  ine  of  tbe  Mischianzaj  a  mock  tournament,  in  theatrical  style,  gci 
up  by  tbe  British  officers  in  compliment  to  Sir  William  Howe  om 
occasion  of  his  departure.  Andre  was  of  course  conqiiciiOQi  in 
this  roimick  display  of  chivalry ;  and  his  intimacy  with  Mi 
pen  was  continued  after  the  gallant  Major  bad  been  driren  wkh 
brethren  back  to  New  York. 

He  corresponded  with  the  lady  by  letters,  and  throagh  this 
nel  Arnold's  necessities,  wbich  laid  him  open  to  tbe  final  shab  ef 
corruption  were  undesignedly  communicated  to  Sir  Heorj  CBaioo, 
and  the  bargain  of  treason  and  murder  consummated.  There  cam 
be  no  doubt  but  that  Arnold's  connection  with  tliis  woman  and  her 
friends,  all  attached  to  Great  Britain  and  enemies  of  bis  eovBUr, 
added  the  last  and  deepest  shade  to  his  already  stained  and  ^i^ 
coloured  character. 

Arnold  now  represented  to  General  Washington  tbat  his  woMwii 
were  in  such  state  as  to  allow  bis  acti%'e  exertion  lor  his  couiitiy, 
though  not  on  horseback.  He  represented  to  General  Schoylv, 
who  duly  appreciated*  his  military  talents,  tbat  be  might  he  of 
vice  as  commandant  on  tbe  Hudson.  Schuvier  made  the  i 
communication  *  to  General  Washington,  without  its  ipnr  nmg  to 
come  immediately  from  Arnold,  who  likewise  engaged  KobeR  B. 
Liriafstoo  to  suggest  the  appointment  of  coaunaiidifll  of  Weal 


coimuAxmB  at  wbst  point*  171 

to  Ae  eomimndeMn-cbier,  without  the  tnutor  tppetring 
wxioiis  lor  it.  He  likeirisc  visited  camp,  and  expressed  his  wish 
to  be  in  senrice,  still  hinting  tliat  his  wounds  prevented  active  com- 
iBUid«  but  avoided  mentioning:  the  object  of  his  wishes.  He  |>assed 
oa  to  Connecticut,  and  in  retuniinir  again,  saw  General  Washing- 
;  sdll  nothing  was  decided.  He  then  visited  West  Point,  and 
MBolelT  observed  the  works — still  avoiding  any  expression  of  his 
desire  for  a  command  at  that  post. 

li  must  be  held  in  mind  tliat  the  pass  of  the  Highlands  at  West 
Point  WIS  considered  as  the  link  which  held  the  states  together, 
tbe  loss  of  Forts  Montgomen*  and  Clinton,  in  1777,  a  strong 
had  been  thrown  across  the  Hudson  from  West  Point  to  the 
shore.  The  point  had  been  fortified,  and  Fort  Putnam, 
tkc  feflMUDS  of  which  testify  iu  strength,  had  been  erected  on  the 
pinnicle  of  tbe  rock  and  was  deemed  impregnable.  It  was  con- 
att«cied  of  rock,  was  bomb-proof,  and  unassailable. 

When  General  Washington,  in  consequence  of  the  preparations 
ef  tbe  Britbh  to  attack  Rhode  Island,  was  moving  his  army  towards 
?(cir  York,  Arnold  joined  him.  and  had  the  post  of  honoiur  assigned 
to  binu  as  commander  of  the  left  wing ;  but,  to  the  generaPs  stir- 
be  learned  tliat  this  officer,  who  had  ever  been  eager  for  tbe 
of  danger,  had  hinted  to  Colonel  Tilghman  his  wish  to  be 
pieced  at  West  Point,  as  a  situation  better  suited  to  his  lameness. 
Cliotoo  having  debarked  his  troops,  and  the  plans  of  the  cam- 
changing.  General  Washington  complied  wiUi  what  he  found 
be  tbe  wish  of  Arnold;  and  on  tlie  dd  of  August,  17S0,  tbe 
and  instructions  were  accordin<i:lv  issued  at  Peekskill.  Ar- 
aeid  repaired  without  delay  to  the  Hiiihlands,  and  established  his 
^MitMs  at  Robinson*s  house,  two  or  three  miles  below  West  Point, 
OB  the  opposite  side  of  the  river. 

Tbe  main  army  recrossed  the  Hudson,  at  King^s  Ferry,  moved 
down  towards  Hackinsack,  and  encamped  with  its  left  wing  near 
Dehhs's  Ferry.  The  riglit  wing  was  commanded  by  Greene,  and 
the  left  by  Lord  Stirling,  while  the  light  infantry,  commanded  by 
Ccneral  La£tvette,  were  six  miles  in  advance  of  the  main  bodv. 

An  incident  which  the  srallant  and  honest  Lafayette  tells  us,  marks 

tbe  character  of  Arnold  more  distinctiv  tiian  even  the  denouement 

ef  bb  diabolical  plot.     Before  leaving  the  army  for  West  Pointy 

be  went  to  the  marquis,  and  mentioning   his  knowledge  tliat  the 

eoUe  Frenchman  had  spies  in  New  York,  employed  at  his  own 

be  asked  their  mimes  and  address :  suggesting  that  their 

might  reach  him  more  certainly  and  expeditiously  by 

dbe  way  of  West  Point,  and  suggesting  that  if  he  was  in  possession 

^ their  names,  he  might  facilitate  the  intercourse.    The  gallant  and 

boooocable  Lafayette  escaped  the  snare  laid  by  the  arch  traitor* 

tbnMi^  his  booesi  and  upright  sense  of  duty — ^repljing  tbal 


ITS  COKKK8P03ID6  WITH  THB  SmUfT. 

those  individuals  had  confided  in  Um^  and  be  could  not  diTidge 
their  secret  to  any  person  whatever. 

We  have  seen  that  this  correspondence,  in  which  all  the  arts  of 
falsehood  and  deceit  were  exerted  for  the  purposes  of  treacberrt 
was  begun  by  (be  chivalrous  Major  Andre,  and  the  admired  Mi» 
Shippen,  and  continued  by  Mrs.  Arnold  with  tlie  same  hocounble 
gentleman.  Under  fei^rned  names  the  parties  communicated  for 
months  ;  while  the  man  in  whose  mouth  the  honour  of  the  sddier 
and  patriotism  of  the  citizen  were  ever  up|)ermost,  was  roaturing 
the  plan  of  traitorous  mischief.  When  Andre  and  Arnold  corTe^* 
ponded,  the  Briton  assumed  the  name  of  John  Anderson,  and  the 
traitor  that  of  Gustavus. 

We  are  told  that  in  the  first  letters  of  Arnold  to  Sir  Heorjr  Clio- 
ton,  the  traitor  merely  expressed  his  dissatisfactioj  with  the  French 
alliance  ;  touched  on  topicks  that  he  knew  would  be  agreeable,  and 
gave  intelligence,  wliich  (as  it  proved  true)  excited  the  curiosttj  of 
the  English  general  to  know  who  his  unknown  correspoodent  was. 
From  the  nature  of  the  information  communicated,  it  was  evideot 
that  the  person  lield  a  post  of  consequence  ;  and  at  length  it  «it 
obvious  that  the  American  General  Arnold  was  the  imn,  although 
nothing  in  the  letters,  if  any  one  had  fallen  into  other  bands,  could 
have  discovered  the  writer.     Arnold  thus  betraved  the  confidence 

m 

reposed  in  him  by  his  countrymen,  while  his  trial  was  going  on; 
and  he  was  at  this  time  pleading  his  patriotism,  honour,  and  serri- 
ces,  to  prove  that  the  charges  made  against  him  must  be  labe. 
When  he  had  been  restored  to  active  service  by  the  acquittal  of  the 
court  martial,  Clinton  saw  in  him  a  tool  worth  buying.  Chtttaam 
(his  assumed  name  in  their  correspondence)  soon  let  the  English 
general  know  that  he  should  have  a  command  of  importance,  and 
when  Arnold  took  |>ossession  of  West  Point,  the  English  general 
saw  the  importance  of  the  treacher}'  thus  put  in  the  power  of  hb 
correspondent. 

A  French  anny  and  fleet  were  at  Rhode  Island,  readv  to  co- 
Operate  with  General  Washington.  There  was  reason  to  think 
that  the  combined  forces  would  be  directed  against  New  York.  It 
was  to  be  expected  that  West  Point  would  be  made  the  depository 
of  vast  magazines  for  this  purpose,  in  addition  to  the  stores  already 
placed  there.  To  seize  upon  these,  would  defeat  tlie  plans  of  h» 
enemies,  give  him  the  command  of  the  important  post  through,  and 
magazines  of,  the  Highlands,  and  would  terminate  the  campaign  with 
eclat ;  and  the  British  commander-in-chief  was  eager  to  completo 
the  advantageous  bargain  which  his  correspondent  Gustavus  offered 
to  him. 

In  his  letter  to  Lord  George  Germain  as  published,  be  says,  the 
arrival  of  Sir  George  Rodney  with  a  fleet  at  New  York,  *^ rendered 
it  highly  probable,  that  Washington  would  lay  asi<te  all  J 
against  this  place.    It  became  therefore  proper  for  me  no 


MAJOR  ANDRB.  17S 

to  defer  the  execution  of  a  project,  which  would  lead  to  such  con* 
siderable  advantages,  nor  to  lose  so  fair  an  opportunity  as  was  pre- 
sented,  and  under  so  good  a  mask  as  an  expedition  to  the  Chesa* 
peake,  which  every  body  imagined  would  of  course  take  place* 
Under  this  feint  I  prepared  for  a  movement  up  tlie  North  Kiven 
It  became  necessary  at  that  instant,  that  the  secret  correspondence 
under  feigned  names,  which  had  been  so  long  carried  on,  should 
be  rendered  into  certainty,  both  as  to  the  person  being  General  Ar- 
noldy  commanding  at  West  Point,  and  that  in  the  manner  in  which 
be  was  to  surrender  himself,  the  forts,  and  troops  tome,  it  should  be 
so  conducted  under  a  concerted  plan  between  us,  as  that  the  King's 
troops  sent  upon  this  expedition  should  be  under  no  risk  of  sur- 
prise or  counterplot  ;  and  I  was  determined  not  to  make  the  attempt 
but  under  such  particular  security.     I  knew  the  ground  on  which 
tbe  forts  were  placed,  and  the  contiguous  country,  tolerably  well — 
having  been  therein  1777 — and  1  had  received  many  hints  respect- 
ing both,  from  General  Arnold.     But  it  was  certainly  necessary 
thiU  ft  meeting  should  be  held  with  that  officer  for  settling  the  whole 
pifto.     My  reasons,  as  I  have  described  them,  will,  I  trust,  prove 
the  propriety  of  such  a  measure  on  my  part.     General  Arnold  had 
slso  his  reasons,  which  must  be  so  very  obvious,  as  to  make  it  un- 
necessary for  me  to  explain  them.     Many  projects  for  a  meeting 
were  formed,  and  consequently  several  attempts  made,  in  all  of 
which  General  Arnold  seemed  extremely  desirous  that  some  person, 
who  had  my  particular  confidence,  might  be  sent  to  him;  some 
man,  as  he  described  it  in  writing,  of  his  oiim  mensuration.     I  had 
thought  of  a  person  under  this  important  description,  who  would 
gladly  have  undertaken  it,  but  that  his  peculiar  situation  at  the 
timey  from  which  I  could  not  release  him,  prevented  him  from  en- 
gaging in  it.     General  Arnold  finally  insisted,  that  the  person  sent 
to  confer  with  him  should  be  Adjutant-General  Major  Andr^,  who 
indeed  had  been  the  person  on  my  part,  who  managed  and  carried 
on  the  secret  correspondence."* 

Major  Andr^  appears  to  have  been,  both  as  an  officer  and  man, 
highly  engaging  in  appearance  and  manners.  His  prompt  atten- 
tion to  military  duties  had  secured  him  the  favour  of  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  who  received  him  as  an  aid,  and  on  the  resignation  of  the 
office  of  adjutant-general,  by  Lord  Rawdon,  Andre  received  the 
appointment,  whh  the  rank  of  major — obtained  from  the  English 
minister,  by  the  commander-in-chief's  earnest  solicitation.  That 
he  was  a  man  of  amiable  disposition  and  fascinating  maimers,  is 
testified  by  all,  and  confirmed  by  the  rapidity  of  his  military  advance- 
ment without  fortune  or  family  influence. 


•  Bparkf't  Lift  of  Arnold,  (Am.  Biog.  Vol.  lU.)  pp.  168, 160. 


174  Arnold's  t&bason. 

It  haying  been  decided  that  Andr^  should  go  to  meet  Arnold 
«nd  make  a  6nal  bargain  for  the  post  he  was  entrusted  with,  and  for 
the  lives  he  was  sworn  to  protect,  the  first  consideration  was  to 
bring  about  an  interview  witliout  exciting  suspicion.  On  the  dOth 
of  August,  Arnold,  as  Gusto vus,  wrote  to  his  correspondent,  John 
Andersorij  (Andre,)  that  he  expected  soon  to  be  able  to  meet  him 
and  settle  their  *' commercial  plan''  satisfactorily  to  ''both  parties*' 
—-alluding  to  himself  as  a  third  person^  he  says :  "  He  expects, 
when  you  meet,  that  you  will  be  fully  authorized  from  your  bouse" 
'—that  is,  will  have  ample  powers  from  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  **  Spe- 
culation might  at  this  time  be  easily  made" — ^intimating  that  cir- 
cumstances favour  the  delivery  of  the  post  and  garrison — *'  with 
ready  monet/^ — ^thus  letting  Clinton  know  that  the  price  of  his  per- 
fidy must  he  paid  down,  and  that  he  would  not  tm^t  him. 

Arnold's  plan  appears  to  have  been,  that  this  definitive  meeting 
should  take  place  at  his  own  head  quarters,  where  Andre  was  to  be 
introduced  as  one  of  those  persons,  who,  habitually  acted  as  spies 
upon  the  British.  By  letter  Andre  was  informed  of  the  arrange- 
ment, and  Arnold  sent  notice  to  Colonel  Sheldon,  (who  was  sta- 
tioned at  Salem,  some  miles  from  the  river,  on  tlie  east  side  of  the 
Hudson,)  tliat  a  person  was  expected  from  New  York ;  and  should 
he  arrive,  immediately  to  send  information  to  head-quarters. 

Andrd,  however,  did  not  choose  to  trust  his  correspondent  Gos- 
tavus,  quite  so  implicitly.  But  under  his  feigned  name  of  John 
Anderson,  and  in  a  disguised  hand,  w*rote  to  Colonel  Sbeldoo, 
saying: — '*I  am  told  my  name  is  made  known  to  you,  and  that  I 
may  hope  your  indulgence  in  permitting  me  to  meet  a  friend  near 
your  outposts.  I  will  endeavour  to  obtain  permission  to  go  out 
with  a  flag,  which  will  be  sent  to  Dobbs's  Ferry  on  Monday  next, 
the  11th  instant,  at  twelve  o'clock,  where  I  shall  be  happy  to  meet 

Mr.  G .     Should  I  not  be  allowed  to  go,  the  officer  who  is 

$o  command  the  escort,  between  whom  and  myself  no  distinction 
need  be  made,  can  speak  on  the  affair.  Let  me  entreat  you,  sir, 
-to  fisivour  a  matter  so  interesting  to  the  parties  concerned,  and  which 
is  of  so  private  a  nature,  that  the  publick  on  neither  side  can  be  in- 
jured by  it." 

This  letter  Sheldon  enclosed  to  Arnold,  at  the  same  time  in- 
informing  him,  that  his  health  not  permitting  him  to  go  to  Dobbs's 
Ferry,  he  hoped  the  General  would  either  go  thither  himself,  or 
send  some  other  person  to  meet  the  spy.  It  may  be  remarked,  that 
Dobbs's  Ferry,  was  about  twenty  miles  from  Sheldon's  station,  which 
was  distant  from  head-quarters,  about  fifteen  miles,  and  that  Arnold 
by  the  nearest  route,  was  twenty-five  miles  from  the  ferry ;  and 
must  on  the  route  cross  Croton  River.  It  appears  tliat  Sheldon 
^id  not  fully  understand,  why  the  spy  was  to  be  accompanied  by 
M  MCOiTtt  and  Arnold  seemed  to  thmk  it  neeesstry  to  uikB  an  a- 


Arnold's  treason.  17i 

to  Sheldon  for  the  circumstance ;  he,  therefore,  wrote  to  him 
ihit  he  bad  been  obliged  to  express  himself  with  great  caution  to 
ihid  Mr.  Anderson,  and  to  use  the  signature  of  Gtf5^ar?/#,  to  prevent 
discovery  if  his  letter  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands :  he  noticed  that 
passages  in  Anderson's  letter  must  appear  mysterious  to  Colonel 
Sheldon,  and  said  he  would  himself,  as  he  had  business  at  Ver* 
plank's  Point,  proceed  to  Dobbs's  Ferry,  and  meet  the  flag.  Now, 
Verplank's  Point,  is  about  a  third  of  the  way  from  Arnold's  head- 
quarters  to  the  ferry.  He  further  told  Sheldon,  that  should  the  ex* 
pected  meeting  not  take  place,  and  Anderson  should  come  within 
the  lines,  he  wished  an  express  immediately  to  be  sent  to  him,  and 
the  yiaicer  to  be  forwarded  to  head-quarters,  with  an  escort  of  horse** 
meii— he  gave  as  a  reason  for  not  meeting  Anderson  at  Sheldon's 
snarters,  the  difficulty  which  attended  his  riding.  From  this  we 
infer,  that  his  visit  to  Dobbs's  Ferry  was  by  water :  Robinson's  house, 
or  Amold^s  head-quarters,  being  but  a  short  distance,  east  from 
the  Hudson.  Further  to  blind  the  eyes  of  Sheldon  and  others, 
he  requested  the  Colonel,  if  his  health  permitted,  to  accompany 
Mr.  Anderson ;  and  if  General  Parsons  arrived,  as  he  was  ex- 
pected with  a  body  of  troops  from  Connecticut,  to  show  him  the 
ktter  relative  to  Anderson. 

On  the  10th  of  September,  Arnold  proceeded  by  water  down 
die  river  from  Robinson's  house,  his  head-quarters,  to  King's  Per* 
ry,  thus  crossing  to  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson.  There  be  took 
sp  his  quarters  for  the  night  at  Joshua  Hett  Smith's,  about  two  and 
t  half  miles  from  the  ferry,  on  the  Haverstraw  road. 

This  Mr.  Smith*  was  connected  with  men  of  respectability  in 
the  city  of  New  York.  He  was  a  brother  to  the  King's  Chief  Justice 
William  Smith,  known  as  author  of  a  history  of  the  early  times  of  ih% 
province,  (to  which  frequent  reference  has  been  made  in  the  course 
of  this  work,)  and  subsequently,  as  Chief  Justice  of  Canada;  but 
the  property  of  Joshua,  had  placed  him  (and  he  had  evinced  the 
^h  to  be)  on  the  part  adverse  to  his  brother.  The  predecessor 
sf  Arnold  in  cx)mmand  at  West  I^oint,  had  been  in  the  practice  of 
^ploying  this  Joshua  Smith  to  procure  intelligence  from  the  cityi 
^ich  his  respectable  connexions  gave  him  opportunities  of  doing 
that  were  denied  to  meaner  agents.  Besides,  his  residence  so  near 
the  out-posts,  made  him  acquainted  with  the  people  on  both  sides 
of  the  lines,  and  on  the  neutral  groimd.  His  standing  in  society  and 
education,  gave  him  influence  over  his  neighbours,  and  as  his  chs- 
ticter  and  connexions  were  communicated  to  Arnold,  he,  upon  his 
vrival  at  West  Point,  had  made  a  point  to  gain  Mr.  Smith's  fa- 
toQr  and  confldence,  seeing  in  him  a  valuable  tool  for  his  purposes. 


*  •«ttiqrt.h«wi0taip«et«dofftTowiiigtlMBritMk 


17i  ARXOLB's  TBSA80N. 

He  visited  Smith ;  appeared  to  confide  io  him  ;  inrited  him  to 
bead-<]uarters,  and  furnished  him  with  written  pcrmissioo  to  pass 
the  |5:Qard3  at  all  times.  Such  permissions  were  used  bj  manj  to 
bold  communication  with  others  within  the  English  lines,  for  the 
purposes  of  obtainintr  goods  for  their  own  profit,  and  iDteUigence 
for  the  officers  granting  the  passports. 

After  passinf^  the  night  at  Smuh's,  Arnold  proceeded  down  the 
riTer  to  meet  Andre  and  Colonel  Beverley  Robinson,  at  Dobbs's 
Ferry,  but  as  his  barge  approached  the  place,  it  was  fired  upon  bj 
the  British  gun  boats,  who  pursued  him  to  the  eminent  risque  of 
his  being  captured.  He  landed  on  the  west  side,  and  went  dowD 
to  the  Feny,  but  the  previous  accident  seems  to  have  disconcerted 
the  plan  of  meeting,  and  he  returned  to  his  head-quarters.  With 
the  conspirator^s  caution,  he  wrote  to  General  Washington,  and 
among  other  affairs  relative  to  the  post  entrusted  to  him,  mentioned 
that  he  had  gone  down  the  river  to  gire  orders  relative  to  precwor 
tioos  in  case  the  enemv  should  ascend. 

Another  appointment  was  now  to  be  made,  and  additional  pie- 
eautioos  were  rendered  necessar)*,  as  Arnold  knew  that  the  cooi- 
mander-in-chief  would  cross  the  Hudson  at  King's  Ferry,  on  fait 
way  to  meet  Count  llochambeau  at  Hartford.  Two  days  after  fait 
disappointment,  he  found  an  opportunityof  conveying  a  letter  to  An- 
dr^,  couched  in  the  phraseology  of  mercantile  transactions,  in  which 
be  warned  him  not  to  be  too  free  in  his  letters  to  Colonel  SbeldoSt 
and  invited  him  to  come  to  the  landins:  on  the  east  side  of  Dobba's 
Terry  on  Wednesday,  the  20th  of  September,  at  which  time  and 
place,  a  person  would  meet  him  and  conduct  him  to  the 
**  It  will  be  necessary  for  you  to  be  in  disguise.  You  may 
sored,  that,  if  there  is  no  danger  in  passing  your  lines,  you  will  be 
perfectly  safe  where  I  propose  a  meeting." 

Before  this  letter  reached  Andre,  the  anxiety  of  Clinton  In 
finish  this  negociation  had  induced  him  to  send  Beverley  Robinson 
up  the  river  in  the  Vulture  sloop  of  war  as  far  as  Teller's  Point,  to 
seek  an  opportunity  of  communication  with  Arnold.  Pretending 
to  belieie  Putnam  still  at  West  Point,  the  emissary  wrote  a  letter 
directed  to  him  as  commandins:  officer,  but  certain  of  being  opened 
by  Arnold.  It  expressed  a  desire  to  have  an  interview  on  private 
business.  A  dag  was  made  use  of  to  forward  this  design  oif  trcir 
cher}',  and  these  letters  (for  there  was  an  enclosure  directed  to  Ar- 
nold, requesting  the  same  favour  of  Arnold,  if  Putnam  should  be 
gone)  were  signed  by  Robinson ;  and  if  intercepted  would  appear 
to  relate  to  his  former  property  in  that  part  of  the  country,  wUdi 
was  very  extensive,  and  to  other  private  affairs.  The  boos6  in 
which  Arnold  resided  had  been  Robinson's,  but  was  confiacaiad  ti^ 
the  state  of  New  York,  with  the  tract  of  land  adjoining. 

Arnold  received  Robinson's  letter  pnblickljr,  and 


▲AXOLD*S  TEBASOll.  177 

die  contents  to  those  mround  him.     Colonel  Lamb  remarked,  that 
iz  was   stranire  Beverley  Uoliin<on  should  open  a  correspondence 
with  a  miiitan'  officer  on  a  subject  to  u  hirh  the  civil  authority  was 
alone  competent.     This  remark  must  have  startled  the  cuilty  con- 
science of  the  traitor.     But  Kobinson's  intended  inten  iew  was  em- 
barrassed  by  a  circumstance  known  to  Arnold,  but  not  to  the 
Colonel :  which   was,  tliat  General  Washin^lion  would  arrive  at 
Kiiii:*s  Ferrv  to  cross  the  Hudson  on  his  war  to  Hartford,  and 
Dosi  of  course  know  that  a  flag  from  the  Vulture  had  been  sent  to 
Arnold  just  before  his  arrival.     To  ^lard  against  suspicion,  as  well 
as  to  meet  and  show  respect  to  a  commander  whose  confidence  be 
ms  betrayini:.  the  traitor  proceeded  in  his  barge  to  meet  General 
Wasfaincton  and  convev  him  to  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson.    The 
Vuhure  was  in  full  view  of  the  barire  in  crossing:,  and  it  was  recol- 
lected  afterwards  bv  the  officers  in  the  suite  of  the  commander-in- 
chiefp  that  while  he  was  lookin^r  at  the  sloop  of  war  through  his 
ciass.  and  speaking  in  a  low  voice  to  those  around  him,  Arnold 
laajiitested  uneasiness  and  emotion.      Another  circumstance  was 
at  a  fature  time  called  to  mind.     Lafayette  said  in  a  tone  of  plea- 
SUI3T,  **  General  Arnold,  since  you  have  a  correspondence  with 
tbe  enemy,  you  must  ascertain  as  soon  as  possible  what  has  become 
of  Guichen** — a  French  admiral,  whose  squadron  was  anxiously 
looked  for.     Arnold   hasulv  demanded  what  he  meant: — looked 
oonfiised — controlled  the  hasty  impulse — and  was  relieved  by  the 
toce  at  the  moment  strikin:!  the  shore. 

lie  accompanied  General  Washington  to  Peekskill,  and  placed 
Robinson's  letter  in  his  hand.  Tnis  was  necessary  to  account  for 
^  arrival  of  the  dag  from  the  Vulture.  The  General  advised  bim 
to  avoid  the  requested  interview,  and  remarked,  as  Colonel  Lamb 
U  done,  that  the  subject  of  Koliiuson*s  propertv*  belonged  to  the 
riril  authority  of  the  state.  After  tiiis  decision,  it  would  be  too 
liuardous  to  meet  the  a^nt  of  Sir  Henry,  as  had  been  intended. 
These  events  occurred  on  the  ISih  of  September.  What  a  day  of 
•iwchedness  this  must  have  been  to  the  traitor  I  Fear  of  detec- 
J*oiH-suspicion  that  he  was  a] ready  deieciovl,  and  oermiiteil  by  the 
conunander-in-chief  to  proceed  only  the  tanher  to  entangle  him- 
Kif  in  his  own  snare — the  most  tridtn::  event  startled  him — for 
"tbe  thief  does  fear  each  bush  an  officer."'     T/urt  is  no  peace  /or 

Wlien  relieved  from  his  immediate  fears  by  the  departure  of 
V'lshiarton.  an  answer  was  openly  reurned  to  Robinson's  letter 
i>r  ibe  dag  boau  Arnoiii  siid  that  liie  general  disapproved  of  the 
Werview.  But  an  enclosed  leizcr  ir.niio  an  aj^jH>iiitment  for  the 
lidu  of  the  :20tn.  when  a  person  woui^i  be  sent  to  Dobbs's  FerT}\ 
or  **  oa  board  tJu  VuUurc^  who  would  be  furnished  with  a  boat 
aAig«apd  wbowsecrocjawl  honoor  might  be  depended  opoo* 
uu  33 


178  ▲mxoxj:>'8  nxAaoH. 

He  advised  that  the  sloop  of  war  should  remain  statioiiaij.  A  pre- 
cautionary postscript  added  that  General  Washington  would  be  at 
West  Point  on  Saturday  next,  and  any  matter  communicated 
should  be  laid  before  him.  A  copy  of  the  previous  letter  to  Andre, 
appointing  the  time  of  meeting  at  Dobbs*s  Ferry  was  likewise  en- 
closed, and  all  three  were  immediately  forwarded  by  Robinson  to 
his  employer. 

Sir  Henry  having  received  all  this  information,  despatched  Andre 
on  the  20th  of  September,  to  Dobbs's  Ferr}',  who  in  his  way  stopped 
at  the  Vulture,  expecting  that  Arnold  might  himself  come  oS  to 
that  vessel.  At  7  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the  20tfa,  be  reached 
the  sloop  of  war,  but  Arnold  had  already  contrived  another  mode 
of  meeting,  and  had  made  Joshua  H.  Smith  his  tool  to  bring  it 
about. 

We  have  already  seen  that  Smith  had  been  in  the  habit  of  con- 
veying intelligence,  as  well  as  other  profitable  merchantable  com- 
modities from  New  York,  and  that  Arnold  had  ingratiated  himself 
with  this  roan  as  one  fit  for  his  clandestine  purposes.  He  now 
informed  him  that  he  expected  a  man  from  New  York,  with  whom 
it  was  necessary  to  have  a  personal  conference,  and  in  a  most  secret 
manner ;  that  this  person  must  be  conducted  within  the  American 
lines,  and  a  man  of  Mr.  Smith's  prudence  and  intelligence  conM 
alone  manage  so  nice  an  alTair.  He  pprsuaded  Smith  to  consent 
that  this  expected  messenger  should  be  received  at  his  home,  and 
the  important  interview  take  place  there.  For  this  purpose,  Mn. 
Smith  and  family  were,  (under  pretence  of  a  visit  to  friends  tt 
Fishkill,)  removed. 

It  was  then  arrancred  between  Arnold  and  Smith,  that  the  latter, 
should  go  on  board  the  ^'ulture,  or  to  Dobbs's  Ferry,  and^coovey 
the  person  expected,  to  the  place  of  intended  meeting.  Tbe  qnar- 
ter-master  at  Stony  Point,  had  previous  orders  to  supply  Smidi 
with  a  boat  whenever  required  ;  and  Arnold  gave  him  the  neces- 
sary passport,  with  orders  for  a  flag,  and  such  letters  as  would 
be  understood  on  board  the  Vulture,  or  by  the  person  expected. 

Smith  had  relied  upon  one  of  his  tenants  as  a  boatman,  but  tbe 
man  refused  to  go  on  a  night  expedition,  for  fear  of  the  guard-boats. 
He  was  therefore,  despatched  with  an  express  letter,  to  RobinscNi's 
house,  to  let  Arnold  know  of  the  delay.  This  moved  the  general 
towards  Smithes  house  earlv  in  the  dav,  to  concert  further  mea- 
anres. 

Andre,  disappointed  that  Arnold  did  not  meet  him  as  he  expect- 
ed on  board  the  English  ship  of  war,  wrote  to  his  friend  Clintoii, 
and  expressed  his'  fears,  that  his  frequent  joiumeys  up  tbe  rirer 
would  lead  to  suspicions  or  discoveries.  He  therefore  tbongfal  it 
best  to  remain  for  a  time  under  pretence  of  sickness,  in  tbe  hope 
that  Arnold  might  find  means  of  commnniciting  with  Imp.    Ixmm 


Arnold's  tbsason*  179 

etmest  wish  to  infQrin  the  traitor  that  he  awaited  iiiin,  and  an 
opportunity  presented  the  day  after  his  arrival  on  ship-board. 

A  white  flag  was  displayed  at  Teller's  Point  by  some  of  the 
country  people,  which  being  interpreted  as  thnj  uishctl,  the  captain 
of  the  Vuhure  sent  off  a  boat  with  a  flag,  which  was  fired  at  as 
soon  as  it  approached  the  shore.  This  gave  Andre  the  oj)portunity 
be  desired,  as  it  was  a  proper  subject  for  a  remonstrance  to  the 
commanding  officer,  and  a  flag  with  a  letter  was  accordingly 
despatched.  The  letter  was  dated  on  the  21st  of  September;  it 
was  in  the  hand  writing  of  Andre,  siri:ned  by  the  captain  of  the  ves- 
lel,  and  countersigned  *'  John  Anderson."  It  may  be  remarked 
that  the  flag  used  by  some  ignorant  boors  as  a  decoy  to  their  ene- 
mies, whose  presence  in  an  armed  vessel  annoyed  and  alarmed 
diem,  was  considered  dishonourable :  but  to  use  a  flag  for  the 
purpose  of  basest  treachery,  by  the  accomplished  and  chivalrous 
gentleman,  loaded  with  honours  by  the  source  of  all  honour — a 
kiMg — ^was  strictly  within  the  rules  of  honourable  warfare.  This 
honourable  flag,  covering  dishonourable  treachery,  was  sent  to  Ver- 
planck's  Point,  and  Arnold,  on  his  way  to  Smith's,  arrived  at  that 
post,  as  the  boat  returned  to  the  \'ultnre. 

The  letter  was  handed  to  him,  and  by  him  was  fully  understood  ; 
he  therefore  hastened  to  prepare  Smith  for  a  visit  to  the  enemy's 
Teasel  on  the  approaching  night. 

Crossing  from  Verplanck's  to  Stony  Point,  he  made  all  the 
leqtiisite  arrangements  respecting  the  boat  Smith  would  want,  and 
tbeo  proceeded  to  his  iiouse  to  remove  the  difliculty  which  had 
occurred  respecting  boatmen.  The  guard-boats,  which  had  fright- 
sned  Smith's  tenant  from  agreeing  to  accompany  him,  were  always 
Hationed  to  prevent  communication  with  the  shore  when  English 
Tesaels  came  up  the  river.  These  boats  had  now  received  orders 
DOC  to  stop  Smith,  and  he  possessed  the  countersign  for  the  neit 
Bight,  which  was  "Congress." 

In  the  evening.  Smith  brought  his  tenant,  Samuel  Colquhoun,  to 
a  conference  with  Arnold,  who  requested  hiin  to  accompany  his 
bndlord  on  a  visit  that  night  to  the  Vulture.  The  man  refused. 
He  had  the  previous  night  rode  as  express  to  head-quarters — he 
wanted  sleep — he  would  go  by  daylight,  and  with  a  flag,  but  did 
not  like  the  night  service.  Arnold  represented  the  necessity  of 
bringing  a  gentleman  on  shore  f/uit  night  on  business  of  importance 
to  the  country ;  and  as  a  friend  to  the  cause,  urged  Colquhoun  to 
waive  bis  objection.  Smith  joined  in  the  same  strain,  asking  the 
man  if  be  did  not  think  it  his  duty  to  oblige  the  General,  for  the 
good  of  his  country,  and  especially  as- he.  Smith,  was  ready  to 
share  all  risks  by  going  with  him.  Still  the  plain  countryman  ob- 
jected. He  did  not  like  this  business  in  the  dark.  Arnold  assured 
hill  that  the  oflkers  of  the  adjacent  posts  were  informed  of  the 


180  Arnold's  tkeasosi. 

risit  the  boat  was  to  make  to  the  sloop  of  war— the  quarteiHDaflier 
had  provided  the  boat — the  commanders  of  the  guard-boats  ind 
due  notice,  and  all  was  made  safe.  Colquhoim  then  said  be  could 
not  row  the  boat  alone.  His  brotiier  Joseph  was  then  mentionedv 
and  Samuel  sent  for  him.  Thev.  atter  conferring:,  both  determiiied 
Dot  to  £:o. 

After  trying  ))ersuasion,  Arnold  used  threats.  He  should  look 
upon  them  as  disaifected,  if  they  persisted  to  refuse,  and  put  them 
under  arrest.  They  at  lenirtli  consented  to  obey  bis  orders,  and 
repaired  to  the  place  of  embarkation.  They  were  directed  bj 
Arnold  to  muffle  the  oars ;  and  thus  prepared,  about  midnight,  the 
boat  arrived  at  the  \'nlture.  The  noise  made  bv  the  officer  on 
watch  and  the  sailors,  in  their  hailinsr  the  boat,  was  beard  below, 
and  a  boy  sent  up  with  orders  that  the  man  siiould  be  shewn  into 
the  cabin,  supposing  him  to  be  Arnold,  ^^mith  descended,  and 
found  his  old  acquaintance,  Be%'erley  Robinson.  A  letter  from 
Arnold  was  presented  to  the  Colonel,  in  which  he  said,  *^  This 
will  be  delivered  to  you  by  Mr.  Smith,  who  will  conduct  yoa  to  a 
place  of  safety.  Neither  Mr.  Smith  nor  any  other  person  shall  bt 
made  acquainted  with  your  proposals,  if  they  (which  I  doubt  not) 
are  of  such  a  nature  tliat  1  can  oiHciallv  take  notice  of  them,  1  shall 
do  it  with  pleasure.  I  take  it  for  granted.  Colonel  Robinson* 
not  propose  any  thinir  that  is  not  for  the  interest  of  the  United 
as  well  as  of  himself."  Smith  had  likewise  two  papers,  signed  by 
Arnold,  which  he  showed  to  Robinson— one,  a  permission  to  pa» 
and  repass  with  a  boat  to  Dobbs's  Ferry — the  other,  a  **  permission 
to  Joshua  Smith,  Mr.  John  Anderson,  and  two  ser%*ants,  to  pa» 
and  repass  tlie  guards  near  King's  Ferr}',  at  all  times."  By  tiicse 
papers,  Colonel  Robinson  understood  that  Arnold  expected  Andre 
to  come  on  shore.  Smith  was  left  with  the  captain  of  the  TesKi 
for  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  when  Robinson  returned  with  a  per- 
son whom  he  introduced  as  Mr.  Anderson.  He  excused  himself 
from  going  ashore,  but  this  ifcrmn  would  go  in  his  stead,  and  was 
competent  to  the  transaction  of  the  business.  Andre,  although  in 
bis  uniform,  was  so  completely  enveloped  in  a  blue  great  coat,  that 
Smitli  (if  we  believe  his  assertions)  did  not  suspect  his  real  name  or 
character. 

Smith  and  Andre  descended  into  the  boat  where  the  Colqnhotras 
•waited  ibem.  They  were  landed  at  the  foot  of  a  mounuin  called 
the  Long  Clore,  on  the  western  mar;;in  of  the  river,  about  six  miles 
below  Stony  Point.     The   Vulture   lay  between  the  place  and 


*  nU  geiitleinui  hail  been  proprietor  and  retideDt  ofthe  bonie  oeotpiod  betes 
kb  flisbt  I^  Arnold  m  hb  hoM^narten. 


▲axold's  treason.  ISl 

r*s  Point.  Here  Arnold  was  in  anendance  on  horseback,  with 
horse  brou^t  bv  a  ser%*ani  of  Smitirs. 
Ii  was  now  perfectly  dark,  and  Smith  knowing  the  spot  desi^ 
bv  Arnold.  <:nroped  his  way  iip  the  bank,  and  found  thecom- 
of  Wesi  Toinl  concealed  anions  trees  and  bushes.*  What 
a  coDtrast  does  this  fomi  to  the  «:allant  soldier  scorn in^;  the  imbe- 
ciiitv  or  timidity  of  iiates.  and  though  deprived  of  legitimate  com- 
I,  ieadine  the  soldiers  who  hailed  his  ap|H^arance  with  accla- 
and  followed  him.  on  Behmus*s  Height,  into  the  redoubts 
01  tbe  enemy.  Here  a  sculking.  sneaking  conspirator,  awaiting: 
die  approach  of  that  enemy ,  to  close  a  bargain  for  die  lives  and 
liberties  of  those  soldiers. 

Smith  was  sent  back  for  his  com|VUHon«  and  having  introduced 
bim.  was  requestetl  to  retire  to  the  boat,  wheix?  he  remained,  ill  at 
nse  and  watchful,  while  the  Colquhouns,  conscience-free,  slept 
somidly  through  the  remainder  of  the  night.  The  conference  ap- 
peared unnecessarily-  long  to  Mr.  Smitli,  and  he  retraced  his  way 
lo  pre  notice  of  the  approach  of  morning,  and  tlie  necessity  of  de- 
^  befoie  daylight  appeared. 
The  conspirators  had  exhausted  the  night,  and  their  business 
ool  yet  completed.  It  was  agreeil  that  ihe  boat  should  be  dis* 
I,  and  sent  up  the  river.  Andre  consented  to  mount  a  led 
brought  to  the  Clove  with  Arnold,  and  to  accompany  him  to 
Soilh^s  house,  there  to  remain  throu^rh  the  dav.  and  return  to  the 
tloop  of  war  next  night.  It  was  still  dark.  and.  as  the  Britbh  of* 
the  voice  of  the  sentinel  demanding  the  coumersign, 
tbe  first  indication  to  the  adjutant-general,  tliat  he  was  within 
iie  Amencan  lines.  It  appears  strange  that  an  othcer  having  ac- 
to  every  source  of  information,  and  long  contemplating  thb 
ipt.  should  be  ignorant  of  the  ground  which  the  enemy's  posts 
pied,  especially  as  he  had  been  on  board  the  Vulture  in  full 
of  the  ClovCf  where  he  landed,  and  which  was  a  considerable 
£Maoce  within  tho^e  lines. 

About  the  break  of  day,  the  conspirators  arrived  at  Smithes 
He  had  proceeded  with  tin^  boat  to  Crom  Island,  in  Haver- 
Creek,  and  dismissing  the  Colquhouns.  ioined  Arnold.  To 
the  alarm  of  tbe  groupe.  a  cannonade  was  very  soon  heard,  and 
fcoea  tbe  window.  Andre  belield  that  the  Vulture  was  in  peril  from 
the  pms^  and  saw  her  obliged  to  weigh  anchor  and  stand  down  the 
mer.  In  an  upper  apartment  in  Smidi*s  house,  the  spy  and  the 
liaitor*  viewed  this  unexpected  incident,  and  Sir  Henry  Clinton^s 
•djmant-geDerml,  no  doubt,  felt  for  a  time,  that  the  net  prepared  for 
closing  around  him.     It  is  to  be  supposed,  that  the 


,  ••  kid  OMM  te  in.- 


i8S  ABXOVD's  TKEABQll. 

comminder  of  West  Poiot  re^«sared  bim,  and  afier  brakfut 
Smith  left  tbem  to  finish  *^  the  plot  of  treacherr.^ 

The  details  of  this  iDfamoj?:  proceedinz-  have  not  been  fuDj 
broudit  to  lifhu  Sir  U&nrv  ClintOD  ha«  said,  in  his  letter  to  the 
Enidisfa  mioistiy,  tliat  he  thoui^ijt  the  piao  of  soch  importaDoe, 
that  it  oiio:ht  to  be  pursued  **  at  ei  en*  risk,  and  awy  €jj*tninJ'*  Aj- 
Dokl  koevr  the  impri nance  of  tue  pos^t  he  was  entrusied  with,  aod 
of  course  stipulated  for  an  adeqjaie  price.  li  is  underatood, 
that  the  daj  also  was  fixed.  Andie  was  to  returo  to  New  Votrk* 
and  the  Britiafa  troops  (already  embarked  uoder  the  pretence  of  aa 
expedidoo  to  the  Chesapeake.)  were  to  be  readr  to  ascend  the 
river.  Arnold  was  to  weaken  the  post  of  West  Point  bj  soch  a 
disposition  of  the  garrisoD,  as  would  vield  it  an  easy  prey  to  the 
troops  broogfat  afaiosi  it. 

Every  preliminary  was  settled,  and  the  spy  furnished  whh  all  the 
papers  explanatory'  of  the  condition  of  tlie  post,  and  the  mannrr  ia 
which  its  force  was  to  be  rendered  unavailable,  and  its  ganisos  be- 
tfajed  to  death  or  captivity.  Andre  required  to  be  pal  in  aafair 
oo  board  the  Vulture :  to  this  Arnold  asseoiedi  and.  afafaoagh  a 
diffierent  route  was  proposed,  it  appears  from  the  following,  (vbkb 
Andre  wrote  after  his  capture,)  that  he  supposed  he  was  u>  be  leot 
on  board  tbe  attending  sloop  of  war.  His  words  are*  **  Arnold 
qtiitted  me,  having  himself,  made  me  put  the  papers  I  bore,  beivaea 
inj  stockings  and  feet.  Whilst  he  did  it.  he  expressed  a  wish,  in 
of  anv  accident  befallini:  me,  that  thev  should  be  destrored : 
I  said  of  course  would  be  tiie  case,  as  when  I  went  into  tbe 
boat  I  should  have  them  tied  abo'jt  with  a  string  and  a  stone.  Be- 
fore we  parted,  some  meotioo  had  l>een  made  of  my  crosing  tbe 
river,  and  going  another  route ;  hut  I  objected  much  against  it, 
and  tbouffat  it  was  setded.  iijat  io  the  wav  I  came,  so  1  sbould 
retorn. 

Before  Arnold  left  Smith's  hou^.  he  unred  him  to  go  with  An- 
die  on  board  the  Vulture  as  soon  as  ii  was  dark  :  but  as  if  lo  pro- 
ride  for  obstacles,  he  sent  two  jtas^s  for  .Smith,  tlie  one  a  pemusGion 
to  go  *^  with  a  boat,  three  hands  and  a  fla::  to  Dobbs's  Ferry  on 
pnblick  business  and  return  immediately/'  trie  other,  to  pass  tiie 
gurds  to  tbe  White  Plains  and  return.  To  this  was  added  a  tfaird. 
as  follows,  **  Head-quarters.  Kobinson's  house,  September  22d« 
1780.*— Pennit  Mr.  John  Ander:K>n  to  pass  the  guards  to  tbe  Wluie 
or  below,  if  be  chooses.  He  beinr  on  publick  busineaa  br 
B.  Arnold,  M.  Gen.' 

day  was  passed  by  the  spy  in  solitude,  and  wben 

Smkh  positively  refused  to  go  again  oo  boanl  tbe 

had  be  engaged  aoy  peison  u>  row  tbe  boat. 

be  gsre,  was  an  attack  of  the  ague,  bat  this*did  not 

vil  be  aoen,  from  aceompanyini;  Andie  on  faono 


-    Arnold's  tkkason.  188 

back  in  his  nocturnal  journey,  or  from  crossing  the  river  with  him. 
Smith's  reasons  for  not  taking  the  spy  on  board  the  sloop  of  war, 
have  never  been  explained.  We  know  that  Andre  was  compelled 
to  take  the  route  Smith  pointed  out,  which  was  to  cross  the  river- 
and  proceed  in  the  direction  of  White  Plains.  It  bad  been  setded 
between  the  two^  principals  in  the  treacherous  business,  that,  if  the 
adjutant-general,  should  be  obliged  to  return  to  New  York  by  land, 
he  should  exchange  his  military  garb,  for  a  citizens  dress.  Ac- 
cordingly Smith's  clothes  were  made  use  of,  and  we  must  suppose, 
that  this  circumstance  would  make  him  suspect,  if  it  did  not  make 
known  to  him,  the  quality  of  Arnold's  mysterious  visiter ;  although 
it  is  pretended  that  the  military  habiliments  of  the  spy,  were  repre- 
sented to  Smith  as  merely  the  consequence  of  Anderson's  vanity, 
who,  wishing  to  make  a  figure,  borrowed  them  from  an  acquaint- 
ance.    That  Joshua  was  so  credulous  is  not  to  be  believed. 

The  uniform  cont  of  tho  adjutant-general  was  left  at  Smith's 
bouse :  and  with  a  coat  of  Joshua's,  covered  by  the  dark  great  coat 
with  a  wide  cape,  and  buttoned  close  to  his  neck,  Andre  was  equip- 
ped for  the  journey.  Accordingly,  in  the  evening,  he  and  Smith 
proceeded  to  King's  Ferry.  On  the  way  Smith  endeavoured  to 
draw  his  companion  into  conversation,  but  without  success.  He 
was  reserved  and  thoughtful.  On  the  contrary,  Joshua  accosted 
several  of  his  acquaintance  on  the  road,  and  even  stopped  at  a  sut- 
tlers  tent  and  joined  in  discussing  a  bowl  of  punch,  while  Andr6 
walked  his  horse  slowly  to  the  ferry  alone ;  and  there  waited  Smith's 
arrival. 

As  they  passed  through  the  works  at  Verplanck's  Point,  Smith 
rode  up  to  Colonel  Livingston's  tent,  while  Andre  and  a  servant 
who  attended  him,  (a  negro  of  Smith's,)  rode  on.  To  the  colonel's 
enquiries.  Smith  said,  he  was  going  up  the  country,  and  took  charge 
of  letters  for  General  Arnold  and  Governour  Clinton.  He  excused 
himself  from  stopping,  as  a  gentleman  waited  for  him,  whose  busi- 
ness was  urgent.  He  then  overtook  his  charge,  and  they  proceeded 
until  between  eight  and  nine  at  night,  when  they  were  stopped  by 
a  patroling  party,  whose  officer  appeared  suspicious,  asked  many 
questions  and  would  not  suffer  them  to  pass  until  he  had  guarded 
them  to  an  adjacent  house,  and  read  the  talismanick  pass  of  the 
conmander  of  the  district.  All  this  was  gall  and  wormwood  to 
the  spy,  but  Smith  re-assured  him,  and,  by  lying  with  an  impudent 
face,  carried  him  through.  The  officer,  although  yielding  obedi- 
ence to  his  general's  orders,  was  particularly  inquisitive  to  know  of 
Smith,  what  urgent  business  induced  him  and  his  companion  to  tra- 
Tel  so  late  at  night  near  the  enemies  lines ;  expressed  his  fears  that 
they  would  fall  in  with  the  Cow-boys ;  who,  he  assured  him,  were 
out.  These  were  the  refugee  plunderers,  attached  to  the  British 
part ;  called  themselves  loyalists ;  and  were  particularly  active  in 


184  a&kold's  treason* 

making  prisoners  of  unarmed  rebels,  aad  carrying  off  rebel  cows 
or  any  other  article  animate  or  inanimate,  that  might  be  turned 
to  account  in  New  York  city.  The  Americans  had  a  set  of  rob- 
bers near  the  British  lines,  who,  were  as  notorious  for  licentious 
exploits  as  the  cow-boys,  and  passed  under  tlie  appellation  of 
Skinners.  Westchester  county  lay  between  the  lines  of  the  two 
hostile  armies,  and  was  the  field  on  which  these  worthies,  whether 
loyal  or  patriotick,  exhibited  their  atrocious  dexterity. 

To  the  queries  of  the  captain,  Smith  answered  that  be  and 
Mr.  Anderson,  were  employed  by  General  Arnold  to  meet  a 
person  near  White  Plains,  who  was  expected  to  give  intelli- 
gence of  importance.  Still  Captain  Boyd  advised  delay  till  morn- 
ing. He  represented  the  danger  of  travelling  by  night,  so  power- 
fuUyi  that  Smith  was  alarmed  ;  but  Andre,  who  had  more  fears  of 
those  who  surrounded  him,  than  of  the  refugee  Cow-boys,  insisted 
upon  proceeding.  Smith  then  consulted  the  American  officer  as  to 
the  safest  road,  and  was  told  that  the  Tarrytown  road  was  most  in- 
fested by  Cow-boys,  but  both  exceedingly  dangerous :  his  repre- 
sentations induced  Smith  to  determine  upon  passing  the  oigbt  at 
the  house  of  one  Andreas  Miller,  and  Andre,  much  against  his 
will  acquiesced.  They  were  hospitably  received,  but  could  only  be 
accommodated  with  one  bed,  and,  according  to  Smitli's  account, 
his  companion  passed  a  weary  and  restless  night.  In  this  we  may 
believe  Mr.  Smith. 

Andre  was  first  to  leave  the  bed  of  thorns,  as  it  must  have 
proved  to  him.  He  roused  the  servant — ordered  the  horses^ 
and  by  dawn  of  day  the  party  took  the  road  to  Pine's  bridge,  which 
crosses  Croton  river  on  the  way  to  North  Castle.  Being,  as  he 
thought,  freed  from  the  American  patroles,  Andre  became  cheerful 
and  animated  ;  astonishing  his  companion  and  guide  by  the  sudden 
change  in  his  character,  from  gloom  and  taciturnity,  to  gaiety  and 
easy  conversation.  At  Pine's  bridge,  Smith  previously  determined 
to  leave  Mr.  Anderson,  as  the  Cow-boys  had  recently  been  above, 
and  the  region  below  was  considered  as  their  appropriate  domain. 
The  travellers  breakfasted  on  snppawn  and  milk  at  tbe  house  of  a 
Dutch  woman  who  had  been  plundered  by  the  refugees,  and  then 
the  guide  left  his  charge,  who  heard  of  the  marauding  parties 
from  below  with  more  satisfaction  than  his  companion. 

Smith  returned  towards  his  home,  but  made  a  circuit  and  took 
Robinson's  house  in  his  way,  that  he  might  give  Arnold  an  accotrat 
of  the  progress  Mr.  Anderson  had  made  in  his  return  to  the  city* 

The  Spy  had  now  to  pass  alone  through  the  neutral  ground  as 
it  was  called,  where  the  warfare  of  robbers  prevailed,  and  where 
Cotv^ys  or  Skinners  were  equally  feared  by  the  inhabitants ;  but 
Mr.  Andre  bad  the  American  general's  pass  to  produce  to  tbt 
one  ptrty,  and  bis  true  character  to  proted  bim  from  ibt 


ARXOLD^S  TREASON.  185 

Still  he  could  not  but  feel  that  his  situation  was  one  of  peril.     The 
remarks  he  had  heanl  from  tlie  captain  of  the  patrole  on  the  pre- 
ceding; niffht  seems  to  have  induced  the  adjutant-sreneral  to  take 
the  Tam-ioirn  road  as  the  one  most  treqiienied  bv  the  Cow-bovs; 
K>r  ii  iras  understood  by  Smith  that  he  would  proceed  towards 
\^  hiie  Plains.     Tj^on  what  apparently  chance-circumstances  the 
£ite  of  individuals  and  armies,  and  states,  appears  to  depend  !    Had 
this  bearvr  of  ruin  to  thousands  proceeded  on  the  road  at  6rst 
intended,  he  probably  wonld  have  accomplished  the  treason  in 
satetv  to  hiniself:   but  a  few  words  uttered  at  random  bv  the 
American  otlicer  to  Smith,   resjieciini:  the  danger  of  the  road 
nearest  the  Hudson,  deiermined  the  spy  to  turn  that  way  as  most 
tiequented  by  his  friends — and  by  that  Heave  nil  irected  /ifn»,  the 
impending  ruin  was  averted  and  the  lives  of  thousands  saved. 

From  Pine's  bridge  the  adjutant-general  of  the  British  army 
bid  proceeded  about  eleven  miles,  and  ap]>roached  within  a  few 
hundred  yards  of  the  Hudson  without  interruption,  and  probably 
telt  himself  beyond  ihe  reach  of  detection.  About  half  a  mile 
Dorth  of  Tarrytown  ihe  road  crosses  a  small  brook.  A  few  rods 
from  this  brook  a  peiiod  was  put  to  the  journey  of  tlie  spy  and  the 
pmcress  of  the  treason. 

On  this  fated  morning,  seven  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  region 
had  by  a::reeinent  taken  their  arms  and  proceeiled  to  the  neigh- 
bourhooii  of  this  brook,  and  bridge,  to  prevent  cattle  from  being 
driven  towards  New  York  :  and  to  seize  as  legal  prize,  any  such 
loyal  cows  or  oxen  as  miirhi  be  destined  for  his  majesty's  troops  by 
tbi»ir  friends.  Four  of  this  band  were  stationed  on  a  hill  com- 
mandini:  a  view  of  the  road :  the  others,  John  Paulding,  Isaac 
\an  Wart  and  David  Williams,  were  concealed  bv  bushes  verv 
Mar  the  road. 

At  Smith's  trial.*  which  was  bv  a  court  martial,  and  commenced 

m 

the  day  after  Andre's  examination,  Paulding  and  Williams  gave 
die  ibilowins  testimonv.  Paulding^  said.t  **  Mvself,  Isaac  Van 
w  an,  and  David  Williams  were   Ivinn  bv  the  side  of  the  road 

«  %.  • 

about  half  a  mile  above  Tarrytown,  and  about  fifteen  miles  above 
Kiojirsbridfire,  on  Saturdav  mornin:!,  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock, 
tbe  23d  of  September.  We  had  lain  tiiere  about  an  hour  and  a 
bib"  as  near  as  I  can  recollect,  and  saw  several  persons  we  were 
Kquainted  with,  whom  we  let  pass.  Presently  one  of  the  young 
men,  who  were  with  me,  said,  •  There  comes  a  gentlemanlike- 
looking  man,  who  appears  to  be  well  dressed,  and  has  boots  on. 


*  8m  Spark'f  Amer.  Biog.  Vol.  III.  p.  2S3. 

t  8m  ibe  trial  and  Smith't  book,  published  m  London  1806.  calUd  ^^  An  An- 
HiBk  XamtiTo,*'  Ac.  dkc. 

TOL.  II.  24 


ami  whom  ran  bad  better  step  out  and  stop,  if  ram  imTi 
bfin/  C>D  that  I  ^ot  op,  ami  presented  irj  fielock  at  tbe  titaftrf 
tbe  persoo*  aod  tokl  l.ini  lo  stznd ;  aod  tl^n  1  asked  him  vijtb 
vajr  be  vas  roing-  *  Gentiesnen/  said  he,  *  I  bnpe  roe  beioBC  >• 
Mr  paftj/  1  asked  bim  w fiat  party.  He  said,  *  Tlie  Lower  Pam.' 
Upoo  tbat  I  told  bim  I  did.  Tfsen  be  said«  *  I  am  a  Bffiiisb  afiDtr 
out  of  the  counfry  on  paniciiiar  businesA,  aod  1  bope  too  viQ  BOl 
detain  me  a  minaie  ;*  and  fo  «bow  tbat  be  was  a  Britkb  oftccr  be 
polled  oot  bis  watcb.  Upon  ubich  I  loM  bim  fo  dismMOl.  He 
then  said,  *  My  God,  I  must  do  any  tbioz  to  get  aloog/  and  seeaed 
to  oiake  a  kind  of  lau^b  of  it,  and  pulled  oot  GcBetal  Afoolfs 
poso,  wbicb  was  to  Jobo  Anderson,  to  pa»  ail  .etnrds  to  Wbitt 
Flaios  aod  beloir.  Upon  tbat  be  dismounted.  Said  be,  *  Gcade- 
men,  too  bad  best  let  me  eo.  or  tou  will  brio£  \i 
tiofible,  for  your  stoppini:  me  « ill  deiaio  the  GeceraTs 
and  said  be  nas  goinz  to  Dobbs's  Ft- rry  lo  meet  m  persoa  ifaevei 
let  ioiellisence  for  General  Arnold.  Cpoo  tbat  1  told  bim  I  hoped 
he  would  oot  be  odended  ;  tint  ne  did  not  mean  to  take  amy 
Ifom  bim ;  aod  I  told  bim  there  were  many  bad  people,  who 
goine  aloo;  ihe  road,  aod  I  did  not  know  but  perhaps  he  night  he 


Mr.  Pauldin;  said  funber«  that  be  asked  tbe  ookoown 
bis  name,  and  be  an^irered   "  John  Aisdersoo/' — that  oo 
Geoeral  Arnold's  pa»  i^e  should  hare  let  bim  eo,  if  be  had 
prevtously  said  )«e  was  a  Bnti>b  o&cer ;  and  tbat  when  he 
iHil  bis  wa!ch.  fje  uoder»!ood  it  as  a  conbnnaiioo  of  that 
aod  not  as  oderin;  it  to  him.     Mr.  Wiiiiams  coofiriDed  the 
ttaiement,  with  these  particulars: — 

**  We  took  bim  into  tiie  bushes,  and  ordered  bim  to  poll 
clothes,  which   he  did  :  b  Jt  on  snrchin;   b:cn  narrowlr  wi 
BOt  6od  any  sort  of  writin£«.     We  toid  nim  to  poll  off  bis 
which  be  §€efntd  to  be  indinerent  about :  but  we  got  ooe  boot 
tmd  searched  in  that  boot,  aod  could  6nd  oothioc-     But  we 
there  were  some  papers  in  toe  bottom  of  his  stockio^ 
CmK  ;  oo  wbicb  we  maile  him  pull  his  stockine  o£  and 
papers  wrapped  up.     Mr.  Paulding  looked  at  the 
said  be  was  a  spy.     We  theo  made  bim  poll  <iff  bis 
arwi  there  we  kuiod  three  more  papers  at  the  bottoio  of 
wLhio  his  stockist. 

^*  Upoo  tnis  we  made  him  dres«  bimselC  aod  I  aske«l  him 
he  would  pre  us  to  let  iiim  go.     He  said  be  wooU  c>ve  ■§ 
torn  of  mooey.     I  asked  bim  whether  he  woold  gire  ot  hii 
saddle,  bridle,  watch,  and  one  hundred  ^neas^     He  said 
aod  loid  OS  he  would  direct  them  u>  any  place,  eren  if  ic 
ittjr  ap^  so  that  we  coald  g?c  diem.     I  adLed  him 
wnpy  mm  frrr  m  ■mt      Ho  and  he  voaid  gprc  «o 


CAFTums  or  A^nisB.  18T 

of  dry  goods,  or  any  sum  of  nion?r«  and  brin;  it  to  my  place  that 
we  nii:;ht  pitch  upon,  so  that  we  mhs^M  set  it.  Mr.  Paulding  an- 
iweredf  *  No,  if  vou  would  jrive  n<  ten  ilioiz<»and  truinea^  vou 
•houhl  not  stir  one  step/  I  f  lie:i  ai^k^d  the  person,  who  had  called 
himaeir  John  Anderson,  if  he  wo;d  t   not  ::et  awav  if  it  lav  in  hu 

^  m  m 

power.  He  answered,  '  Ve-,  I  would/  1  told  liim  1  did  not  in- 
tend be  should.  While  takin::  iiiin  aloni:  we  asked  him  a  few 
qaestioQs,  an  I  we  stopped  under  a  simde.  He  beirired  us  not  to 
ask  him  questionst  and  said  when  lie  came  to  any  commander  be 
would  reveal  all. 

**  He  %ras  then  dressed  in  a  blue  over-coat-  and  a  tiffht  bodv- 
CMt,  that  was  a  kind  of  chret-colour,  though  a  ratlier  deeper  red 
than  elareL  The  buuon-holes  were  laced  with  cold  tinsel,  and  the 
bociona  drawn  over  with  the  same  kind  of  lace.  He  had  on  a 
roand  bat,  and  nankeen  waistcoat  and  breeches,  with  a  flannel 
wustcoat  and  drawers,  boots,  and  thread  stockin;:s/' 

North  Cattle  beinij  the  neirest  militar}'  post,  the  prisoner  was 
Mcorted  thither  and  delivered  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jameson,  tha 
commaoder,  with  all  the  papers  :  1st,  The  orders  directing  each 
eorpt  where  to  be  stationed  on  an  alann.  By  tJiis  the  British  would 
know  how  to  proceed  in  the  work  ot*  death  without  danger  to 
themselves.  2d,  An  estimate  of  the  irarrison.  3d,  An  estimate  of 
the  number  requisite  to  man  the  works.  4th,  A  return  of  the 
ordnance.  5th,  Remarks  on  tiie  con-^truction  of  the  fortifications. 
6tb.  Information  respecting  the  probable  operations  of  the  campaign 
IS  far  as  the  traitor  had  been  enahled  to  irain  them.  These  pa|)ers 
in  Arnold's  hand  writing  were  delivered  to  Jameson  ;  he  examined 
them,  and  one  would  tiiink  must  have  known  for  what  pur|>osethey 
were  gi%'en  to  the  spy  ;  and  yet  lie  suffered  himself  to  be  persuad- 
ed by  Andre,  (who  saw  in  it  the  only  chance  of  esca|>e,)  to  send 
him  back  to  Arnold.  The  sapient  lieutenant-colonel  of  dragoons 
wrote  to  the  traitor  a  letter  saying,  that  lie  sent  to  him  ^*  a  certain 
John  Anderson,  who  had  been  taken  while  goin«x  towards  New 
York/'  •*  He  had  a  passport  signed  in  your  name,  and  a  parcel 
of  papers  taken  from  uuiler  his  stockings,  which  I  think  of  very 
mgtrous  tendencijy  He  described  the  papers  and  added  that  he 
had  sent  them  to  Cieneral  Wa-^hington.  It  is  only  wonderful  that 
he  did  not  send  them  to  Arnold. 

Major  Talnndge,  who  was  second  in  command  at  North 
Cattle,  and  had  been  absent  when  the  spy  was  brought  in, 
was  astonished  at  the  conduct  of  Jameson,  and  offered  to 
lo  secure  Arnold,  who.»e  treason  was  palpable.  This  was  not  per- 
amted :  but  at  his  earnest  request  the  spy  was  remanded  by  an 
tipross  sent  after  his  conductors,  but  with  orders  for  the  officer  of 
tho  escort  to  proceed  with  the  letter  to  Arnold.  The  spy  was 
kiowghi  back  to  North  Castle,  and  for  further  security  scot  to 


188  CAFTVKB  OP  ANDRB. 

Lower  Salem,  the  quarters  of  Sheldon  the  colonel  of  the  Tegimeiit : 
but  the  letter  went  to  warn  the  traitor  of  his  peril. 

Andre  knowing  that  tlie  papers  taken  on  his  person  bad  been 
sent  to  General  Washington,  and  of  course  that  all  hopes  of  escape 
or  concealment  were  at  an  end,  wrote  a  letter  to  the  American 
commander-in-chief,  which  he  handed  open  to  Major  Talmadge, 
under  whose  escort  he  had  been  guarded  from  North  Castle  to 
Salem.  In  it,  he  endeavours  to  excuse  the  duplicity  of  his  pfeTioos 
conduct,  and  avows  his  name  and  station.  He  says,  be  came  by 
agreement  to  meet  a  person  ''  upon  ground  not  within  the  posts  of 
either  army,''  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  intelligence.  That  with- 
out his  knowledge  he  was  conducted  within  an  American  posL 
That  by  a  refusal  to  reconduct  him  back  as  he  had  been  brought, 
be  *'  became  a  prUonerJ*^  That  to  effect  his  escape  he  quitted  bis 
uniform,  and  was  taken  at  Tarr}'town  in  disguise  by  some  volun- 
teers. He  requests  decency  of  conduct  towards  him,  as  ao 
acknowledgment  that  he  is  '^  branded  with  nothing  didumouraiie^'* 
because  he  was  only  ser\'ing  his  king.  He  requests  permissioo  to 
write  an  open  letter  to  Sir  Henr}'  Clinton,  and  another  to  a  friend 
for  clothes  and  linen.  He  mentions  certain  gentlemen  prisoners 
with  the  British,  who  '^  tliough  their  situation  is  not  similar''  may 
be  exchanged  for  him  or  treated  as  he  shall  be  treated. 

Having  written  thus,  the  adjutant-general  seemed  to  have  con- 
vinced himself  that  he  must  be  considered  merely  as  a  prisoner  of 
war,  and  he  became  cheerful,  and  soon  won  tlie  good  will  of  the 
officers  who  had  him  in  custody. 

It  is  the  momentous  consequences  that  tliis  affair  involved,  and 
not  a  participation  in  the  6ctitious  admiration  of  this  youns:  gentle- 
roan,  which  was  created  principally  to  cast  odium  upon  General 
Washington  and  the  sacred  cause  of  an  insulted  people,  that-  has 
caused  me  to  be  thus  particular.  If  Mr.  Andre,  instead  of  being 
honoured  by  a  court-martial  of  general  officers,  had  been  executed 
as  soon  as  detected,  it  is  probable  that  his  fate  would  have  attracted 
much  less  of  the  sympathy  that  has  been  expressed.  The  claim  to 
be  considered  a  prisoner  of  war,  taken  in  honourable  service,  and 
the  official  station  of  Andre,  probably  influenced  General  Washing- 
ton's conduct  towards  him,  which  was  still  more  marked  by  tbe 
characteristick  prudence  and  profound  consideration  for  the  publick 
good,  which  governed  all  his  actions. 

That  Mr.  Andre  should  not  feel  any  kindness  for  his  captors  is 
easily  inugined,  and  that  a  British  officer  would  feel  perfect  con- 
tempt for  mere  cultivators  of  the  earth,  especially  provincials,  and 
therefore  consider  them  as  acting  from  motives  purely  mercenary, 
ia  highly  probable  :  accordingly,  he  asserted  his  conviction  that  if 
he  had  had  money  to  offer  these  young  men  as  the  price  of  liberty, 
when  they  stopt  him,  they  would  have  let  him  pass :  and  Mafor 


ESCAPE  OP  ABKOLD.  1S9 

ft 

TA!mad»e«  when  a  member  ofcon^n^es?.  thirtr-four  reus  aAer«  ex- 

prv^sed  hi$  conv ictlon  ot'  the  ju<Kioe  of  Anilre's  opinion,  without 

ciKxsioerin^  lluii  bv  the  Iaw5  and  customs  of  the  countrv,  the  monev 

of  tike  captive  was  already  the  pro^H^m  of  the  captors.     Andre  had 

deciardi  himself  to  be  a  British  oiticer  when  unex^^ectetily  he  en- 

couriered  PaulJini:  uiih  a  musket  opfHtsed  to  his  (>assage:  he 

doobciess  took   him  for  a  Cow-bo v  :  when  he  toimd  himself  mis* 

aken.  he  pr»enteti  Annild^s  pass.     The  Americans  had  reason  to 

beijere  him  one  of  the  traders  wlio  carried  monev  to  New  York  for 

^je^ai  and  seinsh  pur}xises«  and  as  such,  they  knew  their  right  to 

seize  ihe  treasure.     They  rip(>ed  the  han^iu^  of  his  saddle  and 

ibe  cape  of  his  coat,  as  Andre  asserted,  in  search  of  money,  but 

aeriiaps  lor  thai  which  they  found  in  his  boots— die  evidence  of  his 

ITK  quality — that  of  a  spy.     If  in  search  of  money,  it  was  their 

jnfui  priie.     When  this  discovery  was  made.  Mr.  Williams,  evi- 

deaiiT  to  obtain  further  evidence  of  his  real  character,  asketi  what 

be  would  ^Ive  ihem  to  let  him  co.     Andrt  otfereii  to  give  ihem 

lev  sum  ol'  uh>nev  or  qaaniitv  of  drv  i^xxis  that  thev  would  name. 

Tis  convinced  tise  veomen  that  he  was  not  onlv  a  snv,  but  that  his 

dnestioa  was  of  consequence  to  this  country.     **  No  !**  was  the 

repty.  **  not  for  ten  tlK>usand  guineas.'* 

That  power  which  had  frustrated  the  desi^s  of  Arnold,  and  de- 
creed the  destruction  of  Sir  Henrv*  Clinton's  a<:ent.  for  purposes 
beyood  our  ken.  iuteqxised  to  preserve  the  arch-traitor,  Arnold, 
^ora  iounediate  punishment,  iieneral  Washington  was  on  his  war 
'.^  We^  Point,  and  must  have  arrived  at  Arnold*s  head-quarters 
defbre  ibe  Iei:er  fn>m  Jameson,  but  that  he  was  turned  back  by  an 
•ccicenai  nietiinc  «iih  the  Frvnch  ambassador,  who.  having  mat- 
r$  of  iniponaace  to  communicate.  pre\  ailed  on  the  iieneral  to 
ihe  ni^ht  at  FUlikill.  The  messenirer  who  had  been  sent 
vir2  the  ruDers  taken  on  Andre,  missed  the  Cieneral.  bv  taking  a 
?ou  ^liferent  from  that  on  which  he  was  rviuniin^:.  Next  morning 
ae  despatched  his  iKijcaire  to  Robinson's  house,  with  notice  that 
^  pirrv  would  be  with  tieneral  Arnold  to  breakfast.  When  ther 
vnved  opposite  West  Point,  the  Iieneral  tumeil  from  the  direct 
?wd  10  Robinson's  house,  for  the  piirjH^se  of  examining:  the  works 
»iow.  and  two  of  his  aids  rode  on  to  ^ive  Mrs.  Arnold  notice  of  his 
moQoa.  Accordinclv.  the  breakfast  beinc  reidv,  the  aids  s»t 
dOTii  with  Arnold  and  his  familv.  but  short! v  a  messenger  ezitered 

•  •  ^ 

V'iiQ  JaiTkeson's  letter,  nhich  was  delivered  and  read  in  presence  of 
^  company.  Arnold  controlled  his  emouon,  and  told  the  com* 
max  that  his  immediate  attendance  was  required  at  West  Point, 
taoior  the  senile  men  to  tell  iieneral  Washin^on  that  he  was 
Clued  over  'M  river,  but  would  i  in  mediately  return.  He  went  up 
wot  for  his  wile,  and  atter  a  short  interview,  descended,  and 
a  hont  which  stood  readv  saddled  at  the  door,  rods 


190 

alone  precipitatelj  to  tbe  river.  He  here  entered  the 
foonJ  rea--1r,  aod  ordere.1  tbe  OTr?men,  six  in  nomber,  to 
and  row  for  tsie  Vuhure.  a?  iie  wa^  suin^r  on  board  widi  a  da? , 
must  be  back  to  meet  Geaeral  Washington.  Of  rourse  ihc^ 
obeyed,  and  be  hastened  thein  by  a  promlac  of  two  e^Uons  <if  na. 
As  tbej  passed  t!ie  posu,  Amnld  displayed  a  white  bandkefcbielv 
and  without  im^diment  reached  his  a«ylura.  Here  be  esUbikd 
a  trait  of  bi«pne-^<  of  so  mean  a  chamcter  a«  can  scarcely  be  beOevedy 
eren  of  Benedict  Arnold — the  oarsmen  bad  sared  his  fife,  wmi 
in  return,  he  informed  tiiem  tliat  they  were  pruooers.  They,  ar 
one  of  them,  remonstrated,  and  said  a^  thev  came  noder  aancdBB 
of  a  flag,  they  were  at  liberty  to  return.  Arnold  insisted  apoi 
their  rem  lining  as  prisoners.  The  captain  of  the  Vuhure,  hwieiet, 
permitted  one  of  the  men  to  go  on  shore  on  parole  and  hriag  off 
clothes  and  necessaries.  Wlien  they  were  taken  to  New  Yoik, 
Sir  Henry  Clinton,  justly  ashamed  of  die  meanoesi  and  infenyaf 
the  transaction,  liberateil  tliem. 

GenenI  Washington  having  inspected  the  works  below,  aimed 
at  Robinson's  house  very  shortly  after  Arnold's  precipiiaii 
and  taking  a  hasty  breakfast,  concluded  to  cross  and  meet 
West  Point,  and  return  to  dinner.  All  tbe  suite  attended  tbe  Ge- 
neral except  Colonel  Hamilton.  (Hi  arriving  at  West  Poinl»  lo 
the  sarprize  of  the  commander-in-chief,  no  Arnold  appeared  or  \mi 
there  been  beanl  of.  Tbe  works  visited,  the  Genera] 
the  river  and  soon  after  landing  was  met  by  Colonel  Hamihoo, 
presented  to  him  Andre's  letter  and  the  papers  found  on  him 
ftopt  at  Tarrytown. 

The  myster}'  of  Arnold's  non-appearance  at  West  Point*  and  fba 
whole  plot,  were  unravelled.  Colonel  Hamilton  was  despatched  m 
Verplanck*8  Point  to  arrest  the  traitor,  in  case  be  should  ikn  hate 
passed  that  poM.  This  done.  Washington  communicaled  the 
papers  to  Lafavette  and  Knox,  saving,  '*  Whom  can  we  tnutt 
now?" 

Every  delicate  attention  wa«  paid  by  the  truly  great  man  to  3ifi» 
Arnold,  who  was  in  great  distress,  and  smppoud  to  have 
rant  of  lier  husband's  basertess. 

When  Hamilton  arrived  at  Verplanck*s  Point,  a  flag 
from  the  Vulture  witii  a  letter  to  General  Washington  firom  the 
traitor,  which  was  irnmediatelv  forwarded  as  directed,  wiifa 
from  tbe  Colonel,  mentioning  tlie  measures  he  had  taken  to 
teract  anv  movement  of  the  eneniv.  But  Sir  Henrv.  bv  the  arrival 
of  the  Vulture  at  New  York,  ktiew  that  his  schemes  were  finmaigd, 
and  of  course  nothing  of  a  hostile  nature  to  be  imdenaken  ■  tfaia 
ooarter* 

The  letter  broogfat  from  the  Vulture  was  to  solieit  proaedioa  fer 
Mn.  AimU  and  fwrninoo  lo  go  lo  Philadd|ihiB  cr  New  T«fc. 


PBOCBEDINOS  IN  REGARD  TO  ANDRS.  191 

For  himseir,  he  said,  "  tlie  heart  conscious  of  its  own  rectitude," 
could  not  stoop  to  palliate  an  act  which  the  world  might  think 
wrong.  •*  Honour,"  and  even  "  love  of  liis  country,"  as  they 
bad  heretofore  been  ever  in  his  mouth,  were  foisted  into  this  impu- 
dent production  of  his  pen.  The  redeeming  parts  were,  consider- 
ation for  his  wife,  and  a  declaration  w  hich  he  said  he  was  bound  in 
honour  to  declare,  that  his  auk-Jc-camp  Majors  Varick  and  Franks, 
and  Joshua  H.  Smith,  were  ignorant  of  his  transactions  with  the 
eoemy.  The  two  aids  demanded  a  court  of  inquiry,  which  was 
granted,  and  the  result  was  in  every  respect  honourable  to  both. 

There  came  likewise  from  the  sloop  of  war  a  letter,  to  General 
Washington  from  Colonel  Beverley  Robinson,  little  less  extraordi- 
naiy  than  tliat  from  Arnold  :  it  was,  in  fact,  a  sort  of  demand  for 
Andr^*8  release,  and  represented  him  as  a  man  going  on  shore  with 
a  flag  of  truce  at  the  request  of  General  Arnold,  on  jmUlck  bmintssy 
and  having  his  permit  to  return  to  New  York.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances, he  said,  Washington  could  not  detain  Andre  without 
the  greatest  violation  of  flags,  and  contrary  to  the  custom  and  usa- 
ges of  all  nations. 

It  is  needless  to  say,  that  such  a  letter  had  no  weight  with  the 
American  hero,  whose  first  attention  was  to  give  such  orders  and 
directions  as  he  thought  necessary  for  the  security  of  the  garrison 
which  bad  been  thus  bartered  and  sold  to  destruction,  by  the  honour- 
able transaction  which  a  power  beyond  the  control  of  man  had  frus- 
trated. General  Greene  was  ordered  to  move  with  the  left  wing  of 
the  American  army  towards  King's  Ferry.  The  necessary  instruc- 
tions were  given  to  the  oflicer  commanding  at  West  Point.  Deli- 
cate and  embarrassing  as  General  Washington's  situation  was,  not 
knowing  who  w^as,  or  was  not,  implicated  in  the  treachery  just 
brought  to  his  knowledge,  it  only  increased  his  vigilance ;  but  in 
respect  to  the  officers  commanding  all  the  posts  in  the  vicinity,  he 
acted  as  though  hiscon6dence  was  unshaken  in  them,  and  bis  reli- 
ance unbounded  upon  their  honour  and  patriotism.  To  Jameson 
an  order  was  sent  for  the  immediate  removal  of  the  prisoner,  under 
a  strong  guard,  to  Robinson's  house,  where  he  arrived  on  the  morn- 
ing of  die  20th  of  September  in  custody  of  Major  Talmadge.  Ge- 
neral Washington  made  many  inquiries  respecting  the  prisoner,  but 
declined  seeing  him.* 

Major  Talmadge  whose  admiration  of  the  handsome  and  accom- 
plished prisoner  appears  to  have  influenced  his  opinions  respecting 
the  plain  and  unpretending  virtues  of  his  captors,  has  left  an  inter- 


*  Andrtt  wm  taktnoTer  to  West  Point  on  the  evening  of  the  26Ui,  and  remaiiMd 
tbcr*  aatil  tlMeTeiiinf  of  the  28th  of  September,  when  he  wai  remoTed  under  tb« 
fWB4  •f  dw  HUM  •ffptr^  fint  in  a  bvngt  to  Stonj  Point,  and  thoneo  to  Tappn. 


192  CaSTMAST  WITH  THE  FATS  OP  HALB. 

estine  accouot  of  his  rerooral  from  West  Point  to  Tappm. 

31  r.  Spark?  ba?  £:iven  in  full  a*  appropriate  lo  hisbiosTaphkml'waik. 
When  in  ibe  barire  aod  oo  tbe  Hudson,  to  ioqubie^  of  ibe  Ame- 
rican officer  wbo  had.  while  Andre  was  at  Salem,  become  frmilor 
wiib  bim,  he  answered  that  he  wa?  to  hare  bad  tbe  ieadinr  of 
a  select  body  of  troops,  and  pointed  to  tbe  spot  where  be  wa*  io 
have  landed,  and  described  ilte  route  he  was  to  have  taken  up  die 
mountain  to  the  rear  of  Fon  Putnam,  which,  as  even*  tourism  dot 
knows,  commands  all  the  area  below.  As  he  knew  Arnold's  dw» 
position  of  the  troops,  he  supposed  that  opjxisition  on  the  AmencBi 
part  would  have  been  ineffectu?!.  and  that,  sword  in  hand,  be  wonld 
hare  eirained  possession  of  the  aJl-inipcnant  ker  which  comma  nded 
the  nonbern  continent,  and  tlie  ^lor}*  of  the  splendid  acfajeremem 
would  bare  been  his.  To  the  question  of  t}>e  reward  pnmdsad 
him.  be  talked  of  a  course  of  miliiar}'  don'  bein?  what  be  wisbed» 
but  o«ned  that  he  was  to  have  been  made  a  hrijradier-EeDeraL  Tbe 
glory  of  takin::  possession  of  a  fortress  thai  was  already  boochu 
and  bv  agreement  to  be  delivered  inio  his  hands  bv  tbe  • 
dant,  is  noi  so  easilv  undersTood.  The  reward  was  cenainlr 
lating. 

At  Kind's  Feirr  ther  left  the  bar:re-  and  with  an  escort  of 
airy  proceeded  to  Tap  pan.  where,  by  the  commander-io-cfaierf 
orders,  the  prisoner  was  to  be  confined,  but  every  civilhy 
to  him. 

Joshua  H-  Smith,  who.  as  Mr.  Sparks  remarks,  "write* 
much  asperiu  airainsi  Washinrion  and  nearly  all  tbe  Americaii< 
cers."  says,  that  Major  Andre  was  comforLably  lodred.  and 
attention  was  paid  to  him  suitable  to  his  rank  and  character.  1»- 
deed,  tbe  youth  and  demeanour  of  the  prisoner,  operaiin?  with  ihr 
detestation  fell  for  Arnold,  created  an  interest  and  sympatbr  wUck 
was  shown  and  expressed  universally  by  those  whom  bis  plans  hid 
doonied  to  destruction,  for  tbe  reward  of  military  promotson. 

Tbe  contrast  in  the  conduct  and  fate  of  Major  John  Andre 
Captain  Nathan  Hale.*  occurs  to  us  in  every  stage  c^this 
Tbe  youthful  patriot  volunteered  to  risk  his  lile  to  eocoomer 
in  its  worst  form,  for  the  sen  ice  of  his  countn*.  without 
wish  for  individual  reward.  He  was  detected — avowed  hm 
pose  and  his  rank — was  turned  over  u>  the  brutal  provost.  Ct 
ham-denied  tbe  pririlesre  of  wiiunz  to  his  relations— snd 
taunts  consirned  to  tbe  callows  which  be  had  braved  (mm  the 
motives.  His  enemies  felt  no  sympathy  or  pity ;  and  when  the 
author  of  tbe  "  Conquest  of  Canaan,"  years  after,  *'*M»*fpr»wfaird 
Ins  Tirtoes,  it  was  to  be  asked,  what  was  meant  by  **  Hale,  fante 


puTBu 


TftBATMBNT  OP  ANDRS.  19S 

and  jgenerous/*  and  the  Enjrlisli  reviewers  of  the  poem,  not  iinder- 
iUadiiisr  that  '*  Hale*'  was  tlie  name  of  an  individual,  censured  the 
poet  for  his  isniorance  of  (rramiiinr ! 

Andre  was  a  hired  soldier,  belonging  to  an  invading  army,  and 
in  the  transaction  we  are  considering:,  did  not  intend  to  risk  his  life 
10  any  way,  but  in  personal  safety  to  bring  about  a  great  national 
iajury,  and  sacrifice  many  lives — the  victims  of  a  treacher}'  matured 
by  him — and  his  reward  was  |)romised  by  his  commander — he- was 
to  be  while  yet  a  youth,  brigadier-general  in  the  armies  of  a  king. 
His  treatment  when  the  discovery  was  made  of  the  long  meditated 
mischief,  and  his  person  in  possession  of  those  whose  injury  was 
pbttedf  is  notoriously  a  contrast  to  that  inflicted  on  Captain  Hale, 
and  must  occupy  a  few  more  lines  before  we  return  to  Benedict 
Arnold. 

On  the  29th  of  September,  General  Washington  having  returned 
to  head-quarters,  summoned  a  board  of  general  ofHcers,  (not  as  a 
court-martial)  to  enquire  into  the  case  of  Major  Andre,  and  report 
their  opinion  of  the  light  in  which  he  ought  to  be  regarded  and  the 
ponishment  that  should  be  inflicted. 

Six  major-generals  and  brigadiers  met.  General  Greene  acted 
as  president.  The  papers  above  mentioned  and  two  letters  from 
Sir  Henr\'  Clinton  and  Arnold  were  submitted  to  them.  Clinton 
requested  that  the  king^s  adjufant-gencral  might  have  permission 
to  return  to  his  orders,  and  Arnold  assumed  that  as  Andre  had 
•ded  bv  his  direction,  he  as  commander  at  West  Point  was  alone 
responsible. 

When  Andre  was  brought  before  the  board  of  general  oflicersi 
tlie  president  told  him  he  was  at  liberty  to  answer  any  questions, 
or  DOC,  and  might  take  his  own  time.  He  in  a  frank  manner  avowed 
the  circumstances  alreadv  known  bevond  contradiction — confessed 
tktt  the  pafiers  shown  to  him  had  been  concealed  in  his  boots— 
icknowledged  the  pass  given  him  by  Arnold,  as  John  Anderson 
— «Dd  when  asked  whether  he  considered  himself  as  coming  on 
shore  under  a  flag,  said  *'  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  suppose  so.'* 
He  answered  ever}-  question  relative  to  himself  freely.  When 
uked  if  he  had  any  remarks  to  make,  he  replied  in  the  negative, 
umI  was  remanded  to  his  place  of  confinement. 

The  board  reported,  that,  as  a  spy,  he  must  suffer  death.  When 
iobmied  of  this  decision,  he  asked  j^erniission  to  write  to  !Sir  Henry 
CllDion,  which  was  granted.  He  informeil  him  briefly  of  his  situ- 
t'wih— declared  bis  gratitude  for  favours — requested  his  attention 
^  his  mother  and  sisters — acknowledged  the  great  attention  he  had 
^pericnced  from  General  Washington  and  all  others — and  con- 
cluded with  assurances  of  respectful  attachment. 

This  letter,  with  one  from  General  Washington,  and  the  pro- 
^^^dioga  of  the  board  of  officers,  was  sent  to  Sir  Heury. '  The 


IM  FlOrOSED  BZCBASGB  OF  AXXttB  ASD  AXXOUI. 

American  commander  acknowlcdred  the  kni^fs  loiter,  but  zitb 
hit  retson*  lor  deny  In  z  :jU  reqjer?t,  a«  the  kinz's  adjiitaDt-^eoeral 
had  been  taken  when  enj3j^»i  in  e\ec  jdni  rrseasiires  verv  dioereixc 
from  lae  obiecLsof  a  f»zz  ofirjce.  as  i  such  a*  a  fiai  could  doc  far 
any  po^.^ible  con.rtrjctloa  e'*er  hare  been  intended  to  aaiborize  or 
countenance. 

The  dnal  award  for  pur.UJiraen:  or  release  yet  remaiDed  wirh 
Waihinston.  HI*  d:^t'.  wa«  niiip..  and  he  never  shrank  froa  k: 
yet  if  I  he  blow  coaiti  be  made  to  i';jii  upon  Arnold  Instead  of  Andre, 
it  would  be  more  consonant  niiii  [lis  '.TLMie?.  A  formal  propoficioa 
for  such  an  eschanre  could  not  with  propriety  be  made,  but  a  piaui 
was  adopted  by  wiiich  to  intl:nare  to  tue  enemy  that  If  Arnold  was 
surrendered  to  puni-siiment,  An«ire  •Loi:id  be  reieasetl. 

The  General  *ent  for  Canrain  Aaron  Or.ien,  and  informed  him 
that  he  had  been  ri,o*en  lo  carry  rf^^^ratche*  to  the  British  post  at 
Paul  us  Hook,  wiiicli  were  to  be  conveved  to  New  York.  The 
packet  ziven  to  Ozden*.^  carp  contained  the  letters  above  mentLooedr 
and  he  wai  desired  ro  call  on  Lat'iyette  (commandln!;  the  croopa 
neare:*t  the  enemie:«'  line^)  for  furdier  instructions.  This 
the  -)Oth  of  >epr€mb«?r. 

The  instruct  ion.-*  of  Lafavette  were,  that  the  caotaln  should 
trive  Co  reach  £^au:ii?  Hix>k  «o  late,  tiiat  he  would  be  asked  to 
all  niiht.  He  was  tiien  to  seek  a  lavo arable  moment  to  cocninaiiir- 
cate  to  the  commanJmt  of  tiic  po^st.  or  some  of  the  proviacial 
nt5cer««  as  if  incideniaiU .  the  idea  alx)ut  exchamrin^  Andre  Sat 
Arnold. 

The  scheme  «iicceeded  as  wa*  wl-hed:  and  Captain  0?dcn 
invited,  a^  was  exr)ecC'?cl.  to  reriiain  all  nijht  wich  the  British 
at  the  post,  white  riie  Ie;ti?r«  were  sen.:  a:ro<^  the  river,  and  die 
boat  with  de-i  pa  tithes  from  ::eac!-<;;:irters  should  return.  Theirc»- 
son  of  Arnold  and  the  tieiection  of  Ar.iire  were  the  prominent 
of  con%er».i:ioii.  as  ever^;\l.e:e-  and  'he  Enrilsh  comcoa 
cer  aske«i  the  o-.^inlon  of  CajLi:-i  t>jden  respecrlnj  the  &te  of  the 
adjutant-zenerai.  and  whether  Wash  in  r  on  would  order  his 
tioD.  The  Amer:*ran  answered  i::a:  iirdoixtediv  he  would; 
his  artnv  cxpeciod  i:.  anii  i.istlce  :o  /.is counrrr  demanded  h.  Tbe 
next  question,  a?  wis  ar.dcipited.  ca!ied  fortj:  the  hint  intended 


be  conveyed.  ••  Can  no  method  be  tho-j^ht  of.  to  save  Major  A*- 
dri  ?"  *'  Yes,  .\r.d  it  is  b  tl:e  ro^er  of  Sir  Henrv  Clintoo.  Lee 
hiis  delirer  up  Arnold  a'^.d  take  A-ire  :a  excbanre."  *•  Hare 
TOQ  any  auihoriry  for  such  ar  asserJon  :"  '*  Noce.  from  Geoenl 
iTaahioetoQ :  but  I  be'ieve  if  sich  a  rrAposal  was  made,  it  woold 

be  accepted.     Msxr  Ar.inc  wcJd  ^e  se:  a:  llbenr.  aad  ail  J 

V        .... 


UpoQihts  the  o£»c«r  lef:  t:^  Suprer-uLIe.  closed  toXevr  Teck* 
i  M  I— niiJi  viih  Sir  Heorv  CKa^M.  and 


DEPUTATION  IN  FAVOUR  OF  ANDRE.  19fi 

morning.     He  told  Ogden  that  it  could  not  be  done :  the  com- 
mander-in-chief would  not  listen  to  the  idea  a  moment. 

When  Sir  Henry  Clinton  had  perused  the  letters  from  Andre 
and  the  American  commander-in-chief,  he  immediately  called  a 
council  of  general  ofiicers,  and  it  was  determined  to  send  three 
persons  of  high  standing  to  make  such  representations  to  General 
Washington  as,  it  was  hoped,  might  influence  his  determination 
in  Andre's  favour.  These  gentlemen  were.  General  Uobertson, 
(lately  commissioned  by  Great  Britain  as  the  governour  of  her 
province  of  New  Yorky)  Andrew  Elliot,  Esq.,  in  like  manner  ap- 
pointed lieutenant-governour,  and  William  Smith,  the  historian 
of  New  York,  his  majesty's  chief-justice  for  the  province,  and 
brother  to  Joshua  H.  Smith,  so  prominent  in  this  affair.  They 
were  accompanied  by  Colonel  Beverley  Robinson,  and  carried, 
most  injudiciously,  a  long,  impudent,  threatening  letter,  from 
Arnold. 

Notice  of  the  intended  deputation  had  been  given  to  General 
Washington,  and  the  commissioners  found  General  Greene  at 
Dobbs's  Ferry,  who  let  them  know  that  only  General  Robertson 
would  be  permitted  to  land. 

General  Greene,  after  the  usual  compliments,  informed  Robert- 
son that  he  was  only  permitted  by  General  Washington  to  receive 
him  as  a  private  gentleman,  and  that  the  case  of  an  acknowledged 
spy  admitted  of  no  discussion.  The  English  general  insisted  that 
Andr^  landed  under  the  sanction  of  a  flag,  and  acted  under  the 
direction  of  Arnold :  therefore  could  not  be  considered  as  a  spy. 
Both  these  assertions  had  been  under  consideration  by  the  board 
of  American  oflicers;  and  Andre  had  rejected  the  notion  of  his 
having  landed  under  sanction  of  a  flag.  Greene  said,  on  this  head, 
Americans  would  believe  Major  Andre  sooner  than  Benedict  Ar- 
nold. Robertson  asserted  that  no  European  military  tribunal  would 
decide  as  the  American  court  had  done,  and  proposed  to  leave  the 
question  to  Generals  Rochambeau  and  Knyphausen — thus  vlvow^ 
ing  that  ifisolent  chim  to  European  supeiioriiy,  which  had  been  so 
often  put  in  practical  operation  while  the  United  States  were  British 
provinces.  The  English  general  took  his  leave  without  obtaining 
any  concessions  from  General  Greene,  but  said  he  should  remain 
on  board  the  vessel  in  which  he  ascended  the  river  until  morning, 
hoping  to  take  back  with  him  Major  Andre,  or  assurances  of  his 
safety. 

Robertson  despatched  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton  his  account  of  this 
conference,  and  mentioned  that  it  was  intimated  to  him  by  Greene, 
that  if  Andr^  were  set  free,  it  would  be  expected  that  Arnold  should 
be  given  up,  which  he  only  replied  to  by  a  look  of  *'  indignant 
rebuke.** 
'    In  the  morning,  General  Robertson  received  a  note  from  Gene* 


19G  ANDREWS  EXECUTION. 

ral  Greene,  saying  that  the  determination  of  the  commander-in- 
chief  was  not  changed' by  the  coramimication  made  lo  him  of  the 
conference.  The  commissioners  returned  to  New  York,  but  Ro- 
bertson wrote  a  letter  to  General  Wasliington,  recapitulating  the 
arguments  he  had  used,  under  pretence  that  Greene's  memory 
might  not  have  served  to  convey  them. 

During  his  confinement,  and  at  the  hour  of  his  execution.  Major 
Andre  evinced  composure  and  firmness,  which,  with  bis  character 
and  amiable  deportment,  gained  the  respect,  admiration,  and  sym- 
pathy of  the  American  officers  who  were  the  witnesses — many  of 
whom  were  to  have  been  sacrificed  by  the  completion  of  the  plot 
concerted  by  him  with  Arnold.     He  was  executed  as  a  spy,  at 
twelve  o'clock,  on  the  2d  of  October,  and  buried  near  the  gallows. 
His  regimentals,  in  which  he  was  executed,  were  given  to  his  ser- 
vant.    More  has  been  written  and  published  about  the  death  of  this 
gentleman,  than,  perhaps,  of  all  the  brave  spirits  who  were  sacri- 
ficed by  the  swords  of  an  army  of  mercenaries,  employed  by  Great 
Britain  to  enslave  these  United  States.     The  torrents  of  abuse 
poured  upon  Washington,  for  making  this  sacrifice  to  the  safety  of 
his  country,  and  for  suffering  the  due  course  of  stern  military  law 
to  flow  regularly,  are  only  to  be  equalled  by  the  pure  stretm  of 
gratitude  which  flowed  in  thanks  and  blessings  from  the  hearts  of 
his  countrymen.     The  objections  raised  against  his  decision,  by 
Englishmen,  at  the  time,  have  been  swept  into  oblivion  by  the  ver- 
dict of  that  great  tribunal, /Aeuor/J,  and  the  praises  of  heroes,  patriolit 
and  philosophers,  from  that  time  to  the  present  moment. 

However  anxious  Sir  Henry  Clinton  might  be  to  save  this  young 
gentleman,  (who  was  prompted  to  the  course  which  ended  in  hit 
death,  by  the  persuasions  and  promises  of  his  commander,)  and 
however  he  may  have  complained  in  private  of  the  pretended  iujut- 
tice  of  Andre's  execution,  he  did  not  venture  officially  to  censure 
the  conduct  of  the  American  commander— in-chief.  In  his  general 
orders  he  only  says,  '*  The  unfortunate  fate  of  this  officer  calls 
upon  him  to  declare  that  he  ever  considered  Major  Andre  a  gentle- 
man of  the  highest  integrity  and  honour,  and  incapable  of  any  base 
action  or  unworthy  conduct."  The  manner  of  his  death  was  not 
mentioned,  nor  any  accusation  made  against  those  by  whom  be  had 
suffered. 

The  captors  of  Andre  were  recommended  by  General  Washing- 
ton to  congress,  who,  by  a  formal  vote  expressed  a  high  sense  of 
of  their  virtuous  and  patriotic  conduct,  and  granted  to  each  oftbem 
an  annual  pension  of  two  hundred  dollars  for  life,  with  the  further 
compliment  of  a  silver  medal,  for  each,  inscribed  on  one  side  *^  Fi- 
delity," on  the  other  •'  Vincit  amor  Palria;." 

Joshua  H.  Smith  was  tried  by  a  court  martial,  upon  a  charga  for 
aidang  and  assisting  Benedict  Arnold,  etc.,  in  a  combination  with 


If  ATRAX  BAUK.  197 

lo  Uke,  kilK  and  seize,  such  of  the  lovil  cidsens  and 

s  of  the  Uniteil  Stales,  a?  were  in  s:arri>on  at  We:5t  Point 

aiKi  its  de|ieiidcacie>."     Siniih  drew  up  aiui  read  his  own  defence. 

He  «a5  acqultteii.     He  confessed  that  he  assisted  Arnold ;  but  it 

VIS  DOC  proved  that   he  liad  any  knowledjre  of  his  desi^s.     Mr. 

SparLs  says,  ^*  Aithoii£:h  no  one  would   be  wiilin^  to  condemn 

Smith  upuQ  the  e%'iden."e  adduced  to  the  court,  yet  whoever  reads 

it  wiii  be  satis6ed,  that  he  could  not  have  fallen  into  such  extreme 

ABpiditT,  as  not  to  sns;>ect  somethins:  wrong  in  the  business  he  was 

caca^ed   in  carrying  on/*      The   impressions   a^nst   him   are 

itmivtlieQed  by  his  narrative,  published  in  London,  in  ISOS     a 

vork  unworthy  of  credit,  where  it  rests  on  his  own  authority.     It 

di&rs  from  the  testimonv  on  the  triaU  and  tVom  the  defence  be 

riMQ  made.     Although  acquitteii  by  a  court  martial,  General  Wash- 

iagtoo  thought  proper  to  place  him  in  the  hands  of  the  civil  autho- 

lilies  of  the  state  of  New  York,  and  he  was  condneit  at  Goshen 

tooie  months.  tVnm  whence  he  managed  to  escape  and  took  refuge 

vkb  tbe  British  in  New  York.     Much  of  his  ^^  narrative**  is  oceu* 

pad  with  this  escape.     He  was  thus  saved  from  personal  dangers; 

km  he  found  in  the  city  of  New  York  that  his  conduct  was  censured 

hf  the  British  and  Tories  as  much  as  it  had  been  without  tbe  Engliah 

&MS  br  the  friends  of  his  countrv. 

Ahfaottgfa  I  have  already  si)oken  of  the  contrast  between  tbe 
iaacment  of  Andre  and  that  of  Hale,  I  cannot  quit  the  subject 
viihout  quoting  from  Mr.  Sparks  his  view  ol'  the  superiority  of  the 
■Olives  which  induenced  tlie  American  over  those  actuating  the 
Eagiish  officer. 
^  Captain  Hale  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  and  bad  but 
closed  his  academick  course  when  the  war  of  the  revolu- 
commenced.  Possessing;  srenius^  taste,  and  ardour,  he  be- 
distinguished  as  a  scliol.ir:  and,  endowed  in  an  eminent 
with  those  graces  and  gifts  of  nature  which  add  a  charm  to 
Towihfiil  excellence,  he  srainetl  universal  esteem  and  con6dence. 
To  high  moral  worth  and  irreproachable  habits  were  joined  gentle- 
of  manners,  an  insrenuous  disposition,  and  vigour  of  undei^ 
No  youmr  man  of  his  years  put  forth  a  fairer  promise 
if  future  usefulne^^  and  celebritv. 

m 

**  The  news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington  roused  his  martial  spirit, 
called  him  immediately  to  the  field.  He  obtained  a  commia- 
in  tbe  army,  and  marclied  with  his  company  to  Cambridge. 
His  promptness,  activity,  and  assiduous  attention  to  discipline, 
were  earlj  observed.  He  prevailed  upon  his  men  to  adopt  a  sim- 
ple uniform,  which  improved  tlieir  appearance,  attracted  notice, 
and  procured  applause.  Tlie  example  was  followed  by  others, 
ilB  iaflueace  was  beneScial.     Nor  were  his  hours  whollv  ab- 


196  XATRAX 

totted  bjr  his  militanr  duties.     A  rigid  economr  of  time  enabled 
hiiD  to  ^tify  bi«  zeal  for  study  end  menul  culture. 

**  At  lco£tb  the  ifaeaire  of  action  was  chai]^d,  and  the  anxnr 
was  remoired  to  the  soutljward.  The  battle  of  Loo£  Island  wis 
(ought,  and  the  American  forces  were  drawn  toretber  in  the  ciiT 
of  New  York.  At  tLis  moment  it  ^.vas  extremely  impoitam  for 
Washin^D  to  kzK>w  the  situation  of  the  British  annv  on  the 
heists  of  BrooklvD.  lis  numbers,  and  the  indicalions  as  to  its 
future  movemeots.  Having  confide uce  in  the  discretion  and  jodf- 
ment  of  the  i^Uant  Colonel  Knowhon.  n  bo  commanded  a  Con- 
necticut ferment  i^f  infantr}%  he  explained  iiis  wishes  to  that  offi- 
cer, and  requet^ted  him  to  ascertaiu  if  any  suitable  person  could 
be  found  in  his  resiment,  who  would  undertake  so  hazardous  and 
responsible  a  serrice.  It  wa?  essentiaU  that  he  should  be  a  man 
of  capacity,  address,  and  mjllian*  knowled^re. 

**  Colonel  Knowlton  assembled  several  of  his  officers,  stated  to 
tbem  the  views  and  desires  of  ti>e  General,  and  left  the  enbjact  lo 
their  reBections,  without  proposing:  the  enterprise  to  any  indiridoaL 
The  officers  then  separated.  Captain  Hale  considered  deiibeniehr 
wbal  had  been  said,  and  finding  himself  bv  a  sense  oi  dntr  in- 
dined  to  the  under  taking,  he  called  at  the  quarters  of  his  intimaie 
friend.  Captain  Hull,  (afterwards  General  Hull.)  and  asked  bii 
<»pinioD.  Hull  endeavoured  to  dissuade  iiim  from  the  sernoe,  ai 
not  befitting  his  rank  in  the  army,  and  as  being  of  a  kind  for  which 
his  openness  of  character  disqualified  him  ;  adding:  that  ix>  gionr 
could  accrue  from  success,  and  a  detection  would  ineritaUj  be 
followed  bv  an  i::nominious  dead}. 

**  Captain  Hale  replied,  that  ail  these  considerations  had  been 
dnlj  weighed,  that  **  every  kind  of  seriice  necessar}*  to  the  public 
good  was  honourable  by  bein^  necessary,*^  that  he  did  noi  accept 
a  commission  for  tiie  sake  of  fdme  alone  or  personal  advancement, 
that  be  had  been  for  some  lime  in  tl^e  army  without  being  able  to 
render  anv  signal  aid  to  ilie  cau^e  of  his  countn\  and  that  be  fA 
impelled  by  high  motives  of  duty  not  to  shrink  from  the  oppor- 
tunity ix>w  presented. 

*'*'  The  arguments  of  his  friend  were  unavailing,  and  Captain 
Hale  passed  over  to  Long  Island  in  di'^'guise.  He  had  sained 
the  desired  information,  and  was  ju^t  on  the  point  of  stepping  into 
a  boat  to  return  to  die  ritv  of  Neiv-Vork.  tilien  he  was  arreaed 

m 

and  taken  before  the  Briiish  commander.  Like  Ande.  be  had 
aianiwd  a  character,  wbicn  he  couid  not  sustain  :  he  was  ^too 
little  accustomed  to  duplicity  to  succeed.*^  The  proof  against  him 
ao  oonclosive,  tliat  he  made  no  efibrt  at  self-deience*  bat 
DDofeised  his  objects ;  and.  like  Andre,  witboot  ionfaer 
"^  left  the  iacu  to  operate  with  his  judges.**     He  was 


NATHAN  HALB.  199 

sentenced  to  be  executed  as  a  spy,  and  u-as  accordingly  hanged 
the  next  morninsr. 

**  The  sentence  was  confonnablo  to  the  laws  of  war,  and  the 
prisoner  was  prepared  to  m/jt  it  with  a  fortitude  becoming  his 
character.  But  the  circumstances  of  his  death  ar^in^vated  his 
sodTerin^s  and  placed  him  in  a  situation  widely  different  from  that 
of  Andre.  The  facts  were  narrated  to  Cveneral  Hull  by  an  officer 
of  the  British  commissary*  department,  who  was  present  at  the  ex- 
ecatioOf  and  deeply  moved  by  the  conduct  and  fate  of  the  unfor> 
tanate  victim,  and  the  treatment  he  received. 

**  The  provost-martial  wis  the  noted  brutal  bully  Captain  Cun- 
ningham ;  who  refused  the  attendance  of  a  clergyman,  the  conso- 
lation of  a  Bible,  or  the  privilege  of  writing  to  his  mother. 

**  Alone,  unfriended,  without  consolation  or  sympathy,  he  closed 
his  mortal  career  whh  the  declaration,  **  that  he  onlv  lamented  he 
had  but  one  life  to  lose  for  his  country."  When  Andre  stood 
opon  the  scaffold,  he  called  on  nil  around  him  to  bear  witness,  that 
be  died  like  a  brave  man.  The  dying  words  of  Hale  enibo<lied 
a  nobler  and  more  sublime  sentiment :  breathing  a  spirit  of  satis- 
£icuon,  that,  althougii  brought  to  an  untimely  end,  it  was  his  lot 
ID  die  a  martvr  in  his  countrv's  cause. 

**  There  was  a  striking  similarity  between  the  character  and  acts 
of  Hale  and  Andre,  but  in  one  essential  point  of  difference  the 
ibnner  appears  to  much  the  greater  advantage.  Hale  was  pro- 
mised no  reward,  nor  did  he  expect  any.  But  Andre  had  a  glo- 
rious prize  before  him  ;  the  chance  of  distinguishing  himself  in  a 
military  enterprise,  honours,  renown,  and  ever}'  allurement,  that 
could  flatter  hope  and  stimulate  ambition." 

A  monument  was  raised  to  Andre  in  Westminster  Abbev.  The 
of  Hale  long  appeared  to  be  lost.  Dr.  Dwight  6rst  did 
to  his  virtues  ;  other  writers  have  examined  and  applauded 
hb  self^acrifice,  and  at  length  the  name  of  Captain  Hale  is  en- 
graved  by  gratitude  upon  the  hearts  of  his  admiring  countrymen. 

Sir  Henn*  Clinton,  even  after  the  return  of  his  envovs,  wrote 
another  letter  to  General  Wasliinirton,  in  the  apparent  hope  of 
saving  his  young  favourite  :  but  before  it  was  sent  the  ser\'ant  of 
Andre  arrived  in  the  city,  and  the  fate  of  his  master  was  fulljr 
known.  To  Lord  George  (Sermaine,  the  British  commander  de- 
tailed all  the  circumstances  of  the  transaction  :  the  commission  of 
the  sufferer  was  sold,  as  he  had  requested,  for  the  benefit  of  his 
Bocber  and  sister.  They  were  recommended  to  the  king  for  his 
bvour ;  who  granted  a  pen^^ion  to  the  mother,  and  offered  knight' 
ieod  to  Andrews  brother.  This  was  certainly  commendable  ;  but 
the  honours  flowing  from  the  rrpttfnl  ftturcc  of  honour j  to  Amoldy 
appear  more  questionable.  The  traitor  was  caressed  openly  as  a 
ptiiOB  of  worth,  intagrily  and  honour.     He  was  made  a  brigadier^ 


900  scwsEQUMsr  cospxrcr  of  axhoia. 

general  in  bis  majesty's  serrice,  and  with  bis  majestr's  paj  pro- 
moted to  the  command  of  armies.  The  price  stipulaied  to  be 
paid  lor  bis  treason,  the  British  {general  of  course  was  bovad  to 
pay  ;  but  it  appeared  Terv  extraordinary,  that  a  wretch  who  kad 
been  bought  bj  gold  to  betray  to  death  tboae  be  was  sworn  to 
protect,  should  be  entrusted  widi  the  fiortiiiie  and  iires  of  bis 
majesty's  officers  and  soldiers,  whose  aaCely  was  confided  to 
the  Engiisb  commander-in-chier.  Sir  Henry  paid  tbe  traitor 
^6315  sterling :  and  he  was  ranked  as  a  brigadier-general ;  bat  I 
shall  show  that  he  did  nai  confide  to  him  tbe  welCue  of  those  he 
was  appointed  to  command ;  his  powers  for  destmctioo  were  only 
allowed  free  scope  when  exerted  in  the  unnatural  business  of  bnro- 
ing  the  dwellings  and  shedding  the  blood  of  his  coootrymeo : 
were  placed  ov^er  him,  to  arrest  his  arm  the  moment  he  wai 
sospected  of  intention  to  injure  the  power  to  whom  he  had  loU 
faimselC 

Scarcely  bad  AriH^  arrired  among  his  new  friends,  when  he 
poblished  an  address  to  his  betrayed  countrymen,  and  a  pffrirla— 
tion  inriting  his  former  military  asiociates  to  follow  his  example. 

To  comment  upon  these  publications  at  the  present  day  weaam 
utmecessary :  at  the  time  of  publicatitin  they  only  excited  the 
sneers  of  the  traitor's  pretended  friends,  and  the  disgnsl  of  his 
eonntry.  Yet  the  British  ministry  seemed  lo  think  the  ofiers  of 
the  traitor  would  bare  effect  with  the  American  army^  and  pren- 
cribed  tbe  rewards  that  might  be  paid  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton  to 
those  who  should  desert  from  the  standard  of  ffoMkimgiom  to  that 
of  ArmoUL  Some  few  were  found  base  enough  to  make  such  an 
exchange  iot  the  sake  of  ten  hard  guineas  ;  but  they  were  not  nn* 
tire  Americans,  or  if  mcAj  were  not  worth  retaining  by  the  one, 
or  being  receired  by  the  other,  though  assimilated  to  bun  by  debt 
and  depravity. 

It  appears  that  the  British  ministry  had  confidence  in  the  Mmu 
tions  and  representations  of  Arnold,  although  Sir  Henry  CGnton 
had  none  in  his  integrity. 

Tbotigb  Arnold  lad  continued  true  to  the  Sag  which  had 
chased  him,  and  did  all  possible  mischief  in  Virginia,  bis 
tion  to  falsehood  manifested  itself  in  his  leners  to  Lord  George 
Gcrmaine ;  which  pointed  out  die  ease  with  wiuch  West  Pocnc 
migfal  be  taken  by  a  coup-de-main,  or  **  a  few  days  regular  attack.** 
The  British  minister  relying  upon  his  new  auxiliary,  wrote  to  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  expressing  some  degree  of  surprise  that  be  faHl 
not  achiered  so  important  a  conquest,  which  was  so  easy  of  ac- 
oompliahnienL  By  the  minister's  leaer,  tbe  English  coounander 
knew  tbe  danger  he  incurred  from  the  pen  of  the  ex-rebel-generaL 
He  in  his  answer,  told  the  minister  that  Arnold  had  never  vqne- 
'  thnpoMinqnealionasof  aoeasy  ncqniniion;  bntifltn    ~~ 


ARNOLD  SUSPECTED  BY  CLINTON.  201 

now  convince  btm  that  it  is  so,  he  probably  shall  make  the  attempt. 
"  I  have  therefore"  he  continues,  "  required  that  general  officer 
to  send  his  plan  of  operation  to  me  without  delay,  and  to  follow  or 
accompany  it  himself." 

It  appears  strange,  that  Sir  Henry  Clinton  should  entrust  a  trai- 
tor with  the  lives  and  liberty  of  armies  as  he  did.  But  I  have 
been  assured  by  a  gentleman  of  the  most  unblemished  character, 
DOW  far  advanced  in  years,  that  when  Arnold  departed  from  New 
York  in  the  command  of  the  army  with  which  he  committed  depre- 
dations in  the  Chesapeake,  '*  a  dormant  commission"  was  given  to 
CoioDeb  Dundas  and  Simcoe,  jointly,  by  Sir  Uenry  Clinton,  au- 
tborixing  them,  if  they  suspected  Arnold  of  sinister  intent,  to  su- 
persede him,  and  put  him  in  arrest.  This  proves  that  Clinton  did 
Dol  trust  him,  and  we  may  reasonably  suppose  that  such  a  watch 
was  set  upon  his  conduct  on  other  occasions. 

The  gentleman  who  communicated  this  fact  to  me,  was  in  his 
jootb  a  confidential  clerk  in  Sir  Henry  Clinton's  office,  and  copied 
and  delivered  the  dormant  commission  as  directed.  This  explains 
t  passage  in  Clinton's  letter  to  his  government,  in  which  he  says, 
*'tbis  detachment  is  under  the  command  of  General  Arnold,  with 
whom  I  have  thought  it  right  to  send  Colonels  Dundas  and  Sim- 
coe, as  being  officers  of  experience,  and  much  in  my  confidence*' 


rtutu  96 


,  202  ghamfb's  adventubx* 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Champe*8  Adcenture — Indian  Warfare — FateofHuddy — Further 
Hisf^nj  of  Ethan  Allen — New  Hampshire  Grants — CantroversiiS 
with  Vermont — British  attempts  to  seduce  Vermont — Independena 
of  Vermont  recognized. 

Sergeant  Champe's  adventure,   as  told  by  Major  Henrj 
Lee,*  seems  to  belong  to  the  treason  of  Arnold : 

While  the  fate  of  Andre  was  still  in  suspense,  General  Washing 
ton  determined,  if  it  was  possible  to  get  possession  of  Arnold,  be 
would  make  him  the  victim,  and  use  his  influence  to  spare  tbe  life 
of  the   young  officer  who  had  placed  himself  in  the  situatioD 
of  a  spy.     He  sent  for,  and  consulted  Major  Lee.     Tbe  plan 
proposed  was,  for  a  trusty  and  intelligent  man  to  present  himself 
as  a  deserter  to  the  enemy,  and  enlist  in  the  corps  that  was  then 
forming  under  Arnold's  particular  patronage;  and  then  by  tbe 
aid  of  certain  persons  in  New  York  with  whom  Washington  cor- 
responded, to  seize  the  traitor,  and  bring  him  off  to  a  par^  on  tbe 
west  side  of  the  Hudson,  who  should   be  ready  to  receive  biro. 
Lee  mentioned  the  sergeant-major  of  his  legion  as  being  a  man  fit 
for  the  enterprize,  but  feared  that  his  sense  of  honour,  and  tbe  ex- 
pectations he  had  of  receiving  a  commission,  would  prevent  bis  con- 
tenting even  to  apjtear  in  the  character  of  a  deserter.     The  general 
commissioned  Lee  to  give  assurances  that  he  would  stand  be- 
tween the  sergeant  and  disgrace,  and  advanced  every  argiunent  that 
could  be  suggested  to  engage  him  in  the  enterprize.    Lee  departed, 
furnished  with  full   instructions,  and  letters  to  the  agents  in  New 
York  who  were  to  join   in  the  attempt.     After  a  long  conference 
with  Champc,  the  major  prevailed  upon  the  sergeant  to  undertake 
the  execution  of  the  scheme ;  and  as  no  time  was  to  be  lost,  he  im- 
mediately prepared  himself  and  his  horse  for  the  perilous  expedi- 
tion.    Champe  entered  into  the  plan,  as  it  proved,  with  all  bis  seal. 
That  very  night,  having  made  himself  master  of  Washington's 
instructions,  (one  of  which  was  in  no  case  to  take  the  life  of  Arnold, 
ts  that  would  be  interpreted  assassination,  whereas  a  solemn  sacri- 
fice of  tbe  criminal  was  the  object  to  be  attained,)  he  a  little*  before 


*  McBoin  of  fha  war  in  tfaa  Sovtlitni  DepaitBMHL 


champe's  adventure.  203 

midnight  withdrew  liis  horse  from  the  picket,  and  with  his  cloak, 
sword,  valise,  and  orderly  book,  mounted  to  pursue  his  way  to 
Paulus  Hook,  by  such  routes  as  his  experience  suggested  to  be 
best  for  avoiding  patrol  or  scouting  parties.  Scarcely  half  an  hour 
had  elapsed,  when  Lee's  lieutenant  brought  him  information  that  a 
patrol  bad  fallen  in  with  a  dragoon,  who  on  being  challenged  had 
clapped  spurs  to  his  horse  and  escaped.  The  subaltern  was  all 
impatience  for  orders  to  send  off  men  in  pursuit,  and  the  major 
tried  by  every  device  to  delay  such  an  unwelcome  procedure.  He 
feigned  the  dulnessof  a  man  awakened  iiom  sound  sleep,  although 
his  anxiety  had  prevented  any  approach  to  that  state ;  he  affected 
to  believe  that  it  could  not  be  a  dragoon  ;  or  if  one,  that  his  inten- 
tion was  not  desertion.  The  lieutenant  pressed  the  matter — ^pa- 
raded the  troop,  and  showed  that  one  was  missing,  and  that  one 
Sergeant-major  Champe.  '*  I  have  ordered  a  party  for  pursuit," 
tdded  the  zealous  officer,  "  and  they  only  await  your  orders."  Lee 
delayed  as  long  as  possible ;  but  orders  must  be  given,  and  the 
dragoons  were  spurred  on  to  overtake  the  supposed  deserter  by 
every  motive  which  the  honour  of  the  corps  could  suggest.  The 
leader  of  the  pursuers  was  nominated  by  Lee  ;  he  was  sent  for  and 
received  his  orders.  This  was  a  young  cornet.  Off  the  party 
dashed)  leaving  the  major  in  a  state  of  extreme  anxiety.  About 
three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  Lee  was  called  from  his  tent  by  the 
abouts  of  his  soldiers,  and  he  saw  the  cornet  approaching  with  his 
party,  one  of  the  dragoon's  leading  the  sergeant-major's  well-known 
horse,  with  his  cloak,  sword-scabbard,  and  other  accoutrements. 
That  Champe  was  dead,  and  that  he  had  occasioned  his  death,  was 
the  heart-rending  thought  this  appearance  suggested  to  Lee.  The 
cornet  reported  that  they  had  traced  the  deserter  during  the  night 
by  the  marks  of  his  horse's  shoes,  left  on  the  road,  owing  to  a 
recent  shower  of  rain.  (The  shoes  of  the  dragoon  horses  were 
tinlike  others.)  That  at  daybreak  he  continued  with  more  speed  in 
the  chase,  and  as  he  approached  Bergen,  gained  sight  of  Champe, 
who  likewise  saw  his  pursuers.  At  the  village  of  Bergen,  the  ser- 
geant-major, after  riding  through  several  devious  streets,  took  the 
road  to  the  right,  determining  to  make  for  some  British  galleys  that 
he  knew  were  stationed  near  the  shore,  and  not  approach  Paulus 
Hook,  as  was  at  6rst  intended.  This  change  of  coarse  baffled  the 
comet  for  a  time;  but  gaining  information  from  a  countryman  who 
had  seen  a  dragoon  spurring  out  of  the  village,  the  |)arty  again 
pushed  forward  upon  the  track  of  the  fugitive.  When  in  sight  of 
the  galleys,  Champe  made  a  halt,  tied  his  valise  (which  contained 
the  orderly  book,  his  clothes,  money,  etc.)  to  his  shoulders,  drew 
his  sword,  and  again  spurred  for  the  shore.  This  momentary  halt 
brought  bis  pursuers  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  him.  When 
near  the  marshy  edge  of  the  water,  the  sergeant  dismounted,  rushed 


S04  CHAXPE's  ADTKHTtrKS. 

through  the  sedje,  threw  himself  Into  the  water,  and  called  ob  die 
IRllev.^  for  h:^b.  A  bM-iai  iva«  launched  to  receive  the  deserter,  (as 
no  one  could  doubt  him  to  be.)  and  «ome  zuns  were  6red  to  keep 
off  bii*  pur3njer«-  Tlie  report  of  the  p^nv  who  bad  returoed  wkh 
the  ^erreant-niajor'-*  hor^,  cloak,  scabbardt  and  accootRiiieaB» 
ea.'^ed  Major  Lee  of  hi.^  apprehen.^lon.?  for  the  safety  of  Cbampe. 

The  account  ziven  bv  the  cominaoder  of  the  zallers  of  wfaatfae 
had  witne^.'ted.  would  be  an  ample  credential  for  the  ^erzeant.  He 
wax  examined  bv  ^ir  Henrv  Clinton,  received  with  b^oar^  fomi 
an  opportunity  to  communicate  whh  the  agents  of  Washincioav  re- 
Hiding  in  New  York  ;  and  to  further  the  plan,  enlkted  in  AfiioU*s 
legion. 

C>ne  of  tho«e  to  whom  Charnpe  wa.s  introdocedf  prepared  efeir 
thine:  for  M»izin<r  and  carr\'in z  on  the  traitor ;  Cbampe  conunmucal- 
ed  hl«  prozre«4  to  I^ee,  who,  by  the  generars  orders,  prepared  lo 
receive  Arnold.     In  the  mean  time,  Andre  was  coodemoed  aad 
executed.     Therefore  the  only  end  in  view  by  the  capture  of  Ar- 
nold wa.ft  hi^  puni.-hment.     Champe  gave  notice  to  Major  Lee,thil 
bein:;  appointe<l  one  of  the  recruiting  ^rt^eant^  for  Arnold's  lepoOt 
he  had  every  nccc««anr  opportunity  for  the  execution  of  the  phn. 
Adjoining  to  tiie  ganlen  of  the  house  in  which  Arnold  resided  wit 
an  alley  ;  and  by  removing  jK>me  of  the  paling?,  and  replaciDg  dwm 
in  apparent  ««.*curity.  the  conspirator?  were  to  enter,  guided  bj 
ChamfKr,  seize  their  intended  victim  when  he  returned,  as 
invariable  cu«lom,  at  midni^^ht,  from  his  visits  of  biisioesB  or 
sure,  and  retire  to  th«*  <:nrden.     They  were  to  gag  him,  canj  bin 
off  throuirh  the  alley,  and  to  a  boat  prepared  and  lying  at  a  wbaif 
on  the  north  river.     If  que-^iioned,  they  were  to  represent  bim  as  a 
drunken  soldier  wiioiii   they  were  conveying  to  the  guard-boose. 
Washin^.on  orderrd   Le^  to  be  ready  on  the  opposite  shore  to 
receive  Arnold,  ami  prevent  any  |KT>onaI  injury  to  him.     The  ma- 
jor repaired  a(  ni::hi  to  the  appointed  place,  with  a  puty  of  dia- 
p>on«.     Hour  after  hour  pas<H.ML  but  no  boat  approached.     The 
day  broke,  and  with  the  ltd  hor.-^s  prepared  for  Charope  and  bis 

Crisoner,  Lee  returned  to  camp.  In  a  few  days  he  was  iofonoed 
r  the  azeiit  in  New  York,  that  on  the  day  previous  to  the  appoint- 
ed oisht.  Arnold  had  remoted  hi«  quarters  to  be  near  the  pboe  of 
•uibirkaiion  Uir  die  ei(XNii:ion  to  the  Chesapeake :  and  that  the 
lecoa*  lo  which  C hamate  iva*^  attached,  had  been  shipped  anMMig 
the  first  of  the  trnop?K.  for  to^r  of  the  men  deserting.  Thss  the 
•er||eaiil-f»3Jtir  wa^  entrapped,  and  instead  of  crossing  the 
vtlh  his  ppneral  as  a  prisoner,  was  carried  on  to  Vir^oia,  and 
ployed  in  wariare  a^iiist  his  countrymen.  From  this  i 
Strrice  be  found  nieanf  to  tree  hizRseif.  and  when  Lee*s 
•nine  Sjc^nst  ConmAliis  in  the  «o*:th.  :i-^  scrzeaat-fBajor 
Aspcciedty  joined  his  oid  comrades ;  and  ibemTstcfj  of  bisfighii 


IXDfAN  WARFARB.  205 

mb  die  whole  stofr,  beins:  soon  koou-n,  he  was  received  by  the 
eorf»  with  ap;)base  and  welcome. 

After  tSie  ired50ii  of  Arnold,  iho  milirary  i-Mn-a.^tio!!?  of  ihe  war 
were  priDcrviily  inn>rorredio  ihe  souili.  lic^nor.d  Ciaies.  aiCam- 
deo,  lost  an  army  and  ins  reputation.  Daniel  M<>r:nin  became  a 
^oeraK  and  famous  for  the  defeat  of  Tarleion.  at  liie  Cowpeus, 
and  \Vasbui«:ton  terminated  the  war.  in  laet.  bv  the  surrender  of 
Cornwaliis  and  his  armv,  at  York,  in  Virjinia.  C>eneral  Greene 
took  the  place  of  Crates,  who  was  diM^ined  to  a  court  of  enquiry', 
which  was  never  held  ;  but  General  Wasliin^ton  restored  him  to 
his  command  and  rank«  as  oldest  major-irenerai. 

1750  At  midsummer*  in  I7>0,  Hrandu  the  Indian  chief  before 
mentioned.  \vi;h  a  body  of  tones  and  Indians,  laid  waste  tlie 

district  of  Canajoharie.  at  a  time  when  tiie  militia  were  on  service 
at  Fort  Schuyler.  Sir  Joim  .loiinson  ureaked  his  vengeance  oo 
Schoharie,  whidi  he  burnt,  and  with  his  savages  on  the  ISth  of 
October,  laid  Cauiimawaca  in  ruins,  sweeping  with  the  besom  of 
destmcdoo  the  valley  of  the  Scholiarie  Creek.  Johnson  passed  up 
the  north  side  of  the  Mohawk,  burning  all  in  his  course.  General 
Van  RensBselaer.  who  commanded  in  this  district,  oniered  out  Co- 
lonel Browa  with  his  militia  :  but  thov  were  not  in  sutiicient  force  to 
withstand  theenemv,  and  the  colonel,  and  thirtv  of  his  men.  tell  in  the 
attempt.  Johnson  took  |>ost  near  tiie  Mohawk  castle,  or  villa^, 
and  fortified  the  s(H>t,  by  a  breastwork  thrown  acrnss  a  neck  of  land, 
in  part  surroundeil  by  the  Mohawk  Rixer.  Here  he  placed  his 
fcgunetit  of  regulars  and  tories.  His  Indians  occupied  an  elevated 
wood*  in  his  nei!;hbourhoi>d.  (leneral  \'an  Rensselaer  attacked 
the  Indians,  drove  them  trom  tiieir  cover,  and  thev  tied  towards 
the  Susquehanna.  Joiinsoirs  tri>ops  resisted  until  nii:ht.  and  un- 
der its  cover  ihev  escai^ed  irom  the  intended  a:rack  of  tlie  next  dav. 
Johnson  and  his  tories.  Indians.  Canadians,  and  Kn^rlishmen,  in 
October,  17S0,  leti  the  vale  of  the  Schoharie  Creek,  strewed  with 
the  wrecks  of  a  happy  population,  notwithstanding  the  brave  resist- 
ance of  the  inhabitants,  who  in  many  encounters  with  these  savages 
diipfaiTed  a  courage  worthy  of  the  cause  they  fought  in — the  cause 
of  Aira«<tMi/»/. 

1751  Earlv  in  17S1.  while  vet  the  counirv  was  covered  with 
snow,  ilie  enemy  succeeded  in  capinrin::  several  of  the  «jar- 

liooo  of  Fort  Schuyler,  and  Major  Nicholas  Fish,  one  of  our  very 
woithv  ciiixens,  but  latelv  deceased,  bv  cnrat  etTorts  succeeded  in 
lelieiing  the  garrison.  In  July,  Colonel  Marinus  Willet  command- 
ed at  thU  fort.  A  party  of  three  hundn?d  Indians  and  tories,  led 
hj  one  John  Doxtader,  were  scouriu:;  the  Mohawk  valley,  and  had 
eten  burned  a  villas  within  a  short  distance  of  Si^henectadv.  when 
Willet,  ever  prompt,  and  active,  l:aviri:  by  his  scouts  learneil  their 
and  situation,  marched  with  one  hundred  and  six  men,  du- 
a  dark  lugfat,  to  the  vicinity  of  the  enemy's  camp,  which  was 


206  INDIAN  WARFARE. 

in  a  tlilck  swainp  near  Cherry  Valley.  Major  McKean  joined 
Willet  vviili  tliirty  man  ;  and  tiiey  eanie  in  sijjlit  of  the  swamp  about 
daybreak.  Colonel  Willet  drew  up  lii.^  party  in  two  parallel  lines, 
and  ordered  tlieili  to  conceal  themselves  behind  trees.  Major  Mc- 
Kean occupied  the  right,  and  Willet,  with  one  hundred  men,  the 
left  of  the  line.  Two  men  were  sent  to  pass  over  an  open  piece 
of  ground  as  a  decoy,  with  orders  when  discovered  by  the  enemy, 
to  run  in  between  the  two  lines.  The  plan  succeeded.  The 
Indians  raised  their  war  cry  and  pursued  the  fugitives;  but  as  tbey 
approached  the  ambush  they  were  received  by  a  deadly  6re  from 
right  and  left.  They  retreated,  and  betook  themselves  to  trees  for 
shelter :  but  Willet  now  ordered  a  charge  with  the  bayonet,  and, 
waving  his  hat  with  a  hurrah,  led  on  his  men,  driving  the  savage 
foe  through  the  encampment,  which,  with  alhheir  recently  accumu- 
lated plunder,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors.  The  enemj  was 
pursued  toward  the  Susquehanna. 

Marinus  Willet  was  for  a  time  mayor  of  the  city  of  New  York  ; 
and  when  in  advanced  life  he  could  be  induced  to  speak  of  Indian 
warfare,  the  old  man  would  say,  "  there  is  nothing  like  encouraging 
your  men  with  a  hurrah  ;  I  was  always  good  at  a  hurrah  :'^  and 
he  was  a  soldier  that  not  only  cheered  his  men,  but  led  tbein* 
About  a  month  after  this,  a  party  of  British,  Indians,  and  tories, 
penetrated  from  Canada,  and  encamped  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Johnson  Hall.  It  was  about  a  mile  from  the  village  of  Johnv- 
town,  to  the  north.  Colonel  Willet  marched  from  his  garriBon 
with  three  hundred  men,  on  the  22d  of  Aupjust,  determined  to 
attack  the  invaders,  although  they  amounted  to  at  least  six  hundred, 
under  the  command  of  Major  Ross,  and  the  savage.  Waller  Butler. 
Ross  advanced  from  his  encampment  with  all  his  force,  and  niet 
Willet  with  only  two  hundred  men,  he  having;  detached  Colonel 
Harper  to  make  a  circuit  through  the  woods,  and  fall  on  the  enemy's 
rear.  At  the  first  fire  from  this  su  peri  our  force,  Wil  let's  men 
gai'e  way,  and  fled  to  the  hall,  where  he  endeavoured  to  rally 
them,  but  in  vain.  They  retreated  to  the  village,  and  here  he  was 
joined  by  a  body  of  two  hundred  militia.  In  the  mean  time. 
Harper  had  gained  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  and  commenced  an  at- 
tack. Willet  now  advanced,  and  routed  the  barbarians,  who  were 
pursued  through  the  wilderness  for  miles.  The  murderer  of 
Cherry  Valley,  Walter  Butler,  was  killed  by  an  Oneida  Indian  during 
the  pursuit.  A  party  of  this  tribe  (which  had  been  uniformly  on 
the  American  side)  had  joined  in  pursuing  the  routed  enemy  ;  and 
Butler,  on  horseback,  reached  the  West  Canada  Creek,  and  swam 
his  horse  over.  One  of  the  Oneidas  was  on  the  bank  opposite  to 
Btuler,  when  he  turned  and  defied  his  pursuers.  The  Indian  dis- 
charged his  rifle,  and  the  murderer  fell.  '*  Throwing  down  his  rifle 
and  blanket,"   says  Mi.  Campbell,  ^'the  Indian  plunged  into  ibe 


FATE  OP   HtJDDT*  207 

CKek  and  swam  across ;  he  raised  his  tomahawk,  and  with  a  yelly 
sprang,  like  a  tiger,  upon  his  fallen  foe ;  Buiier  supplicated  for 
mercy ;  the  Oneida  with  uplifted  weapon  shouted  in  broken  Eng- 
lish, •Sherry  Valley  !  Sherry  Valley  !'  and  then  buried  his  toroa- 
biwk  in  the  brain  of  bis  victim.     The  place  is  called  Butler^s  ford 

to  this  day/^ 
17S2         During  the  year  17S2,  and  for  some  time  after,  Wash- 
ington was  obliged  to  ap|)ear  with  great  severity,  to  do 
justice  to  the  fate  of  Captain  Huddy. 

The  province  of  Connecticut  possessed  great  advantages,  io 
having  a  governour  of  her  own  choice,  and  other  officers,  instead 
of  being  like  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  ruled  over  by  men 
appointed  by  England.     The  evils  Connecticut  experienced  dur- 
ing the  war,  were  from  open  hostility  and  invasion ;  her  towns 
vere  burnt  in  common  with  those  of  other  states,  and  her  brave 
sons  fell  in  battle  as  elsewhere ;  but  they  were  united.     Their 
governour  and  magistrates  directed  their  actions  as  they  had  done 
before  the  contest  commenced :  which  the  magistrates  placed  over 
New  Jersey  and  New  York  by  England,  raised  the  torch  of  discord 
amoog  the  inhabitants  of  those  states,  and  with  the  cr}'  of  •'  loyalty" 
and  *•  government"  in  their  mouths,  encoura:]:ed  all  those  atrocities 
which  make  the  sanguinary  stru;]^gles  of  civil  war  so  peculiarly 
disgusting.     Tryon,  of  New  York,  and  Franklin,  of  New  Jersey, 
by  eocouragins:  England  with  false  representations,  to  commence 
nnd  continue  the  i^ar,  stirring  up  the  toiies,  and  arming  neighbour 
ngminst  neighbour,  were  the  causes  of  serenes  at  which  humanity 
levolts.     Besides  the  corps  raised  by  Delancey  and  Skinner,  there 
were  bands  called  ••  Associated  Lovalists,"  who  were  under  the  di- 
rectHNi  of  a  ••  Board,"  of  which  William  Franklin  was  the  presi- 
deot.     These  banded  tories  were  even  more  lawless  and  ferocious 
Mi  their  predator}'  warfare  than  the  '^  new  coqis,"  and  were  held  in 
creiter  detestation  by  their  former  neiichbours.     They  had  fled 
Dom  their  homes,  seduced  by  the  king's  troops,  and  found  them- 
selves deprived  of  property,  disappointed  in  tlieir  hopes,  consid- 
ered as  traitors  by  their  early  associates,  and  as  inferiours  by  their 
English  friends.     They  had  received  and  inflicted  personal  inju- 
ries ;  and  the  bitterness  of  warfare  was  increased  by  every  selfish 
and  malignant  passion. 

Hoddy  early  in  the  u-ar  took  up  arms  for  his  country.  In  the 
coarse  of  the  contest  he  had  assisted  in  apprehending  traitors  who 
resided  among  the  people,  and  acted  as  emissaries  of  the  enemy  ; 
and  be  a%'oweil  that  in  one  instance  he  had  assisted  at  the  execution 
cf  a  man  legally  condemned  for  treason.  In  the  spring  of  17S2y 
Captain  Haddy  was  stationed  for  the  defence  of  a  pl^^ce  called 
Tom's  riTer*  and  bad  command  of  a  few  men,  and  an  unfinished 
tada  blockhouae.    He  was  attacked  by  a  very  superioor  party  of 


208  FATE  OF   HUDDY. 

refugees,  or  loyalist?,  sent  from  New  York  to  destroy  thb  posC, 
which  was  in  the  way  of  their  ph:nderinir  expeditions.  Huddj 
and  his  small  garrison  defended  themselves  bravely,  but  io  Tain ; 
they  were  overpowered,  part  killetl,  and  the  remainder^  with  the 
captain,  taken  to  New  York.  Tliis  was  in  the  month  of  ApriL 
After  one  niirht's  contlnement  in  the  "  main  guard,*'  (that  is  the 
dunireon  or  prison  of  tl;e  City  hall  in  Wall  street,)  the  prisoners 
Tvere  crowded  into  the  ^^usrar  house.  But  it  appears  that  in  this 
place  they  were  not  so  completely  under  the  control  of  Fraoklin* 
and  the  "  Board  of  Associated  Lovalists,"  and  were  therefore 
removed  to  the  Provost.  Here  they  were  in  the  power  of  the 
brutal  Cunningham.  * 

During  his  confinement  a  party  of  refus:ees  had  been  made  pris- 
oners,  and  one  of  them  (Philip  White)  attempting  to  escape  from 
the  horsemen  who  guarded  them,  was  killed.  This  was  represent- 
ed in  New  York  bv  the  enemv  as  an  intended  and  barbaroos  rooi^ 
der,  and  seems  to  have  iriven  rise  to  the  detennination  of  Gorer" 
nour  Franklin  and  his  assoi.-iates.  A  captain  of  refugees,  named 
Lippincot,  was  found  ready  to  execute  the  design?  of  the  board  of 
loyalists,  even  without  a  written  order  from  Franklin  ;  it  appearing 
that  the  prisoners  had  been  before  (riven  up  by  Captain  Conning 
ham  to  the  ex-govenour's  ajenis,  on  an  order  from  the  secretaij 
of  the  board,  with  verv  little  ceremonv,  and  no  reluctance. 

While  Huddy  rested  as  content  as  his  fellow  prL«oners,  in  the 
Provost,  he  was  demanded  by  Lippincot,  delivered  up  with  two 
others  by  Cunnimrham,  put  on  board  a  vessel,  irons  screwed  to  his 
hands  and  feet,  and  on  asking  the  reason  of  this  treatment,  he  was 
told  that  they  were  taking  him  down  to  the  Hook  to  be  hanged. 
He  was  received  on  board  a  British  armed  vessel,  until  Lippincot 
had  made  his  arrangements.  A  British  commander  in  his  ma- 
jesty's navy  furnished  the  rope.  This  prisoner  of  war  was  takes 
on  shore,  a  ^Uows  was  prepared,  under  which  he  was  placed  on 
a  barrel,  and  a  negro  performed  the  part  of  executioner,  under  di- 
rection of  Lippincot.  The  barrel  was  knocked  away,  and  the  bodj 
of  Huddy,  who  died,  as  they  said,  '^  like  a  lion,''  left  for  the  coih 
templation  of  his  neighbours,  with  a  paper  affixed  to  it,  which  had 
been  prepared  before  Lippincot  received  his  orders  from  the  board 
of  associated  loyalists.     "  L'p  iroes  Huddy  for  Philip  White." 

This  atrocious  murder  caused  a  demand  from  General  Wash- 
ington that  the'  perpetrator  should  be  pven  up  ;  and  a  notificatioa 
that  if  this  justice  should  be  refused,  a  prisoner  of  equal  rank  with 
Huddj  must  be  sacrificed,  to  prevent  a  recurrence  of  such  &- 
graceful  acts.  In  consequence  of  this  demand,  Lippincot  was 
confined,  under  the  care  of  his  friend  Cunningham,  tried  for  the 
murder,  and  acquitted.  It  appears  that  be  was  considered  to  be 
authorized  by  tl^  orders  of  Franklin  and  the  board  of 


FATB  OF  HTDDT.  909 

A  bold  putT,  headed  by  Captmin  Hjler  of  Brunsirickf  deter- 
misled  lo  seize  Lippincot,  even  ia  ihe  heart  of  ibe  garrison  of 
r  York.  Thev  ascertaioeti  the  place  of  his  residence,  which 
ID  Broad  street,  aod  disguised  as  Koglish  meihH)lhwar^s-i]ieQ« 
embarked  near  the  Hook,  landed  boldly  in  >kew  York,  and 
proceeded  to  the  house  of  their  intended  victim ;  but  tliey  were 
dasatppoiated.  The  refugee  captain  was  absent*  gambling  at  a 
it.  The  party,  of  course,  could  not  attack  bim  there,  nor 
long  in  their  perilous  situation  ;  but  returned  sale  and  un- 


The  deiBind  of  General  Washington  not  beinz  oooiplied  with, 
aQ  the  captains  of  the  British  artuy  who  were  prisoners  of  war 
were  braiugbl  together,  and  required  to  draw  lots  to  determine 
vUcii  of  theiD  should  die.  The  lot  fell  on  a  youth  of  nineteeiH 
a  &TDurite  among  them  all,  and  every  eye,  British  or  American, 
was  fiUed  with  tear^  as  the  vouns:  victim  reco;!:nized  his  doom. 
Hk  name  was  As<nl*  Great  intercession  was  made  to  save  this 
Tooac  man  ;  and  ars»  happily,  the  termination  of  the  wur  was  known 
fa  be  Dear,  be  was  s{iared. 

Theie  is  a  rnvsterious  atrocity  brou^rht  to  li^ht  bv  the  trial  of 
LippiDCOi,  which,  if  it  had  not  been  published  by  the  honourable 
mca  who  composed  the  court,  all  English  officers,  or  Americans 
ia  the  service  of  England.  I  could  not  have  beliex^ed.  It  appears 
ihM  William  Franklin,  as  chief,  or  president  of  the  board  of  asso- 
rilled  loyalists,  bad  authority  from  some  quarter  (or  he  knew  that 
ke  would  be  upheld  by  some  supreme  |M>wer  in  so  doing)  to  take 
the  provost-marshal  any  prisoner  he  chose,  and  commit  him 
who  were  ready  to  obey  the  ex-goveraour  of  New  Jersey, 
ia  aaj  act  of  murder.  The  testimony  of  Cunningham,  and  others, 
reociTed  and  believed  by  the  court,  proves  this.  And  although 
ihefe  is  do  proof  adduced  on  this  trial  (and  probably  it  would  be 
avoided)  that  others  were  murdered  as  Huddy  had  been,  but  with 
Ins  pubhcitT,  it  i»  difficult  not  to  inter  that  such  had  been  the  case. 
Thttt  Franklin  and  the  board  of  refugees  had  this  power,  is  proved ; 
that  it  was  exercised  on  Huddv  is  undeniable  ;  and  that  neither 
Franklin,  dot  any  other  of  his  confederates,  was  called  to  account 
fbriL 

The  mysterious  movements  of  the  British  on  Lake  Champlain, 
aad  of  Ethan  and  Ira  Allen  with  others  in  res[>ect  to  Canadu,  kept 
the  state  of  New  York  in  constant  agitation,  uniil  the  New  Hamp* 
giants  became  by  iucerference  of  Congress,  aud  reluctant 
of  New  York,  the  state  of  N'enuoat.  Ethan  Allen  is  so 
with  all  these  transactions,  that  I  must  irive  an  accouut  of 
bim  from  the  time  he  was  a  prisoner  to  the  enemy. 

We  lefr  Mr.  Allen  on  board  of  a  British  vessel,  and  in  irons,  bj 


210 

order  of  General  Preseott  the  commaiidaiit  of  MooCieal,  wba  6e 
^ore  of  the  ra<b  attempt  od  that  place  in  Septetnbert  177§.* 

It  was  in  rain  that  Alien  remoanrated  against  socfa 
treatment,  and  contrasted  it  wiUi  the  manner  in  irludi  he  haA  he- 
bared  to  the  officer?  made  prisoners  bv  him  at  Ticoodeni^  Pitci' 
cott  saw  in  those  officers,  the  servants  of  bis  mostgncioiB  angetfr, 
grosslr  injnred.  by  being  deprived  of  their  garrison  and  Dbotr: 
in  Allen,  be  onlv  beheld  a  darinz  rebel  and  traitor — a  piaU  f»' 
rincial  American.  The  British  eeneral  did  not  deicD  to 
the  call  of  the  rebel  for  humanity-,  and  AUen  remaifJ  ii 
handco&ed  and  shackled,  thrust  into  the  bold  of  a  fi 
a  chest  for  bis  bed,  which  was  furnished  bv  the  hiuDuiilji  idmt 
of  the  crew,  but  even  on  that,  his  massive  chains,  and  the  bar  if 
iron  to  which  they  were  attached,  would  not  pennit  faiin  to 
a  postnre  which  nature  requires. 

For  five  weeks,  Allen  and  his  companions  in  capuwkf^ 
mained  thus,  all  treated  as  condemned  criminahL  The 
proach  of  Montgomery,  caused  the  removal  of  ADen  viA 
floating  dunsneon  to  Quebec ;  and  beinz  transferred  toanadier 
sel,  be  found  in  the  captain,  a  zentleman.  Captain  Litdgohi 
dered  the  irons  to  be  struck  o£  and  admitted  him  to  his 

This  respite  was  short.     Arnold  appeared  in  the 
of   Quebec,   and  Monfjomery   bavin?  captured   Mooirealv 
descending  the  St.  Lawrence.     Allen  was  transferred  to  a 
.vessel  destined  for  England,  and  placed  under  the  guaidijiMfcip  if 
Brook  Watson. 

This  wretch  (his  subsequent  riches  and  the  honours 
upon  hm  by  those  be  served,  do  not  render  the  term  inapplicable,) 
a  \ew  Endand  adventurer,  who,  under  the  mask  of  patriolB■^  in- 
gratiated himself  with  the  leaders  in  opposition  to  the  des^na  ef 
Great  Britain,  and  bavin;  obtained  such  knowledge  as  be 
woald  enti:!e  h:m  to  payment  for  the  communication,  fled  lo 
treal  with  his  intelligence,  and  openly  declared  himself  an 
to  his  country.  He  was  rewarded  by  the  ministry,  with  the  piMt 
of  corsmissarv-^neral  to  the  British  armies  in  America,  aod  I 
wel!  remember  him  on  his  return  to  America  in  office, 
streets  of  New  York  in  scarlet,  at  :he  same  time  with  Ainold, 
in  the  same  hlushmz  colours.  He  was  subsequently  lord  mayor 
of  London,  and  a  member  of  the  British  parlian»ent.  vhete  he 
made  himself  memorable  by  bis  arruroent  in  favour  of  the  niipr 
trade,  eivinz  as  a  reason  for  its  bein?  continued  and  cberidied  bv 
Great  Britain,  that  the  abolition  would  injure  the  market  lor  the  le- 
fuse  fish  of  the  English  fisheries,  they  being  purchased  as  food  (at 
the  Enzliih  slaves,  in  their  West  Indies. 


p.  U-i  nkr  ibt  nmier  lo  Spvk'f  Life  of  Aim.  (Am  Bh(.  T«L  h) 


STRAN  ALLBN*  911 

To  diis  enemj  of  God  and  man,  was  Allen  consigned,  and  be 
ShiikI  from  him  such  treatment  as  might  be  expected.  His  hand* 
cufis  were  replaced,  and  with  thirt}'-three  Americans,  manacled 
io  the  same  manner,  he  was  confined  in  one  loathsome  j)rn,  for 
IbrtT  days,  during  the  passage  of  the  vessel.  On  entering  the  har- 
bour of  Falmouth,  these  thiny-four  Americans  were  permitted  to 
see  the  light  of  day,  and  breathe  the  air  of  heaven,  by  being  for  the 
first  time,  brought  upon  deck. 

The  dress  in  which  Allen  was  taken  prisoner,  and  which  had 
onder^ne  no  change  except  from  hard  usage,  and  long  confine^ 
ment,  is  thus  described.  ''  While  in  Canada,  he  had  clothed  him- 
•elf«  in  a  short  fawn  skin,  double  breasted  jacket,  a  vest  and 
breeches  of  sagathey,  worsted  stockings,  shoes,  a  plain  shirt,  and 
a  red  worsted  cap."  Thus  arrayed,  he  was  marched  from  Fal- 
BDOOth,  with  his  companions,  to  Pendennis  Castle,  affording  a 
spectacle  to  the  crowds  that  followed,  and  who  doubtless  received 
aiid  propagated  the  description  of  an  American,  from  that  ex- 
hibtdon. 

In  their  new  prison,  they  found  themselves  comparatively 
comfortable.  They  were  still  in  irons,  but  they  had  airy 
room^  straw,  and  good  food.  The  fame  of  Allen  as  the 
cooquerour  of  Ticonderoga,  had  gone  before  him,  and  although 
it  had  operated  upon  Cveneral  Prescott  and  Brook  Watson,  as  an 
iDceDtire  to  cruelty,  brave  men  were  wrou!;ht  upon  to  admire  the 
dartn^  achievement,  and  to  honour  the  hardy  leader :  the  com- 
■ttoder  of  Pendennis,  sent  him  breakfast  and  dinner  from  his  own 
tiblet  and  his  sup|>ers  were  supplied  by  another  admirer.  He  was 
illowed  to  walk  on  the  parade  ground  within  the  walls,  and  many 
risited  bim  to  enjoy  the  contrast  between  his  savage  dress,  and  his 
bold,  fluent,  and  energetick  language,  conveying  to  them  informar 
tioa  of  a  countrj'  to  which  they  were  strangers,  except  as  the  atro- 
city of  rebellion  asrainst  Knirland  had  made  them  known.  Allen 
was  not  at  his  ease  respecting  the  fate  Prescott  had  promised,  and 
made  use  of  a  stratagem  to  convey  to  the  British  government,  a 
hint  that  retaliation  might  be  the  consequence  of  putting  him  to 
death  as  a  rebel.  He  asked  permission  to  write  to  the  continental 
congress :  which  being  granted,  he  handed  to  the  guard  a  letter, 
in  which,  he  advised  congress  of  the  treatment  he  had  received, 
but  requested  that  no  retaliation  shoidd  be  inflicted  on  British  pri- 
•ooers  in  their  power,  until  his  final  destiny  should  be  known  ;  but 
tbeo  to  retaliate   according  to  the  importance  of  the  American 


This  letter,  as  he  designed,  was  sent  to  Lord  North ;  and  what- 
ever effect  it  may  have  had,  it  was  soon  apparent  tliat  chains  and 
death  could  not  be  resorted  to  as  punishments  for  the  prisoners 
taken  in  arms  resisting  the  forces  of  England  in  America.  It  was 
detennined  to  treat  Allen  and  his  companions  as  prisoners  of  war, 


212  ETHAX  ALLEX« 

ind  their  irons  heinz  removed,  thev  were  sen*  on  boird  the  Sofc&r 
fri^e.  to  be  $eot  hack  to  the  rebellious  colonies.  The  capeaio  of 
this  ship,  ordered  Allen  beiow.  telllnz  bioi  the  deck  was  the  *^pbce 
for  gentlemen  to  walk.*^  I.i  tiie  cable  tier  be  was  coo&oed.  pat 
of  the  time  sick,  but  by  boldly  appearing  on  deck,  and  chiauaz  the 
priTileze  of  a  gentleman  from  bb  rank,  and  tlie  capfain's  declan- 
tjon,  he  was  allowed  to  breathe  the  air  a:.'ain.  In  the  Soletyr.  be 
W3S  carried  to  Cork,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  known  that  he  was  is 

the  harbour,  he,  and  his  com:>anioai^  in  car^tivitr,  ei.peri?iiced  z&e 

I  I        •         • 

generous  sympathy  of  the  gentlemen  of  Ireland.  Clothes  for  the 
privates  were  sent,  and  an  am^d?  w^r'irobe  for  Allen,  sahed  to  !» 
tank  a«  a  colonel,  n<it  forjetiinz  two  beaver  hats,  Bercelr  cocked 
and  bound  with  zolJ  hoe.  Not  content  with  clothing  the  r^zip 
they  supplied  abunda-it  food  for  the  liunrrj-,  and  sea  store? 
furnished  for  all  the  rebels,  with  a  feelin?  whif.-h  indicated  doc  oidr 
generosity  and  humariity,  but  a  fym{»Lhe!ick  attachment  lo  the 
cause  in  which  tlie  Americaas  suffered. 

Fifty  guineas  were  oHered  ro  Allen ;  of  wliicb  he  accepted  tetea, 
as  a  resource  in  any  pre*^in^  emergency. 

Such  was  the  behaviour  of  the  Irish  gentlemen  irf'Cork — bflC 
the  English  geailemen  of  the  navy,  ari{.*eared  only  to  feel  cfaagria 
at  the  occurrence.  The  captain  of  the  Soleby,  swore  that  the 
American  rebel*.  sbo'dJ  noi  be  feasted  **hv  the  rebels  of  Irehad.** 
and  ordered  tiie  drr::cacie<  de?^!znf:d  for  Allen  and  his  rompaniocSt 
to  be  given  to  his  rn'aje-»-!y's  seniats.  The  clolhinj  they  were  ge- 
nerously permitle'i  to  kefirp.  The  Soleby  saile^l  for  America  with 
a  fleet,  and  the  r-rbel  ;#ri*or5er?  were  divided  3fnonztheship«.  Oa 
arriving  at  Cape  F^rir  Klver,  in  North  Carolina.  Allen  was  tran*' 
ferred  to  a  frigate,  ca]!*;  i  the  Mercury,  and  hi^  fellow  captives  col- 
lected, and  placed  ar^In  in  hi-?  company.  Trie  ra;>:a:n  of  thisfii- 
^xe.  is  descrilfed,  as  ••  t;.  r  nnica!,  narrow  minded,  and  destitute  of 
tlie  feelings  of  huma:  i'v." 

One  of  tJje  Arnerl'jans  d'ed  on  the  pi*sare  from  Irehr.d.  aad 
another  esca't^d  afirr  zrr'.vi]  on  t!,^  rfn-u  bv  swlrr.rrinz.  Some  of 
tlicm  were  sick,  bur  rn?  ilea!  zr/jT'di-ir-^  \rzs  -^vrieil  ihera,  ther  were 
shut  down  in  the  caM?  ri-.r.  a'.-i  if  i:.  :v  corrij/alned.  were  told,  that 
thev  uouid  be  relieve*]  on  ihe!r  grrival  at  Halifax,  bv  the  sallows^ 

The  Mercun-  r3!::-d  from  Cai-e  P'eir  Kiver  on  ihe  20ih  of  Mar, 
and  touched  at  iLe  Hf/f^k  off  Ne-iv  York  th?  f:r»t  week  in  June. 
At  tljU  time  Ger.erjl  Wa^hi.^zton  with  the  American  armv  bad 
possession  of  New  York,  aid  :he  Briiirh  shippin^'  lay  in  the  ooter 
harbour  near  the  Hook.  The  yi'rrr-zry  rerr*9:ne.l  here  three  days, 
during  whi?h  lime fJovemo  :r  Tnoiu  and  Mr.  Kemp,  the  attoraey- 
general  of  New  York  under  the  old  sroverGment,  came  on  board. 
Tfjon  eyed  Allen,  as  they  were  walking  on  different  parts  of  At 
deck^  hot  did  not  speak  to  him*    It  is  natural  to  prcsome,  tliac  die 


ETHAN  ALLEN*  213 

kte  govRfnour  saw  with  a  secret  satisfaction  the  man  in  safe  custo- 
dj,  who  had  caused  him  so  much  unavailing  trouble  in  writing 
proclamations.  Kemp  was  the  same  attorney,  whom  Allen  had 
met  at  Albany,  when  he  attended  the  court  there  as  agent  for  the 
patentees  of  the  New  Hampshire  Grants.  No  man  had  been  more 
active  in  pressing  the  New  York  claims,  or  in  stirring  up  persecu- 
tions against  the  Green  Mountain  Boys;  and  of  course  no  one  had 
acquired  amons^  them  a  more  odious  notoriety.  This  accidental 
meeting  with  Ethan  Allen  must  have  called  up  peculiar  associa- 
tions in  the  minds  of  both  the  ji^overnour  and  the  attorney-general. 

The  Mercury  arrived  in  Halifax  after  a  short  passage  from  New 
York.  The  prisoners  were  put  into  a  sloop,  then  lying  in  the  har- 
boar,  and  a  guard  watched  them  day  and  nis:ht.  In  this  con6ne- 
ment  they  were  8er\'ed  with  so  scanty  an  allowance  of  provisions, 
that  they  suffered  cruelly  from  the  distress  of  hunger,  which,  added 
to  the  attacks  of  the  scurvy,  made  their  condition  more  deplorable 
than  it  bad  been  at  any  former  time.  They  were  still  under  the 
direction  of  the  captain  of  the  Mercury,  to  whom  they  wrote  letter 
after  letter,  imploring  medical  aid  and  other  assistance ;  but  in  vain. 
The  captain  was  deaf  to  their  calls,  took  no  notice  of  their  com- 
plaintSy  and,  to  get  rid  of  their  importunities,  ordered  the  guards 
to  bring  him  no  more  letters.  Their  case  seemed  now  reduced  to 
the  verge  of  despair.  Allen  resolved,  however,  to  make  one  more 
efibrL  He  wrought  so  far  upon  the  compassion  of  one  of  the 
guards,  as  to  persuade  him  to  take  a  letter  directed  to  Govemotur 
Arbutlmot,  which  was  faithfully  communicated.  Touched  with  the 
claims  of  humanity,  the  govemour  immediately  sent  a  surgeon  to 
the  prisoners,  with  instructions  to  administer  such  relief  to  the  sick 
as  was  necessar}',  and  also  an  oflicer,  to  ascertain  and  report  the 
grounds  of  their  complaint.  This  officer  discharged  his  duty  well, 
and  the  result  was,  that  the  next  day  they  were  removed  from  their 
dismal  quarters  on  board  the  prison-sloop,  to  the  jail  in  Halifax. 

Allen  met  Mr.  James  Lovell  of  Boston  (afterward  a  member 
of  congress,  and  one  of  Gates's  faction,)  in  the  jail  of  Halifax.  He 
bad  been  con6ned  in  the  jail  of  Boston  by  Gage,  and  carried  thence 
to  the  jail  of  Halifax,  where  he  was  locked  up  with  prisoners  of  the 
lowest  description. 

There  were  now  together  four  American  officers,  besides  Mn 
Lovell,  who,  by  the  custom  of  war  and  the  practice  then  existing 
in  regard  to  British  prisoners  taken  by  the  Americans,  had  a  right 
lo  their  parole  ;  but  this  was  never  granted.  They  were  kept  in 
close  confinement  till  orders  came  from  General  Howe  to  send  them 
to  New  York.  Partial  negociations  had  commenced  between  Ge- 
neral Washington  and  General  Howe  for  the  exchange  of  priso- 
ners, and  certain  principles  had  been  laid  down,  by  the  mutual 
agreement  of  the  parties,  as  a  basis  upon  which  to  proceed.    More- 


214  KTHAN  ALLEN. 

over  confess  liad  instructed  General  Washington  to  make  a  spe- 
cial application  in  favour  of  Mr.  Lovell  and  Colonel  Allen,  pro- 
posing to  exchange  Govemour  Skene  for  the  former,  and  an  omcer 
of  equal  rank  for  the  latter.  The  legislature  of  Connecticut  had 
also  interfered  in  behalf  of  Allen,  and  eighteen  of  the  prisonen 
taken  with  him,  who  were  natives  of  that  state,  and  solicited  cod- 
gress  and  tlie  commander-in-chief  to  use  all  practicable  means  tat 
effecting  their  release.  The  same  had  been  done  by  the  Masisacbii- 
setts  legislature  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Lovell. 

The  Lark  frigate,  on  hoard  of  which  were  Mr.  Lovell,  Colonel 
Allen,  and  their  companions,  saih^d  from  Halifax  about  the  middle 
of  October.  Luckilv  they  found  themselves  at  last  under  an  officer, 
Captain  Smith,  u  ho  treated  them  with  the  politeness  of  a  geode- 
man,  and  whh  the  feehngs  of  a  man  capable  of  sympathizing  iotlie 
distresses  of  the  unfortunate.  The  first  interview  is  thus  described 
by  Colonel  Allen.  "  When  I  came  on  deck,  he  met  me  with  hia 
hand,  welcomed  me  to  his  ship,  invited  me  to  dine  with  biro  tint 
day,  and  assured  me  that  I  should  be  treated  as  a  gentleman,  and 
that  he  had  given  orders  that  1  should  be  treated  with  respect  by 
the  ship's  crew.  Tiiis  was  so  unexpected  and  sudden  a  transidoo, 
that  it  drew  tears  from  my  eytis,  wiiich  all  the  ill  usages  I  had  be- 
fore met  with  were  not  able  to  produce;  nor  could  I  at  first  liardlr 
speak,  but  soon  recovered  myself,  and  expressed  my  gratitude  for 
so  unexpected  a  favour,  and  let  him  know,  that  I  felt  anxiety  of 
mind  in  reflecting,  tiiut  iiis  situation  and  mine  was  such,  that  it  was 
not  probable  it  would  be  ever  in  my  power  to  return  the  favour. 
Captain  Smith  replied,  that  he  had  no  reward  in  view,  but  only 
treated  me  as  a  gentleman  ought  to  be  treated.  He  said,  this  is  a 
mutable  world,  and  one  gentleman  never  knows  but  it  may  be  in  his 
power  to  help  another." 

An  opportunity  soon  occurred  of  verifyin^:  this  last  remark. 
They  had  not  been  at  sea  many  days,  when  it  was  discovered  that 
a  conspiracy  was  on  foot  to  destroy  tiie  captain  and  the  principal 
officers,  and  seize  the  ship.  An  American  captain,  who  had  com- 
manded an  armed  vessel,  and  been  recently  taken  prisoner,  was  the 
chief  conspirator.  He  revealed  hi?  designs  to  Colonel  Allen  and 
Mr.  Lovell,  requostiuir  their  co-operation  in  bringing  over  the  other 
prisoners,  about  thirty  in  number,  and  telling  them  that  several  of 
the  crew  were  ready  to  join  in  tin*  plot.  It  was  known  that  tli€rc 
were  thirty-five  thousand  pounds  in  money  on  board,  and  the  plan 
of  the  conspirators  was  to  take  the  ship  into  an  American  port, 
where  they  expected  to  divide  the  booty  accordinir  to  the  usual 
rules  of  captures.  Without  waiiinirto  discuss  the  laws  of  war,  or 
to  reason  about  the  infamv  and  criminalitv  of  such  an  act  with  men. 
who  were  prepared  to  execute  it,  Colonel  Allen  declared  with  his 
uiutl  decision  and  vehemence,  that  he  would  not  listen  a  momenc 


ETHAN  ALXJEN.  S16 

lo  such  a  scheme :  that,  in  ^ts  mildest  cliaracter,  it  was  a  base  and 
wicked  return  for  the  kind  treatment  they  had  received,  and  that  he 
would  at  every  personal  hazard  defend  Captain  Smithes  life.  This 
rebuff  was  unexpected  by  the  conspirators,  and  it  threw  them  into 
1  distressing  dilemma,  since  the  fear  of  detection  was  now  as  ap- 
pallinsr  to  them,  as  the  danger  of  their  oritrinal  enter  prize.  They 
then  requested  him  to  remain  neutral,  and  let  them  proceed  in  their 
own  way,  but  this  he  peremptorily  refused ;  and  he  finally  s*uc- 
ceeded  in  quelling  the  conspiracy,  by  adiiering  to  his  resoludoui 
and  promising,  that,  as  he  had  been  consulted  in  confidence,  he 
would  not  divulge  the  matter,  if  the  leaders  would  pledge  them- 
selves instantly  to  abandon  the  design,  in  the  present  state  of 
things  they  were  glad  to  accept  such  terms.  At  the  conclusion  of 
this  affair,  Colonel  Allen  was  forcibly  reminded  of  the  words  of 
Captain  Smith. 

Before  the  end  of  October,  the  Lark  frigate  anchored  in  the  har- 
bour of  New  York,  and  the  prisoners  were  removed  to  the  Glasgow 
transport.  Mr.  Lovell  was  exchanged  in  a  few  days  for  Governour 
Skene ;  and  colonel  Allen,  after  remaining  four  or  five  weeks  in  the 
transport,  where  he  met  with  very  civil  usage,  was  landed  in  New 
York  and  admitted  to  his  parole.  Here  he  had  an  opportunity  of 
witnessing  the  wretched  condition  and  extreme  sufferings  of  the 
American  prisoners,  who  had  been  taken  in  the  battle  on  Long 
Island  and  at  Fort  Washington,  and  who  were  left  to  perish  of 
hunger,  cold,  and  -sickness,  in  the  churches  of  New  York.  He 
speaks  of  these  scenes  as  the  most  painful  and  revolting,  that  could 
be  conceived.  Indeed  numerous  concurring  testimonies  have  es- 
tablished it  as  a  fact,  of  which  not  a  shadow  of  doubt  can  now  be 
entertained,  that  human  misery  has  seldom  been  seen  in  such  heart- 
rending forms,  or  under  circumstances  so  aggravating.  The  mo- 
tives of  the  enemy  for  practising,  or  permitting  cruelties  so  little 
consonant  to  the  dictates  of  humanitv,  the  customs  of  civilized  war- 
fiwe,  and  ever}'  principle  of  sound  policy,  are  not  a  fit  theme  of 
inquirv'  in  this  narrative.  The  fact  itself  is  an  indelible  stain,  deep 
and  dark,  in  the  character  of  ?>ir  William  Howe,  which  no  array  of 
private  virtues,  of  military  talents,  or  public  nets,  will  hide  or  ob- 
scure. The  picture  drawn  by  Alien,  coloured  as  it  may  be  by  the 
ardour  of  his  feelings,  is  vivid  and  impressive,  and  its  accuracy  is 
confirmed  by  the  declarations  of  several  other  persons,  who  also 
related  what  thev  saw. 

While  he  was  on  his  parole  in  New  York,  a  British  officer  of 
rank  and  importance  sent  for  him  to  his  lodgings  and  told  him  that 
his  fidelity,  though  in  a  wrong  cause,  had  made  an  impression  upon 
Genera]  Howe,  who  was  disposed  to  show  him  a  favour,  and  to 
advance  him  to  the  command  of  a  regiment  of  royalists,  if  he  would 
join  the  ser\'ice,  holding  out  to  him  at  the  same  ume  brilliant  proa- 


216 

pects  of  promodon  and  moner  during  die  war,  and  hree  tncti  of 
hod  at  its  close.  Allen  replied,  **  that  if  bjr  £uthfolne9§  be  bad 
reeonimeDded  hiinself  to  General  Howe,  be  sbooU  be  lodi  br  on- 
fiuthfoloes?  to  lose  the  GeneraFs  ?ood  opinion  ;**  and  as  to  the  lands, 
be  was  bjr  no  means  satisfied,  that  the  kin;  would  poaee»  a 
cient  quantity  in  the  United  States  at  the  end  of  the  war  to 
any  pledges  on  that  score.  The  officer  sent  him  awajr  as  an 
fipble  and  hopeless  subjecf. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1777,  be  was  directed  with  odier  pn- 
oners  to  take  up  his  abode  on  the  western  side  of  Long  1  rliwl, 
being  sdll  on  parole,  and  allowed  the  usual  freedom  imder  svcfa 
cumstances  within  certain  prescribed  limits.  Here  be  remained 
a  condition  of  comparadre  comfort  till  August,  wboi  be 
denly  apprehended,  enrironed  with  guards,  conducted  to  the  pv»* 
Tost-jail  in  New  York,  and  pot  into  solitary  confineineiit.  Tkb 
act  was  on  the  pretence  of  his  baring  infringed  his  parole,  irinch 
he  affirmed  was  untrue,  and  the  whole  proceeding  unjost  and  ob- 
licions.  But  the  cause  was  now  of  little  moment,  since  be  wai 
chiefly  concerned  with  the  effect.  For  the  space  of  three  days  be 
was  immured  in  hb  cell  without  a  morsel  of  food.  The 
who  stood  at  the  door,  refused  to  be  moved  br  ot!ers  of 
appeab  to  his  compassion,  and  repelled  every  advance  with  a  sol- 
cUer^s  oath  and  the  brief  reply,  that  he  would  obey  his  orders.  The 
pains  of  hunzer  became  extreme,  but  they  were  at  last  aasoaeiBd; 
and  in  a  few  days  he  was  transferred  to  another  apartment  of  the 
jail,  where  he  found  himself  in  company  with  more  than  twcatr 
American  officer?. 

On  the  3d  of  May,  17 7  S,  Colonel  Allen  was  released  frooi  pet- 
son,  conducted  to  Staten  Island,  and  exchaoged  for  Cokmel  Camp- 
bell ;  he  then  passed  to  Elizabethtown,  and  foimd  himself 
more  free,  and  amon?  his  counii^'men.  Alter  a  visit  to 
Washington,  at  Valley  Forge,  he  returned  to  \'ermonL  Coogjui 
granted  him  a  lieutenant-coloners  commission  in  the  ro«ti»^^.> 
tal  army,  and  pay  during  his  capdvity. 

The  course  of  Colonel  Allen  now  becomes  identified  with  the 
historv  of  Vermont. 

Certain  transactions  of  this  year,  make  it  necessarr  to  give  a 
brief  view  of  the  state  in  which  the  inhabitants  of  what  had 
styled  the  New  Hampshire  Grants,  had  oontinued  up  to  this 

In  tiie  vear  17 7S,  certain  towns  od  the  east  side  of 
river,  in  the  state  of  New  Hampshire,  preferring  the  jurisdiccioB  of 
Vermont,  called  a  convention,  and  considering  that  the  amfaari^ 
of  Great  Britain,  which  had  annexed  them  to  New  Hampsfairet  wm 
lonser  existed,  resolved,  that  they  were  free  to  choose,  and 
dingly  petitioned  Vermont  to  receive  them.  The  asBefldbhr  of  V 
moat,  not  only  coiseotcd  to  reoehre  the  aiiOeea 


CONTROVERSY  WITH  VERMONT.  S17 

but  resolved  to  take  into  their  body  any  other  towns,  producing  t 
vote  of  the  majority  of  the  inhabitants,  and  sending  a  representative 
to  the  assembly  of  Vermont. 

This  free  and  easy  proceeding,  justly  alarmed  New  Hampshire, 
who  trembled  for  the  consequences  of  the  former  acts  of  her  govern- 
ment and  council :  and  she  claimed  her  sixteen  towns,  of  her  daugh- 
ter Vermont ;  at  the  same  time  appealing  to  congress,  and  soliciting 
the  interference  of  that  body.  Ethan  Allen  was  sent  to  Phiiadel- 
phit  for  information  respecting  the  wishes  of  the  great  council  of 
the  United  States.  He  reported,  that,  congress  opposed  the  union 
of  the  New  Hampshire  towns,  but  would,  if  Vermont  disannulled 
her  proceedings  in  that  matter,  admit  her  into  the  union.  This 
state  of  things,  produced  violent  dissentions  in  Vermont,  and  va- 
rious prbjects  for  settling  the  government  of  the  yet  but  half  acknow- 
ledged state.  In  the  midst  of  this  uncertainty,  Massachusetts  put 
in  a  claim  for  a  large  part  of  Vermont,  as  her  boundary  line  had 
never  been  settled  with  New  York,  and  extended  into  the  territory 
which  had  separated  from  that  province.  Govemour  Clinton  of 
New  York,  interfered  in  behalf  of  that  state,  in  July,  1778,  and  ad- 
vised such  towns  of  Vermont,  as  were  in  favour  of  continuing  in 
union  with  the  original  state,  to  join  in  association  for  defence 
against  the  new  pretensions.  He  likewise  urged  congress  to  de- 
cide the  controversy  between  New^  York  and  the  pretended  state  of 
Vermont,  and  asserted  that  the  grievances  complained  of,  by  that 
people,  arose  from  the  provincial  government  of  New  York,  and 
not  from  the  present  state  government.  In  the  year  1779,  Go- 
vemour Clinton  gave  commissions  to  persons  in  the  county  of  Cum- 
berland, which  had  remained  attached  in  sentiment  to  New  York, 
and  the  people  of  that  county  prepared  to  assert  their  right  of 
choosing  under  whose  jurisdiction  they  would  live ;  but  Vermont 
would  not  permit  this,  and  ordered  Ethan  Allen  to  raise  the  militia, 
and  put  down  these  hostile  appearances.  George  Clinton,  was  not 
a  man  to  be  frightened  from  his  duty,  and  he  directed  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Cumberland,  to  remain  firm  in  their  allegiance  to  New 
York,  promising  that  if  they  were  assailed  by  a  military  force,  the 
militia  of  New  York,  should  support  them.  He  likewise  advised 
congress  of  this  very  disagreeable  state  of  affairs,  which  called  for 
the  interposition  of  the  general  government. 

Congress  appointed  a  committee  to  repair  to  the  before  mentioned 
district  known  by  the  nameoftheNew  Hampshire  Grants,  and  make 
enquiries  and  adjust  differences  ;  but  in  the  mean  time,  Ethan  Allen 
marched  into  Cumberland  county,  and  seized  the  colonel  coromii- 
stoned  by  New  York.  Dr.  Wetherspoon  and  Mr.  Atle  were  de- 
puted from  Congress  to  settle  the  afikir,  but  they  returned  without 
mnring  effected  the  purpose. 

Four  different  claims  for  this  disputed  territory  were  now  befiSM 
VOL.  II.  28 


fU  wmrrvm  ATTSsipn  to  sbdccs 


eoogren,  ind  b  SepCember,  1779,  tbey,  by  a  seriet  of  iCMilfct, 
lecommeoded  to  New  Hampshire,  Massacliosetts,  and  New  York, 
to  pass  laws  authorizing  congress  to  determine  the  differeooei  be- 
tween them — saying  that  tbev  would  fhcn  determine  the  same— -and 
that  it  was  the  duty  of  the  people  of  liaid  district  who  denied  tfaa 
jtirisdictioo  of  the  aforesaid  states  not  to  exercise  any  power  over 
such  others  as  professed  to  owe  allegiance  to  said  three  states. 
Vermont  bating  declared  herself  independent,  acted  firmly  accord- 
ing to  the  declaration,  and  paid  no  aiteniion  to  a  recorouieodatioB 
involving  an  absurdity.  The  governour  and  council  published  an 
appeal  to  the  world,  and  the  state  proceeded  to  act  as  stich. 

The  controversy  was  brought  formally  before  congress  io  17S0, 
but  was  postponed,  leaving  all  parties  concerned  in  a  state  of  itriia- 
tion.  It  must  be  remembered  that  this  disunion  existed  at  a  time 
when  a  foreign  enemy  was  in  the  United  States,  and  when  this 
distracted  territory  was  menaced  with  au  invasion  from  the  adja* 
cent  English  province  of  Canada.  The  power  of  Vennont  was 
increased  by  tlie  adhesion  of  the  sixteen  towns  of  New  Hampshire 
oo  the  east  side  of  Connecticut  River,  and  by  the  application  for 
protection  of  a  portion  of  New  York  adjoining:  Canada.  The 
leaders,  disappointed  that  Congress  did  not  receive  them  into  the 
Union,  threatened  a  junction  with  Canada.  The  British  mioistij 
conceived  hopes  of  advantage  from  the  dissention,  and  the  aims  of 
the  English  commander  in  America  were  annoimced  in  a  letter  from 
Colonel  Beverley  Robinson  to  Ethan  Allen,  then  a  colonel  in  the 
American  senice.  The  letter  was  dated  New  York,  March  dOih, 
17S0,  and  was  delivered  to  Allen  in  the  street,  at  Arlingtoo^  ib 
July,  by  a  British  soldier  in  the  habit  of  an  American  iarmer. — 
It  does  not  appear  whether  this  spy  was  detected  or  not ; 
or  if  detected,  whether  he  was  executed  as  such.  By  thb  act. 
Colonel  Robinson  had  subjected  his  agent  to  the  punishment  of 
death,  we  know. 

In  this  letter  Robinson  professed  great  kindness  and  good  inten- 
tion towards  Allen  and  the  people  of  Vermont,  of  whom  he  was 
iolbrmed  the  disposition  existed  to  unite  America  ai^ain  to  Great 
Britain,  and  to  restore  that  happy  state  of  things  uhich  bad  been 
ao  wantonly  destroyed.  He  req nests  him  to  communicate  freely 
with  him,  and  through  him  to  the  commander-in-chief — hints  thaf 
bj  embodying  the  people  of  Vennont  in  favour  of  Engbnd,  the 
gofrenmieni  of  the  province  tvill  be  his  reward,  and  the  men  and 
officers  ao  embodied,  will  be  on  tlie  same  footing  as  all  the  piovin- 
Q31  corps  are. 

Allen  immediately  laid  this  letter  Itefore  the  govemoor  and 
latdeis.     They  advised  silence.     In   February,  1751, 
wrote  another  letter  to  Allen,  and  enclosed  a  copy  of  the 
Ht  tiTS*  be  IS  confirmed  in  his  opinion  that  Allen  nd  tbn  Vi 


SEinui  ATTmifrTs  to  skpqcb  rmMMoiKT.  tit 


to  restore  America  *'  to  her  (broer  petcodbb  and 
coBsdlution/*  ind  a^tines  him  that  tlie  terms  mentioned  m 
die  fim  letter  may  be  obtaiueiU  and  \vi5he5  to  devise  the  nu>de  of 
actiOQ  for  the  Vei  mont  forces,  irhether  by  uniting  with  the  iKMtheni 
amj,  or  to  meet  and  join  an  army  from  New  York. 

Alien  returned  no  answer ;  but  on  the  9th  of  March,  17S1«  en* 
closed  Robinson^s  letters  in  a  letter  to  congress,  in  which  the  rigbl 
of  Vermont  to  inde|>endonce  was  assortetl,  and  his  determination 
10  do  every  thing  in  his  |>ower  to  establish  it. 

The  hopes  of  tiic  British  were  kept  iu  force,  and  the  command* 
iag  officer  in  Canada  took  advantage  of  a  negociation  opened  by  tht 
govemour  of  Venno:u  for  exchange  of  prisouers,  to  pursue  the  plan 
of  divitiioj^  the  Vennonier>  fnim  the  Tnion.  A  force  was  sent  by 
General  HalJimand  up  Lake  Chim;>lain,  and  a  tbg  sent  to  Ethan 
AUea.  (Uien  a  bri  jadier-gencral  and  the  commanding  otiicer  in  Ver- 
nKHit)  with  projK>sals  for  a  ce.>sation  of  hosiiliiies  during  negocia« 
lions  for  an  excliange  of  prisoners.  Thl^  was  agreed  to,  provided 
die  mice  should  extend  10  the  frontiers  of  New  York.  This  was  t 
proof  of  Allen*s  attachment  to  iho  American  cause;  but  so  strong 
was  the  belief  thai  the  Vormoniors,  anJ  particularly  Allen,  were 
inclineJ  to  sereJe,  thai  this  siipnlaiion  did  not  o|>en  their  eyes:  it 
a«:reeJ  to,  auvi  tlie  wilv  Yankees  tricked  the  enemv  into  a  for- 
of  all  liosiilities.  uliich  the  fmniiers  were  not  in  condition 
10  guard  against.  Under  pretence  of  a  negociation  for  exchange 
nf  prisoners,  commissioners  were  sent  10  meet  the  British  agents, 
vbo  proposed  terms  of  the  most  templing  nature  to  Vennont,  if  sbe 
joined  the  royal  cause.  Tliese  commissioners  managed  to  dupe 
die  English,  left  them  in  the  (>^>inion  that  ihey  were  in  a  fair  way 
10  efiect  their  purpose,  anil  the  British  forces  returned  to  their 
ninter  quarters,  lea%in<:  ilie  frontiers  unmolested. 

The  troops  of  tlie  Tnited  States  had  been  witiidrawn ;  Vermont 
hid  neither  magaunes,  money,  nor  an  anny  sutncient  to  oppose  d» 
enemy  in  any  attempt  from  Canada,  and  Cnuemour  Chittenden 
concluded  that  the  people  of  Vermont  were  at  liberty  to  manage 
their  own  afiair^  in  their  own  wav.  and  that  tlie  best  way  was  to 
keep  their  enemy  quiet  by  hopes  of  uhimateiy  acceding  to  his  pro* 
positions.     Accordingly  iliey  pursued  tins  course. 

When  the  news  of  die  surrender  ofOornuallis  reached  Vermont, 
dK  issemblv  was  in  session.  The  enemv  were  in  force  at  Ticon- 
deroga,  and  so  con6dent  that  their  negt>ciations  were  successful, 
tint  ibey  made  open  declaration  of  their  designs,  and  odered  printed 
prockmations,  inviting  tiie  |>eople  of  Vermont  to  become  happy,  and 
dK  king**  government  and  tiie  agents  of  England,  proposed  to  thn 
knding  men  of  Vennont,  to  disseminate  these  proclamations  among 
Ae  people.  Who  shall  say.  that  if  Washington  had  not  been  success- 
id  at  \orklown,  the  state  of  Vermont  w<mld  not  bare  been  over- 


SM  FSOCBBDIlfOS  OP  TBKlfOllT. 

nm  bjr  the  British  army  from  Canada,  either  as  enemies,  and 
qoerours,  or  friends  and  protectors  ? 

The  cautious  reply  of  the  Vermonters,  was,  **  that  die  news  of 
ConwaIlis*s  surrender,  would  render  such  a  step  extremely  danfrer- 
ous,  and  was  the  sure  way  to  present  all  prospect  of  success.*'  The 
British  officers  still  entertaining  hopes  of  producing  the  defectioa 
of  die  defenceless  and  dissatis6ed  state,  retired  with  their  troops  to 
Canada. 

During  the  next  year,  repeated  attempts  were  made  hy  theEoj^ 
lish  in  Canada,  to  conclude  this  business  with  Vermont.  Hakfi- 
mand  let  the  govemour  know,  that  he  had  full  powers  from  the  kiiif, 
to  establish  Vermont  as  a  royal  government.  Allen  was  to  be  t 
brigadier-general,  and  others  rewarded  in  proportion.  The  Ver* 
monters,  continued  to  secure  their  countr}''s  safet}',  by  appearing 
to  Ibten  favourably  to  their  propositions,  until  the  peace  of  17S3 
rendered  frirther  dissimulation  unnf^essary  ;  but  the  hopes  ofEog* 
famd  to  divide  the  state  of  Vermont  from  the  union,  were  not  finallf 
dissipated  until  the  admission  of  Vermont  into  the  Federal  unioo 
under  the  constitution  which  has  been  our  sheet  anchor,  unto  tfaii 
time. 

Dr.  Williams,*  tells  us,  that  only  eight  persons  in  Vermont  weit 
in  the  secret  of  this  correspondence  with  the  British  agents.  1  aoi 
hr  from  justifying  their  conduct,  although  the  apparent  effect  of 
it  was  salutary. 

Before  this  happy  termination  of  difficulties,  events  had  takes 
place  which  I  must  transcribe  at  lenirth  from  Williams's  history : 

In  August,  17S I, congress  "resolved.  *  that  it  bean  indispensa> 
ble  preliminary,  to  the  recognition  of  the  independence  of  the  peo- 
ple, inhabiting  the  territory  called  Vermont,  and  their  admissioo 
into  die  federal  union,  that  they  explicitly  relinquish  all  demands  of 
lands,  or  jurisdiction,  on  the  east  side  of  the  west  bank  of  Connec- 
ticut River,  and  on  the  west  side  of  a  line  beginning  at  the  north- 
west comer  of  the  state  of  Massachusetts,  thence  running  twenty 
miles  east  of  Hudson's  River,  so  far  as  said  river  runs  northeasterly 
in  its  general  course,  then  by  the  west  bounds  of  the  townships 
granted  by  the  late  p:overnment  of  New  Hampshire,  to  the  riier 
running  from  South  Bay  to  Lake  Chnmplain,  thence  alons:  the  srii 
rirerto  Lake  Champlain,  thence  along  the  waters  of  Lake  Chan- 
plain  to  the  latitude  forty-6ve  degrees  north,  exceptins:  a  nedr  of 
land  between  Missiquoi  Bay  and  the  waters  of  Lake  Champlain.* 

**  With  these  resolves  of  congress,  a  verbal  message  was  sent  by 
General  Washington  to  Govemour  Chittenden,  desVmg  to  know 
what  were  the  real  designs,  views,  and  intentions  of  the  people  of 


*  HiilofyofVenBML 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  VERI^fONT.  231 

Vermont :  whether  they  would  be  satis6ed  with  the  independence, 
proposed  by  congress ;  or  had  it  seriously  in  contemplation  to  join 
with  the  enemy,  and  become  a  British  province.  The  govemour 
returned  an  unequivocal  and  decisive  answer.  That  there  were 
no  people  on  the  continent,  more  attached  to  the  cause  of  America, 
than  the  people  of  Vermont ;  but  that  they  were  fully  determined, 
not  to  be  put  under  the  government  of  New  York,  that  they  would 
oppose  this  by  force  of  arms,  and  would  join  with  the  British  in 
Canada,  rather  than  to  submit  to  that  government. 

"  In  October,  the  general  assembly  of  Vermont  met  at  Charles- 
town,  in  New  Hampshire.  The  resolutions  of  congress  were  laid 
before  them  ;  but  although  the  resolves  held  out  all  that  Vermont 
had  at  first  claimed,  or  had  ever  expected  to  obtain,  they  did  not 
produce  a  full  confidence  in  congress  ;  nor  did  they  fall  in  with  the 
views  of  those  towns,  which  had  joined  Vermont,  from  New  Hamp- 
shire and  New  York.  When  they  had  been  debated,  the^assembly 
TOted,  October  the  19th,  that  they  could  not  comply  with  the  reso- 
lations  of  congress,  of  August  the  20th,  without  destroying  the 
foundation  of  the  universal  harmony  and  agreement,  that  subsisted 
in  the  state,  and  a  violation  of  solemn  compact  entered  into  by 
articles  of  union  and  confederation  ;  that  they  would  remairt  firm 
in  the  principles,  on  which  the  state  had  first  assumed  government, 
and  hold  the  articles  of  union,  which  connected  each  part  of  the 
state  with  the  other,  inviolate ;  that  they  would  not  submit  the  ques- 
tion of  their  independence,  to  the  arbitrament  of  any  power ;  but 
that  they  were  willing  and  ready  to  refer  the  question  of  their  juris- 
dictional boundary  with  New  Hampshire,  and  New  York,  to  com- 
missioners mutually  chosen ;  and  when  they  should  be  admitted 
into  the  American  union,  they  would  submit  any  such  disputes  to 
congress. 

"  The  resolves  of  congress,  though  they  had  not  been  accepted 
by  Vermont,  were  considered  by  New  York,  as  a  virtual  determi- 
nation of  her  claims.  The  legislature  of  that  state,  on  the  15th  and 
19lh  of  November,  passed  a  number  of  resolutions,  and  a  solemn 
protest,  against  the  proceedings  of  congress.  Having  staled  their 
claims,  and  related  some  of  the  former  proceedings  of  congress 
relative  to  the  controversy,  they  resolved,  that  the  legislature  of  that 
state  was  greatly  alarmed  at  the  evident  intention  of  congress,  from 
polUical  expedicfice,  to  establish  an  arUtrary  boundary,  which  ex- 
cluded from  that  state,  a  great  part  of  its  territory ;  that  it  was  the 
sense  of  the  legislature,  that  congress  had  not  any  authority,  by  the 
articles  of  confederation,  to  intermeddle  with  the  former  territorial 
extent  of  jurisdiction  or  property,  of  either  of  the  United  States, 
except  in  cases  of  dispute  between  two  or  more  of  the  states  in  the 
union,  nor  to  admit  into  the  Union,  even  any  British  colony  except 
Canada,  without  the  consent  of  nine  states,  nor  any  other  state 


Ofi>^  of  lijc  t'jif!it^3  lI'S.Ai  -S'aiti-  ^nj^w^yi  a.  leir  .iiiiiwfissiiii 

^eUk  of  tine  7  b  hi  a.T:3  ^>;j-  <>:' A  jr  .-"u  trie  l^rl^tifflJint  weie 

dot/  lo  tbisriir  CA.ir'Jtj^''>.  TO  /ilc:  3i:e  :jje  i^Lmc  aii  .nimiinyiiM  rf 

povcTt  aa  J  a  ni i rj' a'*; -:  I! 'j  Y2 r., '> -  ^>' : .- ?  jLtk-ie? -c/"  ca#i 

do  liierfci»T  *'/i  ;.i  y  r» '''':'-  iri'i?:  i:;^*  5.1  t^*  :  ifciBC  .&  -ntiywr 

dtncu^  ani  re^jlrej  i->  cie."  1  jsrlr  o.r.i^i:  oa  ««-fiiT  sis^ 
mar  be  take:!  iiBz^i  Vi^^zU  c^rr/l-i::  t..^  iJtli  ^xs  Gfc''£3iiipe9Bi 
oecotion. 

•*  Antim*  f^r  t'j?  «"i.'--.r  o'  V>-t» ->-;:.  nl  irlji'i^  i3i  «n3 
self  of  ever/  rn :^i  ?  i r  i  : •>  :» - 1  v^  1  i  i :.  01  N  >r ;  la  jir  1 1-;:^ 
ooar  Crii:rcn:lr.i  fvro'.e  fi  (i :•; 2.'^;  Wi -..»". igt.»a-  o^  s^ 
expbioin^  to  {.in  tl:e:r  «!::  c:>>*'.  c]':2::i>'.'Je^,  a:»^  ii£v&  Is  ii§ 
letter^  ibe  soremo-ir  |j'j:r^  I  grsn:  cr>nri  l^3C2  ia  t"*  riraeriL  ari 
gave  bim  ar.  acco:icii  of  Lie  irar.^arcicn^  w'lih  the  eoearij  :  asd  at> 
ai|pied  llie  rca^^jn  :  *  Vcrrr.or:?,  lircve  10  « tempera; ko.  Lv  tiaeipfV* 
tke  of  tbo^  r.l;o  «ix».lrl  i,2'«r-  tec  (I  i.cr  rriend5.  na«oblik£«dioadafl 
policy  in  tf.c  rccrri  of  (rr.cr;'  ciil  ui:I.  leicnt  ;o  :ee  iast  itsoli* 
tioD  of  con^re^s  t-c  s.-^^iikcd  :)cin  :o  li.cir  in:c  cajcfe,  cot  tfct 
inflaence  of  iLcir  frir^rirfr^.  hi.t  li.c  |  ouer  of  theLr  eceniies;  *Lorf 
George  Germaln^i^  letter  v.  roi.ci.t  c.n  Ccncrei^,  sed  prctcured  ifail 
from  tiiem,  uhich  ti.e  p(>Mic  \irtf;c  of  this  peopSe  could  wBi 
obtain/ 

•*  At  ibc  same  lirr.e,  the  troops  of  New  York  were  in  moiiooto 
auppresA  the  proccc  iin::^  of  tlit-ir  ciiizens,  who  bad  fanned  M 
union  with  Vernio.ii^      On    Djceinber  ISch.  their  cocnaiaBder* 
Brigadier-General  Gan.-evoort,  \vro:o  to  the  commanding  officrr  of 
tbe  troops  from  Vermont,  that  in  pur^innce  of  a  bw  of  New  York* 
be  bad  been  detached  ujili  a  part  of  hU  brigade  to  suppress  an 
insurrection  of  ^^ome  of  the  inhahitnntsof  Srhaticook,  and  Uooac; 
that  be  was  arrived  to  aid  tiie  f^heritf  of  tlie  county,  to  apprehend 
tbe  insurgents  ;  and  wa-^  informed  tiiat  a  lar:re  body  of  troops  firom 
tbe  granUf,  were  marchini;^  in  forre,  wiiii  artillery' ;  but  before  he 
proceeded  any  further,  he  ui-^hed  to  he  informed  what  was  theob* 
ject  of  their  movement  into  ihe  inferiotir  parts  of  that  state,  and  bj 
what  authority.     Colonel   Walbrldire,  commandant  of  tbe  troops 
from  Vermont,  wrote  in  an.-wer.  tiiat  the  object  of  their  moremeittt 
was  to  protect  tho<(e  of  the  iniiabitant-*,  who  in  consequence  of  tbe 
onion,  professed  allegiance  to  the  state  of  Vermont ;  that  be  wished 
conciliatory  measures  might  he  adopted,  hut  if  those  persons  who 
professed  to  be  citizens  of  \'ermont,  should  be  imprisoned,  and 
their  property  destroyed,  he  waf<  not  to  be  answerable  for  the  coo> 
sequences. 

All  parties  seem  to  have  been  seriously  alarmed  at  these  pnia- 


4< 


nrocBSDnios  of  XBMMort. 

of  a  dril  war :  and  happily  for  tliemselvest  ther  had  all  of 

more  moderatioo  and  wisdom,  than  to  proceed  to  hosdiities. 

ting  on  the  wnr  with  (jreat  Britain,  in  which  their  couotrj 

so  deeply  engasred.  they  seem  to  have  been   fully  convinced 

no  difierence  among  the  states  ought  to  be  suffered  to  produce 

among  themselves. 

**  A  rontroversv  so  full  of  mischief  and  danirer  to  the  United 

jeave  much  concern  to  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  Ame- 

anny.     Aware  of  the  extremes  to  which  all  parties  were 

imdinsr,  on  Januarx-  1st.  17S2,  he  rt^urned  an  answer  to  Govemoar 

Ckittenden^s  letter,  in  which  were  tliese  expressions :  *  It  is  not  my 

Vasinesss  neither  do  I  think  it  necessarv  now,  to  discuss  the  otifnn 

afthe  ri^t  of  a  number  of  inhabitants  to  that  tract  of  countr}',  for- 

■wrlj  distinguished  by  the  name  of  the  New  Hampshire  Grants, 

aad  ooir  known  bv  that  of  Vermont.     I  will  take  it  for  s^ranled  that 

iheir  ri^ht  was  ctxKl,  because  conj:rrss,  bv  iheir  resolve  of  the  7th 

ef  August,  imply  it:  and  by  that  of  the  2 1st,  are  willing  fully  to 

eoofirm  it,  provided  the  new  state  is  confined  to  certain  described 

boands.     It  appears  therefore,  to  me.  that  the  dispute  of  boundary 

b  the  only  one  that  exiMs,  and  th.at  being  removed,  all  other  diffi* 

cokies  would  be  removeJ  ai-^o.  ami  the  matter  terminated  to  the 

Mb&ction  of  all  parties.     You  have  nothing  to  do  but  withdraw 

Toor  jurisdiction  to  the  con6ncs  of  }  our  old  limits,  and  obtain  an 

acknowledgment  of  your  independence  and  sovereignly,  under  the 

iwolre  of  the  2 1st  of  August,  for  so  much  tcrriior>*  as  docs  not 

iaierfere  with  die  ancient  e>-taMisl.cd  bourds  of  New  York,  New 

Hampshire,  and  Massachusetts.     In  my  private  opinion,  \^hile  it 

bebores  the  delegates  to  do  an^ple  jusiice  to  a  body  of  people  suf- 

kieiidy  respectable  by  their  numbers,  and  entitled  by  other  claims 

la  be  admitted   into  the  con!'c(!crnt'on,  it  becomes  them  also  to 

nmd  to  the  interests  of  tl;eir  constituents,  and  see,  that  under  the 

ippearance  of  justice  to  one.  they  do  not  materially  injure  the  rights 

of  others.     I  am  apt  to  think  this  is  the  prevailing  opiniou  of  con* 


••The  assembly  of  Vermont  met  in  February,  at  Benningtoo* 
The  letter  from  the  general  was  laid  lefore  ti.em,  and  it  produced 
those  effects  which  the  irencral  seems  to  l.ave  inteiuled  :  it  corrected 
ifae  erroursof  the  government  of  Vermont,  and  produced  a  confi- 
deacein  the  resolves  of  con-^ress,  ilius  recou^mcnded  by  the  opinion 
aad  advice  of  Washington.  .\t'ter  a  full  delate  upon  the  matter, 
the  aasembly  resoU'cd  to  comply  with  the  preliminar}*  required  of 
ffaen.     Tbeir  procee<iing^  were  in  this  form  : 

•*  *  Slate  fi' Vermont  in  Gchrnil  Asst$nUi^  frfcrnrcrn/ 22,  17S2. 

•*  *The  recommendation  of  the  crand  committee,  consisting  of 
hs  excellency  the  govemour,  the  honourable  the  council,  and  the 

of  the  people,  on  taking  into  consideration  the 


St4  rmocMMmxQs  of  ▼xbmovt. 

lotioiM  of  congress  reflpecting  this  state,  ia  the  month  of  AogiHt 
last,  being  read,  U  a.^  follows  :  That  in  the  sense  of  this  comoiilieCv 
congress  by  their  resolutions  of  Aiigru^t  last,  in  guaranteeing  to  the 
states  of  New  York  and  New  Hamp:*hire  respeciivelv,  all  the  tetii- 
tory  without  rertain  limits  therein  expres:*ed,  has  eventuallj  deie^ 
mined  the  boundaries  of  thi-<  «:ate.  And  whereas  it  appears  to  this 
committee,  consistent  with  the  spirit*  true  intent.,  and  meaning  of  the 
articles  of  union  entered  into  by  this  state,  with  the  inhabitants  of 
a  certain  di.strict  of  country,  on  tiie  east  side  of  llie  west  ban&s  of 
Coniiecticut  Itiver,  and  on  tiie  we=t  side  of  a  line  twenty  miles  east 
of  Hudson's  River,  which  article.^  of  union  were  executed  oo  the 
25th  day  of  February',  and  on  tiie  l'3ih  day  of  June  last^  that  con- 
gress should  consider  and  determine  the  boundary  lines  of  the 
state.  ]t  is  recommended  to  (he  legislature  of  this  state,  to  pass 
resolutions,  declaring  their  acquiescence  in,  and  accession  to  the 
determination  made  bv  conirress  of  the  boundary  lines  between  the 
slates  of  New  Hampshire  and  New  Vork  respectively,  and  this 
state,  as  thev  are  in  said  resolutions  defmed  and  described.  And 
also,  expressly  rclinqui.'*ljin<rail  chims  to,  and  jurisdiction  over,  the 
said  districts  of  tcrritorv  wiihont  said  boundary  lines,  and  the  In- 
habitants  thereon  residinj- 

•*  'Confidins:  in  the  faith  and  wisdom  of  congress,  that  llier  will 
immediately  enter  on  measure":,  to  carrv  into  etfect  the  other  mat- 
ters  in  the  said  resolution  c(int<»ined.  aiid  settle  the  same  oo  eqnita-' 
ble  terms,  wherehv  t!ji<i  !^t?ic  mav  he  received  into  and  have  and 
enjoy  all  the  protection.  rijliLs  and  advantaeres,  of  a  federal  onion 
with  the  United  States  of  America,  as  a  free,  independent,  and 
sovcreiirn  state,  as  is  held  forth  to  us,  in  and  by  tlie  said  resolutions^: 

*'  '  And  that  the  leirislature  cau«e  oHicial  information  of  their 
resolutions  to  be  immrdiatrlv  transmitied  to  the  congress  of  the 
United  States,  and  to  the  states  of  New  Hampshire  and  New  York 
respectively. 

•'  •  Whereupon  resolved, 

"  •  That  the  foreiroin::  recommendation  be  complied. with,  aad 
that  tlic  west  banks  of  Connecticut  River,  and  a  line  be^noing  at 
the  Dortli-west  corner  of  the  state  of  Massachusetts,  from  tbence 
Odthward  twenty  miles  ea^t  of  Hudson's  River,  as  speciSed  io  tbe 
resolutions  of  conirress  in  Aujii^t  last,  be  considered  as  tlie  east 
and  west  boundaries  of  this  state.  That  this  assembly  do  hereby 
rclioquish  all  claims  and  demands  to,  and  riirht  of  jurisdiction  in  and 
over  any  and  ever^*  district  of  territory,  without  said  boundary  lines. 
That  authentick  copies  of  this  resolution  be  forthwith  offidally 
transmined  to  congress,  and  to  the  states  of  New  Hampshire,  and 
Kew  York  respectively.*  "• 


*•  ITaL  W  VvnsMrt.  pp.  fT^SM. 


ntocsKmxos  of  TsmiioiiT. 

Sciil  this  Ions:  protracted  dispute  iras  not  terminated.  **  In  tUi 
situation  ihiii^  remiiiiied,  until  several  of  ilie  leading  men  io  tht 
UniUNl  Stateo,  became  alarmed  with  the  operation  and  tendency  of 
poblick  affairs.  Statesmen  of  ability  and  iufonnation  saw  tbit  tbo 
powers  invested  in  consrres?,  were  in  effect  only  the  powers  of  t 
diplomaiick  body  ;  and  wliolly  inadequate  to  the  pur|K>ses  of  federal 
povemmpnt.  AnJ  that  the  liberties,  the  safety,  and  the  union  of 
America,  could  not  be  pie^enetl,  unless  an  adequate  and  eflfeieM 
government  co;iLI  be  established  in  the  United  States.  Virginia 
had  the  honour  to  lea  J.  in  the  first  avowed  opposition  to  the  British 
kmz  an  J  piHianieni :  anJ  she  was  the  first  that  attempted  to  call  m 
con%-ention  of  the  slates,  to  form  a  new  federal  constitution.  The 
neasure  wa«  crowned  with  that  success,  which  might  be  expected 
from  the  deliberate  consultations  of  a  free  and  uncorrupted  peoplOf 
aimin^  to  secure  the  public*  safety.  A  new  federal  constitution 
vas  adopted  by  the  people  of  America  :  and  a  new  congress,  for* 
nishej  with  competent  |>owers,  met  in  the  citv  of  New  York,  March 
OJ,  ITStl. 

*•  Tiie  ancient  difficuhv  with  New  York,  was  not  vet  removed* 

_  •  . 

That  state  liati  indeed  given  up  all  prospect,  and  probably  all  de- 
sire, of  subduinz  \'crmont  by  force,  or  by  policy  ;  and  well  knew 
that  Venuont  was.  and  would  remain,  a  free  and  independent  state. 
But  bn:e  tracts  of  land   hnd  been  irranted  bv  the  sovemoure  to 
»dividuals  :  the^  tracts  of  land,  by  means  of  the  increasing  aef- 
tlements  an  J  pn>speriiy  of  Vermont,  were  become  greatly  valuable* 
The  ^overnrnent  of  Vermont  had  uniformly  refused  to  acknov^ ledge 
the  vali.litv  of  these  <:ran:s,  or  submit  to  anv  of  the  legislative  acts 
of  New  York,  and  ha. I  made  new  «rrants  of  all  those  tracts  of  land: 
and  wa«  unalterably  tixe.l  in  refusins;  to  admit  the  legality  of  soy 
kzidative  act  of  New  Vork.  which  related  to  the  teniioiy  of  Ver- 
mont.    The  (grantee >  un.ler  New  York,  were  constantly  complain* 
in^  of  the  injuries  that  were  done  to  them,  in  not  being  permitted 
to  uke  po>session  of  their  property;  and  of  the  injustice  that  would 
be  established,  if  the  t!overnnient  of  New  York  should  sufier  their 
land^  to  be  tint?  taken   from  them  without  an  equivalent.     Much 
piin«  In  I   bi^n  taken  to  coni;>romisc  the  difficulty,  but  witboat 
coming  to  any  general   agi^eement :  and  the  ^vemment  of  New 
York  d!d  not  canreii'e  any  very  strong  obligation  lay  upon  them, 
10  refund  that  to  individuals,  which  the  state  had  no  band  in  grant* 
ing;  but  which  was  simply  an  act  of  the  crown  of  Great  Britain, 
executed  by  the  will  of  the  royal  gnvemour ;  generally  for  his  per* 
sooal  profit,  always  for  the  benefit  of  his  particular  friends,  hot 
nerer  fer  any  emolument  to  the  government  or  people. 

**  A  course  of  events  at  lenj^h  occurred,  which  rendered  the  views 
of  New  York  more  fa%'ourable  towards  Vermont.  Disputes  rela* 
tire  to  the  permanent  seat  of  the  federal  government,  ran  hi|fa  in 
n.  29 


ADJUSTMENT  BBTWBBN  NBW  TOEK  ANB  TBBMOST. 

a66gr^s9.  After  repeated  trials,  the  decision  sometimes  fell  io 
favour  of  remaining  at  New  York,  and  sometimes  in  fayour  of 
removing  to  Philadelphia ;  and  it  was  finally  carried  in  favour  of 
Philadelphia,  by  a  very  small  majority.  Kentucky,  it  was  foreseen, 
would  soon  be  admitted  into  the  federal  union ;  and  Virginia,  to 
whose  territory  it  belonged,  with  great  dignity  and  honour,  instead 
of  opposing,  was  aiming  to  promote  that  event.  The  representi- 
tion  from  tlie  eastern  states  was  diminished  of  its  just  proportion, 
by  the  exclusion  of  Vermont;  and  this  had  already  proved  to  the 
disadvantage  of  New  York.  If  their  old  controversy  could  be 
settled,  it  was  apparent  that  the  interests  and  ioBuence  of  these 
states  would  in  almost  every  instance  coincide.  The  public  senti- 
ment called  loudly  for  the  same  measure.  To  what  purpose,  it 
was  said,  is  Vermont  kept  out  of  the  Union  f — Is  it  not  in  the  full 
and  complete  possession  of  independence,  and  as  well  regulated 
and  governed  as  the  other  states  ? — And  shall  the  federal  union, 
throughout  the  whole  territory,  be  obstructed,  and  rendered  incom- 
plete, by  the  ancient  and  endless  controversy  between  New  York 
and  Vermont  f 

•*  New  York  wished  with  the  rest  of  America,  to  have  the  federal 
union  completed  ;  and  without  calling  to  view  the  former  occasions 
of  contention,  passed  an  act,  July  15,  17S9,  appointing  commis- 
sioners with  full  powers  to  acknowledge  the  independence  of  Ve^ 
mont,  and  to  settle  all  matters  of  controversy  with  the  state.  On 
October  the  23d,  1789,  the  legislature  of  V^ermont  appointed  com- 
missioners on  their  part,  to  treat  with  those  of  New  York,  with 
powers  to  adjust,  and  finally  determine,  every  thing  which  obstruct- 
ed the  union  of  Vermont  with  the  United  States.  The  commis- 
sioners from  both  states  were  themselves  very  desirous  to  have  Ver- 
mont brought  into  the  federal  union.  The  only  point  of  difficulty 
and  debate,  related  to  a  compensation  for  the  lands  claimed  by  the 
citizens  of  New  York,  which  had  been  granted  by  the  government 
of  Vermont.  After  two  or  three  meetings  of  the  commissioners, 
the  matter  was  brought  to  an  equitable  and  amicable  agreement. 

"October  the  7lh,  1790,  *  the  commissioners  for  New  York,  by 
▼irtue  of  the  powers  to  them  granted  for  that  purpose,  declared  the 
consent  of  the  legislature  of  New  York,  that  the  state  of  Vermont 
be  admitted  into  the  union  of  the  United  States  of  America;  and 
that  immediately  upon  such  admission,  all  claims  of  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  state  of  New  York,  within  the  state  of  Vermont,  shall  cease; 
and  thenceforth  the  perpetual  boundary  line  between  the  state  of 
New  York  and  the  state  of  Vermont  shall  be  as  was  then  holden 
and  possessed  by  Vermont,  that  is,  the  west  lines  of  the  most  west- 
ern towns  which  had  been  granted  by  New  Hampshire,  and  the 
middle  channel  of  Lake  Champlain.'  With  regard  to  the  lands 
which  had  been  granted  by  New  York.  '  the  said  commiaaiooerii 


nr  BSTWSBN  STBW  TOKK  ARU  VnUMSIT.     41^ 


ly  nrtne  of  the  powers  to  them  granted ,  declare  the  will  of  t 
let:islati]re  of  New  York,  that  if  the  ledslature  of  the  slate  of  V< 


the 
er- 

OKMut  should,  on  or  before  the  first  dav  of  January,  1792,  declare 
tnai  on  or  before  ihe  first  day  of  June,  1791,  the  said  stale  of  Ver- 
■lont  would  pav  the  state  of  New  York,  the  sum  of  thirtv  thousand 
owars,  that  immediately  from  such  declaration  by  the  legislature  of 
tbe  state  of  Vermont,  all  rights  and  titles  to  lands  within  the  state 
of  Vermont,  under  grants  from  the  government  of  the  colony  of 
New  York,  or  from  the  state  of  New  York,  should  cease,*  those 
excepted,  which  had  been  made  in  confirmation  of  the  grants  of 
New  Hampshire. 

•*  This  pro}K>sal  and  declaration  being  laid  before  the  legislature 
of  \ermont,  they  verj'  readily  agreed  to  the  plan,  which  had  been 
cooceried  by  the  commissioners  from  boih  states ;  and  on  October 
tS,  179S,  passed  an  act  directing  the  treasurer  of  the  state  to  pay 
dKsom  of  thirtv  thousand  dollars  to  the  state  of  New  York,  at  tbe 


proposed  ;  adopting  the  western  line  is  the  j>erpetual  boundary 
n  tlie  two  Slates  r and  declaring  all  the  grants,  charters,  and 
pttents  of  land,  lyin<:  within  ihe  sta?e  of  Vermont,  made  by  or  under 
Ibc  bte  colony  of  New  York,  to  be  null  and  void,  those  only  ex- 
cepted which  had  been  made  in  confinnation  of  the  grants  fitun 
Kcw  Hampshire. 

**  In  tliis  amicable  manner,  was  lenninated  a  controversy,  which 
hid  been  carried  on  with  great  animosity  for  twenty-six  years. 
Both  sides  were  weary  of  the  contest,  and  happily  for  them,  the 
geeeral  state  of  America  led  to  moderation,  equity,  and  wisdom; 
aad  this  seems  to  have  been  the  only  period,  in  which  the  matter 
eoold  hire  been  adjusted  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  parlies.*^* 
Tbe  act  passed  by  the  legislature  of  the  slate  of  New  York,  au- 
commissioners  to  declare  the  consent  of  ilie  state,  to  the 
ence  of  Vermont,  expressly  declared,  that  the  act  was  not 
lebe  coDstnied,  to  give  any  person  claiming  lands  in  Vermont 
title  from  New  York,  any  right  to  any  compensation  what- 
from  that  state.  This  was  considered  as  a  revolution  effected 
ky  force,  and  not  imposing  any  obligation  upon  die  government 
Id  iDdemnity  those  who  sudfi^red  by  the  cession.t  The  question 
indued  before  the  asseaiblv,  and  decided  in  17S7. 


*t  Hntorr  of  VennonL  pp.  S00-;I04. 
;••  Conm.  Vil,  I.  pp  ITS,  179. 


m  AnBHPB  TO  CBXATB  XXTOI.T  IS 


CHAPTER  XV. 

PranMUmal  artida  of  peace — Attempts  to  create  reaJi  im  tit  arm^ 
'^^Arwuirong^s  Itttcn — JI'fisIiiftgtoM'sopixmtiffh — Pouct  comdmir 
ed^-^Etacnaliom  f»f  Sew  Tort — C^kcenfiuu  to  form  comttllmtufk'^ 
WaAimgtcm^  firU  Pretidatt  f*f  the  Uniled  States, — AttcmiU  W 
ridiadt  kim — His  reception  im  Sac  Yurk. 

1782  XoT w I THST AX DiXG  tlic  strenuoos  esertJODs  of  Lord 
Cbathmiii  for  die  subjugation  of  die  United  States*  the 

1783  Englisb   parliament   re5olvedv    "  tl;at    tLc    Louse    wooU 
consider  as  enemies  to  Lb  majesty,  ami  tLe  couoiij,  aB 

tboee  who  shall  advise  or  attempt  tLe  furdier  pmtaeciuioo  of 
eBesmxe  war  on  the  cooiiuent  of  North  America.'*  lostrDC- 
tioos  were  sent  to  Sir  Guv  Carleton,  (wLo  Lad  now  taken  op 
Ins  quarters  in  Kennedy's  liou«e.  No.  J,  Broadway,  as  the  sue- 
eeasor  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,)  to  use  Lis  endeavours  lor  canriBj 
into  effect  the  wishes  of  Great  Britain  for  en  accomodation  niih 
Ajnenca* 

The  commissioners  on  our  part,  were  John  Adams,  BenjaaMB 
Franklin,  JoLn  Jay,  and  Henr}-  Laurens;  on  tl;e  |»n  of  En«:kBd, 
Messrs.  Fitzherfoen  and  Oswald.  On  the  ;iOdi  uf  November,  I7S2, 
provisional  articles  were  agreed  upon,  f\LicL  ncre  <o  te  iisseiied  ia 
a  treaty  of  peace,  by  wLicb  the  independence  ofd-e  Uiiiied  Scales 
was  ackiMwledged  in  the  most  ample  manner.  But  cov  rane  a 
nerere  trial  for  the  man  who  had  pa<i«d  li.roLgli  so  tniny  irnls  far 
the  good  of  his  countr}',  as  n  ell  as  its  (>eace.  General  \V 
was  desirotis  that  his  com^ianions  in  arms  should  siibmii  to  the 
eessity  imposed  by  unavoidable  circumstances,  accept  of  the 
mises  m^de  bv  the  vet  unsettled  government,  and  reiire  to 
employinents  with  untarnished  laurels.  But  here,  as  throiigboct 
hb  life,  he  met  the  malign  influence  of  ti;nse  who  had  endeisroar- 
ed  to  thwart  ibe  efibits  ol'  a  good  proi  ideuce  and  its  agents,  in  evety 
StMe  of  the  contest  for  self-government. 

Ib  December,  17S2,  many  of  the  officers  lieing  apprehensive 
dmt  tbej  shoold  be  disbanded  before  their  accounLs  were  liquidaied, 
drew  op  a  meinoriaK  and  deputed  General  McDougall,  Cfiiood 
Qplea,  and  Colonel  Brooks,  to  wait  upon  congress  with  iu  This 
ipodaeed  fevourable  resolutions.  S(;Lseqi;ecily  a  report  nas  cir- 
*  by  an  incendiary,  that  congress  did  not  mean  to  comply 
ibe  reaolvea  they  had  published  in  favour  of  the  anay.  This 
out  aa  addma  to  that  body,  signed  by  many  '^^P^ttk  >■ 


JUkllSTSONQ*S  LSTTBBS«  289 

ask  (or  moner,  ibr  settlement  ofacconnt?*  and  secoritr 
be  what  is  due.  Tliev  sav  tint  tlieir  conJitio:)  b  \TretcheJ,  and 
call  OQ  coflurnfss  to  sIioa*  tlu  ivorlJ  thai  tlie  i:i Je;)?n;le:ice  of  Ame- 
ika  b  Q«)C  to  be  base  J  on  the  tjli  of  any  pir:t;:ut  ir  oli%5  of  chixens. 
Tbk  address  produced  resolves,  that,  tiie  su^vennrendaiit  of  finance 
■ake  stich  payment  a$  circumstances  will  permit,  and  thut  tliese\'e- 
ni  jtttes  be  called  u;>on  to  make  immeJiate  serilements  with  ilieir 
icipecdve  divisions  of  tUe  army  ;  tlitc  the  anoy.  a$  well  as  other 
ocilitors*  hive  a  r:;h:  to  sj.uiritv  fi»r  wltjit  s!ia!l  bj  found  due,  and 
thtt  coaxres5  wtU  nuke  ever\-  cxcriioa  to  ojtain  funds  from  the 
leipective  siaies. 

Tbey  could  d^  ven-  lltJs?  more  t!nn  ro^'o-nmond  to  the  states, 
vhx  m>n-  thjt  i.nmediite  pressure  (am  uich.mt  wa5  about  to  be 
vidkirawn.  mi^Iit  bo  expected  to  fall  otTfrom  tin:  union  irhichdan* 

S  produced.  Tiie  ne::(Ki;uioii5  continucil  some  lime.  General 
Dou:j::all  remained  at  Philidel^ikia.  Colonel  D^den  a;ipears  to 
kne  been  there  (virt  of  the  time.  a>  we  shall  see  by  Major  John 
ApBi?tron*^*s  letters  to  General  (ia:es, 

WoiU*  this  dls:urlied  scute  wa^  kept  n;>  in  the  anny,  and  increased 
Btbe  djy  of  so;> iration  \yj>  su;\n>4ed  to  ap->rojrh.  an  anonymous 
iner  vas  clrcjiazed  amon^  tiie  officers,  iros:  anfutly  calculated  to 
tXKperate  passion,  and  pnxiuce  tlie  mo.^t  fatal  consequences. 

Justice  can  onlv  be  done  to  the  talent?  nf  the  antlior  bv  readios 
■t  vboie.  which  is  pre.H^rvcJ  in  the  p^nera!  history  of  tlie  time; 
ftom  vhich  I  have  m;uletiii> abstract:  It  isditw\l  .Man*h  10,  liS^i. 
TW  latbor  assumes  i!:e  character  of  3  veteran  u  ho  had  sudk^red  with 
he  ad«Jressed.  He  tells  tiictn  that  to  be  tt^me  in  their  present 
n  would  be  more  than  ueakiie5s,  and  mu>t  ruin  tliem  for-> 
He  bids  them  ^'susj^ecc  (he  man  who  uiiuld  advise  to  more 
,  and  lon!:*^  forbejrance."  He  then  describes  the  hijrh 
■  which  the  counrrv  iias  lieen  placed  b\  their  services.  And 
*^doe->  titis  couQCrv  reward  \oa  with  tears  of  cratitude  and 
of  admiration,  or  does  she  trimnie  on  vour  ri;:hts,  disdain 

4  •  -.. 

cries,  and  insuU  \our  (iis:resses:**    He  ad\ised  tiiem  tocarnr 
appeal  fn>m  tlie  justice,  to  the  fears  of  o^^eriiment.     **  As- 
a  bolder  lone — say.  thit  tiie  slightest  indi^znity  from  con^re39 
must  operate  like  ii:o  ^ra%e»  and  |>art  you  fa>m  them  tbrever." 
Tkit  if  peace  takes  place.  '•  noihinr  snail  sejiarate  you  from  your 
but  death  :  if  war  continues,  that  vou  will  retire  to  some  on* 
couQirv.  wiih  Washington  a:  vour  head,  and  mock  at  the 
€H  soreniment."    Ti:e  insiiitous  expression  of  '*  courting 
at»pices^  and  invi:in^  the  direction  of  their  illustrious  leader," 
caicaUtexi  to  make  the  armv  belie%e  that  Wasbinc'.on  would 
joia  tiieaB  In  reoellion  a^ain?:  his  coun7}\  and  was  certainly  a  bold 
«  cocnu^:,  as  it  did,  bum  one  in  constant  cirrespoodeDce 
Gcttttal  Gaifts,  aad  luached  to  biin  both  bj  inclination  and 


S30  WASHcreTox's  oppoammi. 

office.    It  was  likewise  an  expression  wbicb  caHed  far  dfedded 

action  from  the  cominander-in-ctiief. 

The  author  was  lonz  ^usjiected  to  be  Major  Armstrong,*  whi 
late  in  liTe  acknowleired  th^  fart.  He  at(em;neJ  to  justify  birosel^ 
by  saying  that  they  were  written  **  at  the  solicitation  of  bis  frieods,!} 
tbe  chosen  or^an,  lo  expre.ss  the  sentimenti  of  ihe  officers  of  tbe 
army,  and  were  only  an  honest  and  manly,  though  perhaps,  indiscreet 
endeaFOur,  to  support  publick  credit,  and  do  justice  to  a  loag-srf> 
fering,  patient,  and  gallant  soldien-.*'  However  willing  I  sboold 
be  to  attribute  this  **  indiscreet  endeavour'*  to  pure  motives,  ycli 
when  the  gentleman  f^oss  so  far  as  lo  assert  that  **  the  slander  pro- 
pagated and  believed  for  hair  a  centur}',  that  two  disiingnisbed  of* 
ficersoftbe  revolution  had  conspired  to  put  down  liie  commaoda^ 
in-cbief,  is  an  impudent  and  vile  lahehood  from  beginning  to  eod," 
I  am  obliged,  with  the  evidence  of  this  conspiracy  befr>re  meils 
hesitate,  before  I  exonerate  the  writer  of  the  letter  in  question  froa 
blame.     The  commander-in-chief  noticed  the  anonvmous  addrm 

m 

in  orders,  with  pointed  disapprobation,  and  requested  that  tbe  geofr* 
ral  and  field  officers,  with  a  proper  representation  from  tlie  staff  of 
tbe  army,  would  assemble  on  the  loth  instant,  to  hear  the  report  of 
tbe  committee  deputed  by  the  army  to  congress.  This  rcqoett 
was  seized  upon,  and  represented  in  a  second  paper  as  giving  ma^ 
tion  to  the  proceedings  of  the  officers,  and  they  were  called  opoa 
to  act  with  euersrw  On  the  l-3th  of  March,  th  ?  commander-io- 
chief  addressed  the  convention  of  officers,  (General  Gates  being 
the  chairman,)  in  the  lan^uaire  of  truth,  feeling,  and  affection.  He 
overthrew  all  the  artifices  of  the  anonvmous  writer  and  his  friends, 
one  of  the  principal  of  whom  sat  in  the  chair.  Washinsion 
the  advice  to  mark jhr  suspicion  fhe  man  who  should  rca/mmemd 
deration.  He  feelingly  spoke  of  his  own  constant  attention,  from 
tbe  commencement  of  the  war,  to  the  wants  and  sufiTerinss  of  tbt 
army,  and  then  pointed  out  the  dreadful  consequences  of  following 
the  advice  of  the  anonvmous  writer,  *  if  fur  to  Jnar  their  twowJk 
against  their  count nj,  or  rrjir^y  i/icnr  cntfinncSj  fnr  the  dtfent€^ 
all  they  hold  dear.  He  calls  to  mind  the  scenes  in  which  Htntf 
had  acted  together,  and  pledges  himself  to  the  utmost  exertion  for 
obtaining  justice  to  his  fellows  in  arms.  He  requests  ihem  to  relj 
on  tlie  promise  of  compress.  He  said,  ^*  I  conjure  you,  io  the 
name  of  our  common  countrv.  as  vou  value  vour  own  ncred 
honour,  as  you  respect  the  rights  of  humanity,  to  express  your  at* 
most  borrour  and  detestation  of  the  man  who  wishes,  under anf  ape- 
cioiis  pretences,  to  overturn  the  liberties  of  your  conotrjr ;  and  who 
wickedly  attempts  to  open  the  floodgates  of  civil  discord,  and  de* 
luge  our  rising  empire  in  blood." 


*  Sine*  kaown  at  Gensnl  Armstroiif.    He  was  aftcrwud  atcitlMj  st 


FBACB  CONCLUDED.  281 

The  convention  re-olved,  nnanimously,  among  other  things, 
that  "  the  army,  have  tinsliaken  confidence  in  congress,  and  view 
with  abhorrence,  and  reject  wiih  disdain,  the  iffjhmous  proi/ositiojis 
contained  in  a  hue  anonymous  address  to  the  officers  of  the  army." 

In  a  letter  written  by  John  Armstrong  at  Philadelphia,  to  Gene- 
ral Gates,  in  April,  I783,*  he  mentions  a  plan  agitated,  to  grant 
land  in  Muskingum  to  the  army,  and  form  a  new  state.  This,  he 
sajTs,  is  intended  to  amuse  and  divert  the  army  from  the  conside- 
ration of  more  important  concerns.  In  another  letter  he  thanks 
Gates  for  cautioning  him  not  to  leave  the  papers  exposed  to  curious 
and  inquisitorial  eye?.  (The  general  remembered  the  letter  of  Con- 
way to  himself.)  He  says,  **Ogden  is  now  here,'' at  Philadelphia, 
from  the  army,  '*  and,  as  he  conceals  nothing,  he  tells  us  a  great 
deal.  Among  other  things,  it  is  said,  that  the  army  look  back  with 
horrour  and  regret  upon  the  mistaken  step  they  have  taken,"  (pre- 
vions  to  Washington's  address  to  them,)  *' and  like  contemptible 
penitents  who  have  sinned  beyond  the  prospect  of  salvation,  wish 
to  have  it  to  do  over  again.  It  is  now,  howr^ver.  too  late — the  sol- 
diers are  anxious  to  disperse;  no  ties,  no  promises,  will  hold  them 
longer,  and  with  them  will  every  loitering  hope  of  owr^  break  also." 
He  prophesies  civil  war,  and  exclaims,  "Can  it  be  otherwise?  will 
the  whigs  who  have  lent  their  money — and  will  the  men  who  have 
lent  their  time  and  blood  to  America,  sit  down  quietly  under  their 
wants  and  their  wretchedness  ?  A  dissolution  of  all  dchts,  of  all  ere- 
ditif  of  every  principle  of  union  and  society,  must  and  will  follow. 
And  suffer  me  to  ask,  where  will  it  stop?  God  in  his  anger  gave 
theno  a  king  ;  and  we  want  a  scourge."  **  One  secret,  however, 
Ogden  tells  me  which  shall  be  no  longer  so.  Mr.  Brooks  was  sent 
from  hence  with  orders  to  break  the  sentiments  like  those  contained 
ID  die  anonymous  address  to  the  officers,  and  to  prepare  their 
minds  for  some  manly  vigorous  association  with  the  publick  cre- 
ditors ;  but  the  timid  wretch  discovered  it  to  the  only  ni'^n,  from 
whom  he  was  to  have  kept  it,  and  concealed  it  from  those  to  whom 
he  had  engaged  to  make  it  known.  To  be  more  explicit,  he  be- 
trayed it  to  the  commander-in-chief,  who,  agreeable  to  the  origi- 
nal plan,  was  not  to  have  been  consulted  till  some  later  period. 
Such  a  villain  ! — I  would  have  written  again  had  I  not  seen  the 
impotency  of  the  army,  and  the  assurance  of  congress.  They  see 
our  weakness,  and  laugh  at  our  resentments." 

On  the  30ih  of  November,  1782,  the  articles  of  peace  were 
agreed  to,  and  on  the  25th  of  November,  1 783,  the  governour  of 
the  state,  and  the  coromander-in  chief  of  the  American  armies,  took 
possession  of  the  city  of  New  York. 


•  GMs*  Pipeif,  in  Libnuy  ofN.  Y.  Hiit  8oc. 


23S  EVACUATION  OF  NBTT  YORK. 

Sir  Guy  Carlton  seemed  to  supercede  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  merely 
to  adjudi  inaiteri,  and  clo^c  the  war.  Brook  Wat:<on  was  appoint- 
ed coinnii.^inry-uenerid  for  the  same  purpose.  Before  the  2olh  of 
November,  I7S:J,  such  of  the  citizens  of  New  York,  as  intended  to 
continue  anioni;  their  former  eneniies  had  time  to  make  their  ar- 
rangement^,  aud  both  Washington  and  CHnton  gave  them  assurance 
of  protection. 

A  fltet  of  transports  under  a  strong  convoy,  had  sailed  in  Octo- 
ber, 1782,  from  New  York  for  **  the  province  of  Nova  Scotia,  ba- 
vin;r  on  board  a  nuui!)er  of  loyalitj  with  their  families,  amounting  in 
all  lo453  persons."  They  wer;;  furni  ;hed  hy  the  British  with  provi- 
sions for  u  year — rations  (nr  a  twenty-one  diiys  passage— cloatbing, 
tools  of  husbandry,  aims  and  ammunition.  They  are  to  have 
lands  ;  they  go  to  ^njoy  a  gorxl  government,  **  freed  from  the  de- 
testable tyranny  of  seditious  demairogues,  and  the  burthen  of  une- 
qual and  oppressive  taxes.'*  Mon  of  these  people  returned  u 
soon  after  the  peare  as  they  could  fmd  means. 

On  that  memorable  day  the  25th  of  November,  IVSS,  General 
Washington  entered  the  city  by  the  Bowery,  the  only  road  at  tbia  time, 
accompanied  by  his  friends  and  the  citizens  in  general  on  liorse- 
back  :  at  an  a])pr)inte(l  hour  the  British  troops  had  embarked*  and 
their  gallant  fleet  was  sliiudini;  to  sea  over  the  bay. 

The  military  of  the  American  army  was  under  the  command  of 
General  Knox,  who  took  immediate  possession  of  the  fort,  and 
prepared  to  hoist  the  Ameriran  colours  and  fire  an  appropriate  salute. 

'i'he  British  arm?  were  disirraccd  hy  some  underling,  in  knocking 
oft'  the  cleats  and  slushing  the  llag-staff,  to  prevent  the  American 
flas:  from  beinij  hoisted. 

The  following  is  the  statement  ofan  eye-witness.*  "  I  was  on  Fort 
George,  within  two  feet  of  the  flag-staff:  the  halyards  were  unreeved, 
the  cleats  were  knocked  off,  the  flag-staff  was  slushed,  and  a  sailor 
bf/ij  (not  a  man)  tried  tlncc  times,  and  p;ot  up  about  three  feet,  when 
he  slipped  down — some  persons  ran  to  Mr.  Goelet's,  iron  monger, 
in  Hanover-square,  (now  Pearl  street,)  and  got  a  hand-saw,  hatchet^ 
hammer,  (;i.]ihLt:s  and  niiils  ;  one  s:iwed  lengths  across  the  boanlf 
one  split  the  cleats,  and  soujc  bored,  until  they  had  plenty  of  them. 

**The  sailor  boy  tied  the  halvanh  around  his  waist,  filled  his  out- 
side  sailor-jiickel  porkets  ftdl  of  the  cleats,  then  began  to  nail  tbero 
on  from  the  ground,  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  flag-staff;  as  be 
ascended  the  flag-staff,  he  nailed  the  cleats  on,  then  he  reeved  the 
halyards,  and  when  tho  Am3rican  flag  was  then  hoisted  on  Fort 
George,  a  salute  was  fired  of  thirteen  rounds  immediately*  and 
three  cheers  were  given. 


*  N.  Y.  Commerciftl  Advertiser  of  Jane  30lb,  1831. 


CONSTITUTION  FORMED.  233 

*•  It  took  near  one  hour  before  we  could  hoist  our  American  stan- 
dard ;  at  the  time  we  were  preparing  to  hoist  it,  the  river  was 
covered  with  boats  filled  with  soldiers  to  embark  on  board  the 
shipping  that  lay  at  anchor  in  the  North  river — the  boats  at  the 
time  lay  on  their  oars,  sterns  to  shore  ;  observing  us  hoisting  our 
colours,  they  kept  perfect  silence  during  this  time.  When  our 
salute  of  thirteen  guns  was  fired,  the  boats  rowed  off  to  their 
thipping." 

The  writer  was  engaged  in  other  parts  of  the  show  until  evening, 
when  the  American  commander-ia-chief  took  up  his  head-quarters 
at  the  tayem  known  as  Black  Sam's,  and  there  continued  until  the 
4th  of  December  1783.  At  noon  on  that  day  the  officers  met  at 
Francis's  tavern,  corner  of  Queen  street  and  Broad  street ;  a  house 
known  since  for  many  years  as  a  French  boarding-house,  the  name 
of  Queen  street  being  changed  to  Pearl.  Its  keeper,  Samuel 
Francis,  a  man  of  dark  complexion,  was  familiarly  known  as  ''  Black 
8am/'  This  house  was  the  quarters  of  the  general,  and  when  the 
officers  bad  assembled,  their  beloved  leader  entered  the  room,  and, 
after  addressbg  them  in  a  few  words,  he  concluded,  by  saying,  ^*  I 
cannot  come  to  each  of  you  to  take  leave,  but  shall  be  obliged  to 
you  if  you  will  come  and  take  me  by  the  hand."  Knox  who  had 
served  with  him  from  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  was  the 
first  to  experience  the  parting  grasp  of  the  hero's  hand ;  and,  in 
turn,  all  present,  in  silence,  pressed  that  hand  which  had  guided  a 
nation  through  the  storms  of  war,  and  was  destined  to  rule  its  des- 
tinies during  an  unknown  futurity.  Leaving  the  room,  he  passed 
through  a  line  of  his  brave  soldiers  to  Whitehall,  where  he  entered 
the  barge  waiting  for  him.  He  turned  to  die  assembled  multitude, 
waved  his  hat,  and  thus  bid  them  a  silent  adieu,  as  they  then 
thought  forever. 

Congress  was  sitting  then  at  Annapolis,  and  he  hasted  to  de- 
posit in  the  hands  of  those  from  whom  he  had  received  it  in  the  year 
1775,  bis  commission  of  commander-in  chief  of  the  American 
farces. 

From  thence  he  flew  to  enjoy  as  a  private  citizen  the  blessing  of 
-ft  home  and  family  at  Mount  Vernon,  with  the  admiration  of  a 
world.  Here  he  continued  as  Farmer  Washington,  until  called  by 
the  voice  of  his  country  to  a  convention  for  the  amendment  of  the 
government  founded  by  the  old  confederacy  of  sovereign  states. 

The  convention  was  held  at  Annapolis,  in  September  1786,  an3 
lesnlted  only  in  holding  a  convention  in  Philadelphia  in  May  1767 ; 
this  convention  immediately  adopted  the  principles  of  the  declara- 
tion of  independence,  and  George  Washington  as  their  president. 
On  the  17th  of  September,  1787,  the  constitution  under  which  we 
have  lived  was  announced  to  the  people. 

VOL.  n*  30    ^ 


234  WASHINGTON  THB  FIBST  PRB8IDENT. 

To  become  thefuDdamental  law  of  the  land,  nine  of  the  .states 
were  required  to  adopt  it.  Massachusetts  was  the  last  of  the  ninef 
but  George  Washington  was  the  name  which  all  the  people,  whether 
federalist  or  anti-federalist  as  they  were  then  called,  pronounced  as 
the  president. 

I  Although  the  new  government  was  to  commence  its  operations 
on  the  4th  of  March  1789,  a  house  of  representatives  was  noC 
formed  until  the  first,  nor  a  senate  until  the  sixth,  of  April.  At 
length  the  votes  for  president  and  vice-president  were  counted  in 
the  senate.     Washington  was  unanimously  called  to  the  chief  mar 

flstracy  of  the  nation.  The  second  number  of  votes  was  given  to 
ohn  Adams.  Washington  and  Adams  were  therefore  declared 
to  be  duly  elected  president  and  vice-president  of  the  United  States, 
to  serve  for  four  years  from  the  4th  of  March  1789.  Washington's 
election  was  announced  to  him  at  Mount  Vernon,  on  the  14th  of 
April.  On  the  second  day  after  receiving  notice  of  his  appoint- 
ment, he  departed  for  New  York,  then  the  seat  of  government. 

In  an  entry  made  by  himself  in  his  diary,  his  feelings  on  the 
occasion  are  thus  described : — *'  About  ten  o'clock  I  bade  adieo 
to  Mount  Vernon,  to  private  life,  and  to  domestick  felicity ;  and 
with  a  mind  oppressed  with  more  anxious  and  painful  sensations 
than  I  have  words  to  express,  set  out  for  New  York,  in  company 
with  Mr.  Thompson  and  Colonel  Humphreys,  with  the  best  dispcH 
sitions  to  render  service  to  my  country  in  obedience  to  its  call,  bat 
with  less  hope  of  answering  its  expectations. "• 

His  progress  to  New  York  was  one  triumph.  The  City  HaU 
had  been  new  modelled  by  Major  Lenfant,  for  the  reception  of  the 
first  congress  under  the  new  constitution.  His  reception  at  New 
York  was  that  of  a  friend  and  conqueror.  '*  The  display  of  boats," 
he  says,  in  his  private  journal,  ^'  which  attended  and  joined  on  this 
occasion,  some  with  vocal  and  others  with  instrumental  musick  on 
board,  the  decorations  of  the  ships,  the  roar  of  cannon,  and  the 
loud  acclamations  of  the  people,  which  rent  the  skies  as  I  passed 
along  the  wharves,  filled  my  mind  with  sensations  as  painful  (con* 
templating  the  reverse  of  this  scene,  which  may  be  the  case,  after 
all  my  labours  to  do  good,)  as  they  were  pleasing."*  What  a  con- 
trast is  this  to  tlie  words  of  Armstrong,  ih  a  letter  addressed  to 
Gates,  dated  April  7, 1789,  in  which,  after  alluding  to  the  election 
of  Washington  and  Adams,  he  says :  *'  All  the  world  here  and  else- 
where, are  busy  in  collecting  flowers  and  sweets  of  every  kind,  to 
amaze  and  delight  him,  in  his  approach  and  at  his  arrival ;  and  even 
Roger  Sherman  has  set  his  head  at  work  to  devise  some  styl^  of 
address  more  novel  and  dignified  than  <  excellency.'     Yet,  in  the 


*  Manhairs  Wuhington,  (id  ed.)  Vol.  U,  pp.  138-130. 
t  Ibid.  p.  142. 


if  il  ikb  mAmniwma;^^^  ilKffe  ftK  Kepikfci  who  dottfal  ili  jm' 
pMr.iftdvtewlioaiBiHieihetnftelTetvidiiisexfnv*^^  Tht 
fax  will  nvmble*  vhI  the  hst  will  ktiisrh.  sod  the  PresideDt  sboald 
k  ORpsreJ  to  meet  the  aiticks  of  both  with  firmoess  and  good 
wcare.  A  caricature  has  aireadr  appear^*  caKed  *  The  Entiy/ 
a  oi  TefT  dssioyai  and  proline  allusioas.  It  represents  the  G«iie> 
■1  WMtQied  oo  an  ass?^  and  in  the  arms  of  hts  mulatto  man,  BiOt* 
"^•Btphier?  leadiDj:  the  jack*  ainl  chauntiojc  hoeannas  and  biidh' 
4T«de!i^     The  following  couplet  makes  the  motto  of  this  deriee: 


I  Mciuu  thb  circttn»taiK>^  only  to  illustrate  mv  poaitioii,  that  wit 
^wes  Bochiac — neither  Washincton  nor  God — and  that  the  fiNrmcr, 
ft>  the  fcucer«  will  ba%e  something  to  su&ir*  and  much  to  fotfiTe.*** 

Oi  the  ^:M  of  Apriu  the  common  council  of  New  York  passed 
ihe  bifaoviaf  ressolucion  :  '*  Whereas^  this  board  hare  reason  to  be-^ 
iite  mat  a  rery  <reat  proportion  of  the  citixeas  are  earaesthr  dcai- 
lOBS  :o  tlluQiicuze  their  hv-mses  on  the  CTenio^  of  the  arriTtl  of  the 
Pt«sideac  of  the  United  Scices.  as  a  testimonr  of  their  joj  oo  that 
■an  'iiiiij:  erent.  acd  that  preparadons  are  already  made  for  that 
forpiKe :  it  is  thereioie  recv>mmcQded  to  the  citizens  to  illuminate 
Beir  hiK2se$  trom  the  hour  of  seven  to  nlae«  in  full  confidence  that 
CTccT  act  of  rioleooe  and  disorder  will  be  avoided^  and  the  utmoat 
paid  to  ^uird  a^iainst  accidents  by  dre :  and  it  is  hereby 
ot  the  coosMbles  and  mir^hals  to  exert  the  utmost  Tip- 
in  the  preservidon  of  peace  and  ^xkI  order«  and  that  all  good 
ckianes  will  be  aiding  thervin :  and  it  is  tunher  recocnxnended,  that 
tte  betib  of  all  the  churches  and  other  public  building  commence 
nmr*  oo  the  president's  landing:,  and  continue  tor  half  an  hour.** 
ltd  jTIo  were  ordered  to  Geueril  Malcolm  to  provide  pmpowder 
far  the  militia  on  the  president's  arrival. 

(b  the  ^th  of  April,  an  address  was  read  in  the  board.  pff^Mied 
W  OK  oayiv.  Mr.  James  Duace.  at  the  request  of  the  corpontioa» 
^  k  pceseated  to  the  new  president.  They  oder  thetr  aftc- 
^Mtte  cocij:ratulaaoas  on  his  arrival.  They  ex.pres$  their  hi^ 
VQKratioo  of  hb  chArictet^— exalted  ^ose  of  his  services— convic- 
^  thu  Ufee  greatest  trust  a  tree  people  can  confer,  has  been  com- 
tt>  one  qualined  fee  its  disclur^.     They  compliment  him 


«'  s  CVM^-     i^v.  i«dEiprfoaL  iiBd  HjLaitaSi>aL  u»  all  vvrr  aUe  ■«•.  ui4 


»  iBT  BWB  oo«M  itf  Uft  xatt  bwoo«r.  cg^iutianr.  lai 
I  ui  fU  chat  k*  bw  ^  ibi»  iwrk  f*«^  Bmb^':  ^  «b»  fe» 


236  mS  BBCSPTION  llf  nbw  tobk. 

oo  the  recollection  of  former  services,  and  especiaUy  on  his  retrett 
from  the  head  of  a  victorious  army  to  the  shades  of  private  fife** 
they  express  their  pious  gratitude  for  those  circumstances  wUch 
have  constrained  him  by  motives  of  patriotism  to  re-engage  io  tbe 
arduous  duties  of  a  public  station — they  rejoice  to  be  placed  under 
the  protection  of  one  they  have  long  revered  as  the  father  of  hii 
country ;  and  consider  the  unanimity  which  prevailed  in  lus  elec- 
tion as  a  presage  of  the  stability  of  the  government— anticipitiig 
blessings  to  the  country  in  peace,  under  his  auspices,  as  it  had  beca 
triumphant  in  war,  etc.  A  commiuee  was  appointed  to  wait  opoa 
the  president  to  know  when  he  would  receive  the  address. 

On  May  the  13th,  the  President  of  the  United  States  answend 
to  the  address.  He  expresses  gratitude  and  satisfaction  therevin 
— diffidence  of  his  abilities — thankfulness  to  Heaven  that  he  hH 
been  the  instrument  of  service  to  his  country— claims  no  merit  ia 
retiring  fiom  the  army,  but  is  happy  his  motives  have  been  dsif 
appreciated — ^fears  the  partiality  of  his  country  induces  then  ID 
expect  too  much  from  him,  but  hopes  success  from  the  onaniiiDtf 
apparent 


TREATY  OF  PEACE.  9S7 


CHAPTER'  XVI. 

TSnaJty  of 'peact — Events  intermediate  between  the  peace  and  adoption 
4^Federal  Constitution — Settlement  of  boundaries  of  New  York^- 
jPopulation  of  the  state — Shai/s  rebellion  in  Massachysett^ — CoH' 
vauion  to  form  Constitution — Motives  for  it  and  its  origin — Con^ 
ttiiuiion  of  the  United  States  and  its  construction — Parties  for  and 
against  it — Doctor* s  mob — Convention  to  consider  adojHionof  Conr 
MtUution — Proceedings  and  debates  in  convention — Constitution 
adopted — Conclusion. 

.  The  events  during  the  period  intervening  between  the  conclu* 
noD  of  peace  with  Great  Britain,  in  1783,  and  the  adoption  of  the 
Federal  Constitution  by  the  state  of  New  York,  have  only  been  cur- 
sorily alluded  to  in  the  preceding  chapter.  Something  more  minute 
tnd  in  detail  as  to  this  important  epoch  in  our  civil  and  political 
history  .seems  to  be  required,  ere  we  can  arrive  at  the  completion 

of  our  labours. 
1788         On  the  10th  of  April,  the  treaty  of  peace  as  respected  the 
preliminary  articles,  was  published.    The  American  commis- 
sioners were,  John  Adams,  Benjamin  Franklin,  John  Jay,  and  Henry 
Laurens,  as  before  stated.   It  was  agreed  by  England  to  acknowledge 
the  former  colonies  to  be  free,  sovereign,  and  independent  states  ; 
the  relinquishing  all  claims,  and  agreeing  to  the  boundaries  from  the 
north-west  angle  of  Nova  Scotia,  formed  by  a  line  drawn  due  north 
from  the  source  of  St.  Croix  River,  to  the  Highlands ;  along  the  said 
Highlands  (which  divide  the  rivers  falling  into  the  St.  Lawrence 
from  those  falling  into  the  Atlantic)  to  the  north-westernmost  head 
of  Connecticut  River ;  thence  down  along  the  middle  of  the  river  to 
the  45th  degree  of  north  latitude :  thence  by  a  line  drawn  due  west  on 
ndd  latitude  to  the  river  Iroquois  or  Cataraquy ;  thence  along  the  mid* 
die  of  said  river  into  Lake  Ontario  and  through  the  middle  thereof 
,ind  the  middle  of  Niagara  straits  and  Lake  Erie,  and  the  waters 
diriding  Erie  from  Huron,  and  the  middle  of  Huron  and  Supe- 
riour' northward  of  the  Isles  Royal  and  Philipeaux  to  Long  Lalcef 
ind  through  the  middle  of  Long  Lake  and  Lake  of  the  Woods  to 
Ai  noitb-westem  point  thereof;  thence  due  west  to  the  Mississippi 
^''^er  and  dvoogn  the  middle  of  that  river  until  it  shall  interseoC 


288  TREATY  OF  PEACE. 

the  northernmost  part  of  the  31st  degree  of  north  latitude,  south 
by  a  line  due  east  from  the  determination  of  the  last  mentioned  to 
the  middle  of  the  river  Apalachicola  or  Catahouche,  through  the 
middle  thereof  to  its  junction  with  Flint  River;  thence  straight  to 
St.  Mary's  River,  and  through  the  middle  thereof  to  the  Atlantick. 
East  by  a  line  drawn  along  the  middle  of  St.  Croix  River  from  its 
mouth  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy  to  its^  source,  and  from  its  source 
directly  north  to  said  Highlands,  dividing  the  waters  falling  into  the 
St.  Lawrence  from  those  falling  into  the  Atlantick,  as  aforesaid : 
with  all  islands  within  twenty  leagues  of  any  part  of  the  shore  of 
the  United  States,  lying  between  lines  to  be  drawn  due  east  from 
the  points  where  the  aforesaid  boundaries  between  Nova  Scotia  on 
the  one  part  and  East  Florida  on  the  other  shall  respectively  touch 
the  Bay  of  Fundy  and  the  Atlantick  Ocean.  Excepting  such 
islands  as  now  are  or  heretofore  have  been  within  the  limits  of  No?a 
Scotia.  The  right  to  take  fish  on  the  Grand  Banks  and  other 
banks  of  Newfoundland  and  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and  the  Sea 
is  conceded  ;  and  on  the  coast  of  Newfoundland  and  in  all  bays, 
harbours,  etc.,  of  the  dominions  of  England  in  America,  and  to  dry 
and  cure  fish  on  the  unsettled  parts  of  said  coast.  Creditors  on 
either  part  are  secured.  Congress  shall  recommend  to  the  respec- 
tive states  to  restore  confiscated  estates,  and  to  respect  the  rights  of 
persons  who  have  resided  in  districts  possessed  by  the  English 
armies,  and  have  not  borne  arms  against  the  United  States,  and  aU 
others  shall  have  liberty  to  go  to  and  fro  and  remain  unmolested 
twelve  months.  No  further  confiscations  to  be  made.  Perpetual 
peace  is  stipulated  ;  the  liberation  of  prisoners  ;  and  evacuation  of 
all  places,  and  foits  to  be  restored  by  the  English,  and  all  records, 
deeds,  and  papers.  The  navigation  of  the  River  Mississippi  to  be 
free  to  subjects  of  both  parties.  Any  places  conquered  by  either 
party  before  the  arrival  of  these  articles  in  America  to  be  restored. 
Signed  by  Richard  Oswald  for  Great  Britain,  and  for  the  United 
States  by  those  above  named. 

Sir  Guy  Carleton  insisted  that  it  was  not  meant  by  England  to 
restore  negroes  to  their  former  owners,  who  had  joined  the  British 
under  promise  of  freedom. 

At  12  o'clock  of  the  19ih  of  April,  the  day  that  terminated  the 
eighth  year  of  the  war,  the  cessation  of  hostilities  was  proclaimed 
in  the  army  by  order  of  General  Washington. 

In  July,  Congress  met  at  Princeton,  New  Jersey.  General 
Washin^on  went  as  far  north  as  Crown  Point,  and  on  his  return 
took  up  his  residence  at  Rocky  Hill,  to  be  near  congress — where, 
in  September,  I  had  the  honour  and  pleasure  of  attempting  to  paint 
his  portrait  in  crayons,  when  I  was  seventeen  years  and  eight  months 
of  age,  and  of  frequenting  his  residence  at  breakfast  and  dinner  and 
all  hours  for  some  weeks.     On  the  second  of  November,  General 


8BTTLSXXNT  OF  BOUNDARIES  OF  NEW  YORK.  239 

Washington  issued  his  farewell  order?  to  The  armie?  of  the  United 
Slates  from  bead-quarter?.  Hocky  Hill.  He  resided  in  the  familj 
mansion  of  the  late  Mr.  Berrie!i. 

Sir  Guy  Carleton  received  i:i<  orders  to  evacuate  Nc^  York  in 
August,  and  communicaied  liiem  lo  Coiuto??.     Soino  fears  were 

Siprehended  of  violence  towards  the  tories,  and  ilireai?  appeared. 
owever,  Sir  Guy  appointed  the  2oih  of  November  for  the  day 
of  evacuation-* 
1786  In  this  vear,  Riitenhouse  w^s  cn^rasred  in  defining  and 
and  setdins:  the  division  line  beiwoon  \h^  states  of  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania — a  line  desi^'naied  l»y  tiie  4;?d  parallel  of 
latitude.  He  likewise  determined  the  de!iiarkatl*)n  of  a  lerriiorv, 
the  right  of  the  soil  in  which  the  state  of  Ma>«s:^eiuwciis  iiad  ac- 
cepted in  lieu  of  a  contei^ted  claim,  both  to  the  land  and  tiie  juris- 
diction of  a  large  part  of  the  staf?  of  New  York.  Tiiis  latter  duty 
was  assigned  to  him  by  consrress,  who  found  it  neres-sary  to  inter- 
fere in  the  dispute.  The  oriLnnal  irnini  by  wiiich  Massachusetts 
claimed,  was  only  limited  by  the  Pacifick  Ocean.  The  occupation 
of  both  banks  of  the  Hudson  bv  the  Dutch  when  New  Netherland 
was  ceded  to  England  by  the  treaty  of  Breda,  and  subsequent  events, 
vested  this  territory  in  the  province  of  New  York,  and  of  course  in 
the  state  of  New  York  after  the  re  vol  u  lion ;  but  Massachusetts 
claimed  that  the  cession  could  only  affect  such  parts  of  New  York 
as  were  actually  settled  at  the  time  of  the  treaty,  and  that  the  whole 
of  the  territory  west  of  them  reverted  to  the  holders  of  the  prior 
grant.  She  however  finally  airreed  to  acce))t  in  lieu  of  this  claimy 
the  property  of  a  territorj-  divided  from  the  rest  of  the  state  of  New 
York  by  a  meridian  line  drawn  northward  from  a  point  in  the  nor- 
thern boundary  of  Pennsylvania,  distant  eiirhiy-two  miles  from  the 
Delaware  River.  The  determinations  necessary  to  set  off  this 
territory  (out  of  which  certain  reservations  were  made)  were  made 
bj  Rittenhouse,  and  were  the  last  in  wiiich  he  was  en!^an:ed. 

In  this  year,  the  population  of  the  city  of  New  York  was  23,614. 
That  of  Long  Island,  30,803.  That  of  the  state  of  New  York, 
233,896.     Long  Island  being  equal  to  one-seventh  of  the  state. 

The  necessity  for  a  government  of  more  power,  and  an  union  of 
the  states  different  from  that  which  had  barely  sutliced  to  carry  them 
through  the  war  with  Britain,  was  seen  ainon*;  other  afflicting  cir- 
cumstances, by  the  agitations  of  the  New  Kn;LcIand  states,  and  par- 
ticularly Massachusetts.  Men  met  in  conveiuions  and  in  more 
tumultuous  assemblies,  and  opposed  the  law,  the  judges,  and  courts 


*  For  STATE  of  the  Union  at  the  beginning  of  ]7S3,  and  the  cai'ses,  see  2d  vol. 
Manhairs  Washington,  *2d  edit.  p.  75.  Washington's  Letter  to  the  governoura  of 
the  MTeral  states,  p.  90.  For  revenue  system  and  conduct  of  New  York,  see 
pp.  91,92. 


2i0  shat's  rebellion. 

of  jadicature.  The  friends  of  the  coantrj  monnied  or  woe 
astonbbed  at  the  licentiou^ne?';  eTinced  bv  the  voone,  tbetbooefai- 
less,  the  idle,  ainoiiiZ  the  people.  Congress  saw  ibe  neceaitj  of 
increasing  the  United  StJies  arrny,  if  so  few  might  be  so  called, 
and  raised  2,500.  General  Knox  then  secretary'  at  war,  was  sent 
to  Springfield.  Greene,  much  lamented,  died  this  year  in  Georgia. 
Some  of  the  malcontents  in  Mar«achiisetts  avowed  a  wish  for  aa 
union  with  Great  Britain  ;  and  it  was  thought  that  Vermont  was 
nesrotiatine  with  Canada.  The  wbe  and  virtuous  said,  '*  Let  m 
have  a  government  by  which  our  lives,  liberties,  and  properties  mar 
be  secured/*  "New  York,"  says  Marshall,  "bad  given  ber  fioal 
t€to  to  the  impost  system."    The  confederation  was  expiring  ^^froa 

mere  debiliiv/' 
17S7  Congress  were  relieved  from  the  embarrassment  tbej 
were  in  respecting  the  call  of  a  convention,  hy  a  vote  of  the 
state' of  New  York,  "  which  passed  in  the  senate  by  only  one  Toice,** 
instruciinfi:  its  delesrates  to  move  a  resolution  recommending  to  the 
several  states  to  appoint  deputies  to  meet  in  convention  for  fbe  pur- 
pose of  revising  and  proposing  amendments  to  the  Federal  coosti- 
tntion;  and  upon  the  21^t  of  February,  the  day  succeedine  the 
instructions  given  by  New  York  on  the  subject,  consress  declared 
it  to  be  expedient  that  on  the  second  Monday  of  May  then  next*  a 
conTcntion  of  delegates  appointed  by  the  states  be  beld  at  Pfab* 
delphia. 

Durins:  the  preceding  winter  the  insursrents  in  Massacbosecis  )mk 
assemble«J  in  arms  and  endeavoured  to  gain  possession  of  the 
at  Springfield,  and  were  repulsed  by  a  party  snardinz  it,  and 
lives  were  losL  The  troops  of  the  Union,  and  the  militia  called  ooi; 
were  commanded  by  General  Lincoln,  and  by  vigorous  measures 
be  succeeded  in  queliinz  what  has  descended  to  us  as  "Sbaj  s  Re- 
bellion," from  the  name  of  the  insurgent  leader.  This  anpro- 
voked  rebellion  made  men  more  anxious  for  tbe  formation  of  a 
government  adequate  to  their  protection. 

The  pressure  from  without  beinz  withdrawn  by  tbe 
17S3,  the  ebuHition«  within  daily  increased,  and  tbe  coi 
which  had  eained  a  triumpii  over  injuMice.  and  still  had 
of  binding  the  states,  was  in  danger  of  bursting  asunder  and: 
in  ruins  tbe  precious  zerm  of  republicanism,  to  which  tbe  philaH 
tbropists  of  Europe  looked  with  hope.  The  fots  of  America  snr 
with  pleasure  tbe  convulsive  throes  of  the  fabrick  diey  hated.  Tht 
patriots  of  tbe  United  States  had  long  called  for  a  union  more 
1  than  bad  sutnced  tor  a  state  of  war.     At  lene:tb  Viipftia 

1786,  called  upon  the  states  for  a  national  convention,  to  reciH 

witb  foreign  nations.     The  proposal  was  ]^ladlj 
bf  five  of  tbe  states,  whose  delegates,  as  we  have 


Mwefuil 


comrSKTioii  to  fobm  coHsriTirrioir.  941 

It  AimapoItSf  in  September  of  the  same  year.  This  small  con- 
vention only  concurred  in  the  necessity  of  a  strong  application  to 
coniHTss,  for  a  general  ineciinir  of  ileleiraie?  from  all  the  states,  to 
demise  such  provision?  as  would  render  the  federal  government  ade- 
quate to  the  exiirences  of  a  great  people. 
17 S7  Congress  felt  the  necessity.     A  general  convention  was 

recommended,  and  all  the  states  appointed  delegates,  ex- 
cept Rhode  Island.  It  was  an  awful  crisis  in  the  history  of  self 
poremment,  when  they  met  for  deliberation  at  Philadelphia,  in 
May. 

The  convention  assembled  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  second  Mon- 
day of  Mav  in  this  vear.     The  followinir  is  a  list  of  such  of  the 

■  •  •  ~ 

members  as  ultitnaiely  siirned  the  constitution. 

^nc  H'lmivtfiirc, — John  Lan<rdon  aiul  Nicholas  Gilman. 

^Iiif3kichns'[f(s. — Nathaniel  Oorham,  Kufus  King. 

ConnecticHt, — William  Samuel  Johnson,  Roger  Sherman. 

.Nrtr  York. — Alexander  Hamilton. 

Sac  Jerfrtj. — William  Livingston,  David  Brearley,  William 
Patterson.  Jonathan  Dayton. 

PenH^ufrnvfut. — Benjamin  Franklin,  Thomas  Mifflin,  Robert 
Morris,  lieor-re  Clvmer.  Thomas  Fitzsimmons,  Jared  Ingersollf 
Jimes  Wilson.  Governeur  Morris. 

Ddaware, — Georire  Read,  Gunnins:  Bedford,  jun.,  John  Dick- 
ottOQ,  Jacob  Broom. 

Jinryfund. — James  McHenrv,  Daniel  of  St.  Tho.,  Jennifer, 
Duiiel  Carroll. 

Rr^iiikj. — George  Washinffton,  John  Blair,  James  Madison, 
Jan. 

-V.  C<irolina. — William  Blount,  Richard  Dobbs  Spaight,  Hugh 
^liamson. 

S.  Carolina, — John  Rutled£:e,  Charles  Cotesworih  Pinckney, 
Chirles  Pinckney,  Pierce  Butler. 

Cwrjfi/i. — William  Few,  Abraham  Baldwin. 

Rhode  Island  matle  no  appointment :  and  of  three  appointed  by 
^cw  York,  Robert  Yates  and  John  Lansing  did  not  sign.  The 
•legates  from  Pennsvlvania,  Delaware,  and  South  Carolina,  all 
•?ofd;  not  so  from  the  other  states. 

fa  may  be  further  remarked  of  this  convention,  that  George 
'''^isbinjiton  was  unanimously  chosen  to  preside ;  that  in  the  plan  of 
constitution  laid  before  them  bv  Charles  Cotesworth  Pincknev,  the 
^ning  money,  and  issuing:  bills  of  credit,  was  denied  to  any  indivi- 
vail  state,  and  nothins^but  gold,  silver,  and  copper,  could  be  made  a 
^er  for  debts ;  and  that  Alexander  Hamihon,  in  a  paper  read  by 
Km  to  the  convention,  advocated  as  the  supreme  executive  auibo- 
'■y  of  the  United  States,  a  govemour  for  life,  or  good  behaviour, 
^  a  aeoate,  elected  by  electors,  chosen  hv  the  people,  and  like- 

31 


Ml  mmmAmaArum  or  pxdsbjx 


wise  tar  life,  or  good  bdnvioar.  This  plan  of  HamilttiD,  m  boI 
nocked  in  the  joarnals.  It  was  not  offered  bjr  him  for  disci 
bm  was  read  bjf  him  as  part  of  a  speech,  obserring,  that  be 
mean  it  as  a  proposition,  but  only  to  gi%'e  a  more  correct  riew  of 
bis  ideas. 

The  states  saw  the  importance  of  this  convention*  at  leaser 
so  fiu*,  that  on  it  depended  every  blessing  which  was  to  flow 
from  the  previous  suffering,  and  resistance  to  British  ag]gre»- 
aion.  Thej  sent  their  best  and  wisest  men  as  delegates  to  the  im- 
portant meeting.  When  the  people  saw  to  whom  the  framing  of  a 
government  was  entrusted,  they  felt  confidence,  ainl  looked  with 
rriiance  to  the  result     They  were  not  disappointed. 

The  deliberation  of  the  convention  Continued  some  roooths.  Ai 
length  a  plan  was  promulgated,  which  now  forms  the  govemmeot 
of  the  United  States,  and  has  (or  ihe  last  half  century,  given  to  the 
people,  an  imexampled  state  of  happiness,  and  an  advancemeot  io 
all  the  arts  of  civilization,  equal,  if  not  superiour,  to  any  thing  which 
has  heretofore  been  developed. 

The  plan  formed  by  this  great  convention,  was  directed  to  be 
submitted  to  conventions  of  delegates  chosen  by  the  people  at  large, 
of  each  state.  The  consent  of  the  people,  the  only  true  foundatioii 
of  government,  was  to  be  the  basis  on  which  the  fabrick  of  our  coo- 
stttution  was  to  rest.  The  best  and  wisest  of  each  state,  were,  we 
most  presume,  selected  to  scrutinize  and  discuss  every  proposkios 
laid  before  them  by  this  general  convention.  Conflicting  views  and 
interests,  caused  long  deliberation  within  the  walls  of  each  stale 
convention ;  and  private  debate,  with  individual  opinion,  caused 
the  presses  of  the  union  to  submit  a  variety  of  views  on  the  sob* 
ject.  Near  a  year  elapsed  before  the  plan  was  agreed  to  by  the 
number  of  states,  required  by  its  provisions  to  render  it  a  coo- 
federation,  and  a  legal  constitution  for  future  government.  Nine 
states  of  the  original  thirteen  were  requisite  ;  and  Massachusetts 
was  the  ninth  that  assented.  Virginia  and  New  York,  had  not  yet 
determined ;  but  very  soon  followed  the  example.  The 
1789  Federal  government  was  organized,  and  on  the  4th  of 
Mareh,  17S9,  the  man  of  the  people  was  inaugurated  as  the 
first  president  of  the  United  States,  in  front  of  the  City  HaO,  WaD 
street.  New  York  ;  and  in  the  presence  of  the  people  cooveoed  to 
behold  the  simple  dignity  of  the  ceremony,  who,  (as  the  bniiding 
fiiced  on  Broad  street,  open  to  view  for  half  a  mile,  and  the  oath 
was  admiiustered  m  the  balcony  of  the  building,)  witnessed  a  dele* 
gallon  of  power  given  to  one  man,  far  transcending  the  power  of 
an  English'moiiarob,  but  without  a  genuflection  or  mark  of  servility, 
witboot  any  of  that  degrading  pomp,  or  blasphemous  profiesioo, 
«Ucli  m  thoogfat  necessary  on  similar  European  ceremoiiies,  to 
or  pleate,  or  mislead  the  moltitude.     The  man  was  intcswd 


00HWITPTI03I  OF   THB  UXITBO  STATB9.  t49 

whh  kingly  power,  for  the  acknowledged  purpose  of  serving  hit 
fellow  citizens :  he  was  to  hold  that  power  for  the  limited  term  of 
four  years :  he  was  responsible  to  those  who  elected  him  for  his 
conduct :  and  he,  in  their  presence,  swore  to  maintain  the  consti- 
tution they  had  chosen  for  their  own  and  his  government. 

North  Carolina  and  Rhode  Island,  withheld  their  assent  to  the 
plan  of  the  convention  for  some  lime  ;  but  in  the  month  of  June, 
1790,  the  constitution  had  received  the  unanimous  rati6cition  of 
the  people  o(  every  state.  A  complete  revolution  of  the  most  mo- 
mentotis  nature  took  place,  without  riot,  tumult,  or  hostile  move* 
ment  of  any  description,  but  on  the  contrary,  with  every  demonstrar 
tioo  of  joy  and  perfect  amity.  It  was  a  revolution,  which  b  a 
source  of  pride  in  the  contemplation,  as  great  as  it  is  of  felicity  in 
the  progress. 

I  will  now  briefly  consider  the  structure  of  the  government  which 
iBctuded  New  York,  in  its  beneficent  circle  of  influence  ;  and  then 
detail  the  proceedings  of  the  state  convention,  which  discussed  its 
provisions,  and  finally  adopted  them. 

The  power  of  making  laws  for  the  union,  is  by  the  constitution 
entrusted  to  congress :  and  the  separation  between  that  and  the 
other  branches  of  the  government,  required  and  received  very 
marked  distinction.  The  legislative  power  resides  in  one  branch, 
the  executive  in  another,  and  the  judicial  in  a  third.  The  one  hap- 
pily balancing  tlie  other,  and  preser\'ing  harmonious  movement  m 
the  whole  machine.  The  constitution  not  only  provides  for  this 
binnony,  but  defines  the  general  powers  and  duties  of  each  of  those 
departments.* 

The  constituent  powers  of  congress  for  legislation  are  granted 
to  1  senate  and  house  of  representatives.  The  division  into  two 
separate  houses  was  dictated  by  the  experience  of  our  English  an- 
cestors, and  has  been  happily  confirmed  as  a  most  wise  and  efficient 
pmision  of  our  own,  by  our  own  experience.  The  object  of  a  separa- 
^  of  the  legislature  into  two  parts,  with  co-ordinate  powers,  destroys 
MM  of  the  evils  arising  from  sudden  and  violent  excitement  ;— 
^pission.  caprice,  prejudice,  personal  influence  and  part}*  intrigue,** 
vhich  influence  single  assemblies,  in  a  measure  lose  their  efiect 
^D  a  rival  body  has  the  right  to  reconsider  their  dictates,  and 
f^^inedy  the  evils  they  would  otherwise  have  inflicted. 

As  the  states  are  each  (under  constitutional  restraints,)  a  sove- 
f^,  the  senate  is  composed  of  an  equal  number  of  representatives 
^om  each  without  reference  to  population.    Thus  each  confederated 


*  8«t  KffBt'i  Comm.,  To).  I.    I  hart  ia  tfa«  IbllawiBf  pagM  borrowed  IumIv 
V  ftvalf  ftwB  ib»  iMiDtd  comoMBtttor  on  AoMricaa  Lmt. 


244  OOH8TITUTION  OF   THE  UXITBD  8TATB8. 


sovereign  state  has  an  equal  voice  in  the  npper  bouse  of  congress : 
each  state  sending  two  deletrates.  By  the  law  of  nations,  evety  in- 
dependent community  is  equal.  During  the  half  century  thai  tbe 
senate  has  watchecl  over  the  liberties  of  America,  it  has  increased 
with  the  growth  of  llie  countr}-  from  twenty-six  members  to  6fiy-two, 
representing  twenty-six  sovereignties  instead  of  the  original  thineen. 
The  senators  by  tlie  constitution  are  to  be  chosen  by  the  legisla- 
tures of  the  several  states,  who  are  to  prescribe  the  times,  manner, 
and  place  of  elections.  In  New  York,  it  has  been  settled  that  tbey 
shall  be  chosen  by  joint  vote  or  ballot  of  the  two  bouses  of  her 
legislature,  in  case  they  cannot  seperately  concur  in  a  choice.  A 
more  mature  age  is  required  as  a  qualification  for  a  senator  than 
that  required  for  the  lower  house;  and  it  is  presumed  that  be 
will  entertain  more  enlarged  views  of  public  policy,  will  feel  a 
higher  sense  of  national  character,  and  a  greater  regard  for  sta- 
bility in  the  administration  of  tbe  government  than  the  more  nume- 
rous assembly  of  younger  statesmen,  who  come  more  immediately 
from  the  people,  and  hold  their  seats  for  a  shorter  time. 

The  members  of  the  senate  are  divided  into  three  classes  :  tbe 
seats  of  one  class  are  vacated  every  second  year  :  thus  one  third 
are  chosen  every  two  years.  The  classes  whose  term  of  service  was 
in  the  first  instance  so  reduced  as  to  be  only  two  or  four  instead  of 
six  years,  were  determined  ;it  the  commencement  of  the  c:oveni- 
ment  by  lot.  The  vice-president  of  the  United  States  is  president 
of  the  senate  ;  but  has  no  vote  unless  on  an  equal  division  of  tbe 
bouse.  (It  is  now  established  that  he  shall  decide  every  question 
of  order  without  debate,  subject  to  an  appeal  to  the  senate.)  Every 
senator  is  elected  for  six  years,  and  must  be  thirty  years  of  age, 
and  nine  years  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  being  an  inhabitant 
at  the  time*of  his  election  of  ihe  state  for  which  he  is  chosen.  The 
English  policy  is  in  my  opinion  much  wiser,  that  no  alien  bom  can 
become  a  member  of  parliament. 

The  house  of  represent atives  is  composed  of  members  chosen 
ever}'  second  year  by  ihe  people  of  the  several  states  who  are 
qualified  electors  of  the  most  numerous  branch  of  the  legislature 
oi  that  state.  He  must  be  tv«enty-five  years  of  age,  and  have  been 
seven  years  a  citizen  of  tlie  United  States,  being  an  inhabitant  at 
the  time  of  his  election,  of  the  state  in  which  he  is  chosen.  In 
this  case,  as  in  that  of  the  senator,  he  should  be  a  native.* 


*  At  Uiu  period  (time  has  prodaced  the  result)  no  other  Uiaa  a  natiTe 

ctB  be  elected  president  of  tbe  United  States,     ^y  tbe  ne«r  constitotioB  oT 
ilBte  (1821)  tbe  covemoar  must  be  a  native  of  tbe  United  Sutes.    Tbe  old 
HitatioB  (1777)  ifid  not  require  tbat  qaaiification.    Tbe  nec<^ty  of 
"       had  not  thn  beea  felt 


COXSTITTTION  OF    THE  I'MTED  STATSS«  945 

Tbe  constitution  of  the  ?taie  of  Now  York  in  1777.  requined 

tie  e!^*:>rs  of  ;j»e  <on.uo  :o  t»o  Jrv'o';!o!».iep?.  iirui  of  the  as^etnblv  to 
l»  e::her  !"jVT?i;o".itcr^.  or  to  :m\c*  r..  M'.tvi  a  :t'.!o::ieiu  of  trie  value  of 
Sktip"  *:ri.'..  •.^*.   ,K^^i  acriii A    iml^i  :.j\t:>.      r»\    liie  oo:i>t»tiiiion  c»f 
l"?:?!,  ::;e  »;  .iA.!r.;j:;o:i>  .>f  eioL-'ors  il  r  L-o:.^  bru:K'::o>  of  the  lo^i*- 
lizure  were  ^i:iv.*^\l  o:t  :.:o  <a:iTe  rotui  •^.  :iiul  were  reduced  almost 
tt>  1  shadow.     It  c«Ki:u:!od   ii  j»roMsio:i   for  asi  almost  u no liecked 
Hoense  of  a! :e ratio ti.  \>:\i'.\i  a:::t'::d::ie".t.)     Tite  oon<eqiienoe  ha* 
been,  that   by  a  >«>-v'a..i\l  i^iii-jiutmenr,  tiie  princij^le  ol  univer^l 
Sizri^e  ha*  CKvn  Luroii.:ctv!.  :v:.ir!y,  if  no:  qr.:iit\  to  its  full  extent. 
A.I   the  coii:?:itii:".o:!>  for  >:i:os  foriT^od  since  l>00,  have  omit- 
ted :o  rV'iJire  a-:v  proi's^T  t;::!-  nk'.it;o:is  In  an  elector.     I' n less  the 
p^^o  [e  I  ni  j  n^  v  o  v  --  r  v  r.i  ^  :.  i  ■/. ,  w  -j  s'.  i  j. '.  1  fee  I  ti :  e  ii  i  co  n?eque  noes  of 
aw  :::.:cn  fri.vdo::i.  xrA  :\?o  ^rv.-t  i:Ki.:'.^e:'ce  to  forvi^ner?. 

T:!e  ooris'.iM-.i'Ki  of  t::o  ri:/.C'.i  S:a:es  li^rect*.  that  the  repre- 

Ksa^ves  i'i  :i:e  lower  hiv,i<o  of  civ^.:Tes5i  be   aiH^^rtioned  among 

the  sri'.es  i.-cord  ;:c  to  n.;:n^jcr^:  w-'-ioli   is  determined  by  adding 

■^  r:e   3 J ■  :t be r  o :  ' "•  .-•  : ws-.v < s .  : ■  k' ' ■,: i i i : » ^  t :; ose  bo u nd  to  se n* ice 

DCf  1  a-ri'l-er  of  yeir^,  :uui  exclusive  cl  liuilans  not  taxed,  fhnx 

ir-yj  '.' ' .:!'     ■.■■  '■  ' v  ■  »■•    y .     T ■  :e  : ■ '. :  '.i 'jc r  o f  re l'* re>e t\ tative*  is  limit- 

w  :o  or.e  for  everv  i;:i.-:v  ii;o'.:s.i:i.i  :  but  each  state  is  entitled  to 

11  .east  o 'e.     T:ie  ceiisus  to  be  tuven  everv  ten  vears.  and  the 

f«?f«e.'::a:;ves  to   be  ai^v>■c:o:^e^i  accordingly  :  but  the  ratio  is 

i.>n?d  acco rvi i -a z  to  : I :e  fx' '. .ir  1  \  e  i .i c re ase  ot  t :ie  pop u ht ion .     The 

^r^  3wiT:CKrr   ci\T\i   wis   si\:v-r:\e:  ::^e  nrtii  censu>.  wiiich   made 

*In>Ii   ".lie  poL"«*.:la:;oa  of  t!.e  I'-iied  Svjics  I0.>')t>.000  persons, 

•S-ar^ed  the  ni::o  of  j^tv.uilr.'on  f«^r  re:>r^^'i«?:i'.a:io:i.  to  one  repre- 

«nat:ve  for  every  47,700.  ar.d  e::Iir^ed  ti:e  house  of  repre«nt»- 

^w  :o  HW  r::e:r  jcrs. 

Bt  ±e  co:Ts:::'.:tlo  '..■.I  rule  o(  appoir^tirient.  :l:ree  tifths  of  the 
*[*w  13  uhe  sou'.'ieni  s:.r.cs  are  co:v nute»i  in  escablishin.:theappor- 
^^3:  of  :re  rv-jres7-:r..i::o:i  in  ::-j  i.nver  i?o:i-e.  which  issupfxwed 
^J  >f  ceie  ja:ed  bv  rht  '*•:•  civ.zcTs  oi  i.^-:  l'::'.::\i  States.  Thia  is 
^'MSiaered  a*  a  nectiss;:rv  co.ts--  :  :once  o:  ::;e  prcviouslv  existing 
'^^O;*»io"';es::;k.  s'l^  :•:•-  :.'.•.:•.■:  ;v^r''...-! '.>f  o.:"  co'intrv.  The  evil 
!»  Jiip wscd  :o  oe  « ! : ■  1  ^ u :  rv  \ • ; 'i y .  I f  <,>.:■.  is  c c r t j. : n iy  an  i nc reas* 
^  ev.;.  Th.e  a!"o\^^;*^  :  is  co'-'"/'.;::o:Mi  Li;»pro\ai  ol  slaverv, 
*^*i  pemi::!:".^  s:iv-:s  to  fori'i  a  yir.  in  rie  r-.'-r^^  sen  ration  oft 
sarjja  of  free.uen.  is  si:L»ro.s-:'d  :o  iuvc  L>een  a  necessary  compro- 
^i^  1"^  for-Tiip^  :;:e  iVi-.n!  i  -".•v^.  .i:i  \?  jr-  i:^  s-^me  measure 
Winced  bv  -..le  r;!j  'a  ;;■:  r'\:c  '  l-s  •!  r-;;:  tiv:s  acconiin^  :o  the 
'ppOfLonine:::  of  r\.*Lresc":a:io  *.  is  *.::•:  ii.ivcs  o\  tiie  s«^utijern  states, 
*i.e  th;i5  those  <:  ues  ha^  c*  a:;  ■r::rt'  i*-?.:  '!:'!T'.L-:r  of  representatives, 
^^Jute  when  direct  taxaiion  is  resorted  to,  equally  to  increase 
^  Bieasure  ot  ibeir  coatribuiions.     But  the  enect  on  represents* 


246  C02f8TITUTIO>  OF  THB  UNITED  8TATB9. 

tion  is  constant  and  certain  ;  direct  taxation  is  contingent  and 
probably  never  to  be  resorted  to.* 

Each  house  of  congress  is  tlie  sole  judge  of  the  election  returns 
of  its  members  and  of  their  qitalifications.  A  majority  of  each  house 
constitutes  a  quorum  to  do  business ;  but  a  smaller  number  may 
adjourn  from  day  to  day,  and  compel  the  attendance  of  members. 
Each  house  determines  the  rules  of  its  proceedings,  and  can  punish 
its  members  for  disorderly  behaviour  ;  and  two  thirds  can  expel  a 
member.  Each  is  bound  to  keep  a  journal  of  its  proceedings,  and 
to  publish  such  parts  as  do  not  require  secrecy,  and  to  enter  the 
yeas  and  nays  on  the  journal  on  any  question,  when  desired  by  one 
fifth  of  the  members  present.  Members  of  both  houses  are  exempt 
from  arrest  during  attendance,  and  in  goin^  to  and  returning 
from  congress,  except  for  treason,  felony,  or  breach  of  the  peace, 
and  no  member  can  bp  questioned  out  of  the  house  for  any  speech 
or  debate  therein.  It  has  been  decided  that  the  house  can  punish 
others  than  their  own  members,  for  contempt,  as  being  necessary 
to  self-preservation  ;  and  that  members  of  congress  should  be  ex- 
empt from  impeachment  and  pimishment  for  acts  done  in  theireon- 
gressional  capacity. 

The  house  of  representatives  has  the  exclusive  right  of  originating 
all  bills  for  raising  revenue :  the  bills  are  amendable  by  the  senate 
in  its  discretion.  The  two  houses  are  a  check  so  entire  upon  each 
other,  that  one  of  them  cannot  even  adjourn,  during  the  session  of 
congress,  for  more  than  three  days,  without  the  consent  of  the  other, 
nor  10  any  other  place  than  that  in  which  both  are  sitting. 

The  powers  of  congress  are  generally  to  provide  for  the  common 
defence  and  general  welfare:  they  are  therefore  authorized  to  lay 
and  collect  taxes,  duties,  imposts,  and  excises,  to  borrow  money  on 
the  credit  of  the  United  States,  to  regulate  commerce  with  foreign 
nations  and  among  the  Indian  tribes,  to  declare  war,  and  to  define 
and  punish  ofTences  against  the  laws  of  nations,  to  raise,  maintain 
and  govern  armies  and  a  navy,  to  organize,  arm  iind  discipline  the 
militia,  and  to  give  full  cfHcacy  to  all  the  powers  contained  in  the 
constitution. 

The  house  of  representatives  choose  their  own  speaker :  whereas, 
as  we  have  seen,  the  president  of  the  senate  is  chosen  by  the  people, 
being  the  vice-president  of  the  United  States,  and  gives  the  casting 
vote   on  an  equal   division.     The  proceedings  and   discussions 


*  By  Section  9  of  Article  1  of  the  Constitution,  congress  was  precluded  from 
prohibiting  "  the  migration  of  Kiich  peroons  as  any  of  the  states  now  existing  shal 
^ink  proper  to  admit"  prior  to  ih08.  Of  coiirne  the  importation  of  davet  froa 
mbroaa  is  meant,  which  was  abolished  by  Act  of  Congress  of  January  1st,  18U6,  and 
had  preTioasly  been  prohibited  by  most  or  all  of  the  states  within  their  reapaietiy 
limits.    South  Carohna  was  the  Ust  to  renounce  the  humane  sad  fiiiiAil  trafidk. 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  S47 

in  both  housed  are  publick.     Secrecy  is  not  congenial  with  repub- 
licanism. 

In  the  passage  of  la W3.  one  day's  notice  is  required  for  leave  to 
bring  in  a  bill.  Every  bill  must' be  read  three  times  on  different 
days  before  it  can  be  passed  ;  and  no  bill  can  be  committed  or 
snoended  until  after  the  second  reading.  Bills  having  been  twice 
read  in  the  house  ol  representatives,  are  taken  up  by  a  committee 
of  the  whole  house.  When  the  speaker  leaves  the  chair,  and  the 
chairman  is  appointed,  the  speaker  takes  part  in  debate.  When 
passed  through  one  house,  a  bill  is  transmitted  to  the  otheri 
and  goes  through  similar  forms  ;  though  in  the  senate  a  bill  is  fre- 
quently referred  to  a  select  committee  appointed  by  ballot.  If 
altered  or  amended  in  the  house  to  which  a  bill  is  transmitted,  it  is 
returned  to  the  house  in  which  it  originated,  and  if  the  two  houses 
cannot  agree,  they  appoint  committees  to  confer  on  the  subject. 
When  a  bill  is  engrossed  and  has  passed  both  houses,  it  is  trans- 
mitted to  the  president  for  his  approbation.  If  he  signs  it,  it  is  a 
law  ;  if  he  does  not,  he  returns  it  with  his  objections  to  the  house 
in  which  it  originated :  the  objections  are  entered  on  the  journals 
of  that  house,  and  a  reconsideration  takes  place.  If  two  thirds  of 
that  bouse  adhere  to  the  bill,  it  is  sent  to  the  other  house,  where,  if 
approved  by  two  thirds,  it  becomes  a  law.  In  all  such  cases,  the 
votes  of  both  houses  are  determined  by  yeas  and  nays  :  the  names 
being  entered  on  the  journals.  The  president  is  entitled  to  ten 
days  for  the  consideration  of  a  bill,  and  it  must  be  returned  by  him 
within  that  time  or  it  becomes  a  law  without  his  signature,  unless  con- 
gress by  adjournment  prevents  its  return.  The  sending  of  bills  to  the 
president  within  the  last  ten  days  of  the  session,  either  shortens  the 
time  necessary  for  perusal  and  reflection,  or  gives  him  the  absolute 
power  of  rejecting  the  bill,  which  he  can  do  by  merely  retaining  it, 
without  assigning  any  reason.  The  qualified  negative  of  the  pre- 
aident  is  intended  to  give  the  executive  a  constitutional  defence 
against  the  transcendent  power  of  making  laws.  The  head  of  the 
executive  department  is  secured  a  requisite  share  of  independence 
by  this  qualified  veto;  and  the  judiciary  power  resting  on  a  still 
more  permanent  basis,  has  the  right  of  determining  upon  the  con- 
stitutionality of  laws. 

In  the  English  government  the  king  has  an  absolute  negative, 
which  has  not  been  exercised  since  the  reign  of  William  III.  In- 
deed, the  king  or  queen  of  that  country  is  a  mere  phantom  with  the 
privilege  of  sensual  gratification,  while  the  power  of  the  nation  is 
wielded  by  an  aristocracy  which  bows  the  knee  in  mockery  of  the 
pageant,  whose  only  qualification  necessary  for  enthronement  is 
hereditary  descent.  Yet  it  is  blasphemously  said,  the  sovereign 
can  do  no  wrong,  by  those  who  appear  to  worship  and  really  govern. 


r 


248  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  8TATB8. 

I 

The  nominal  kingdom  is  a  real  aristocracy  which  is  daily  encroach- 
ed upon  by  the  people. 

The  haughty  dynasty  of  the  Tudors  were  real  monarchs,  served 
on  the  bended  knee  with  Asiatic  servility.     The  Stuarts  followed, 
and  in  succeeding  to  the  throne,  thought  they  grasped  the  same 
prerogatives  ;  but  the   people  were  awakening,  and  the   second 
tyrant  of  the  Scottish  line  was  brought  to  the  block  for  struggling 
to  retain  that  which  he  had  been  taught  was  his  right.     The  peo- 
ple governed,  and  overthrew  aristocracy,  hierarchy,  and  monar- 
chy, butjiad  not  attained  the  knowledge  requisite  to  self-govern- 
ment, and  consequently  lost^  it.     The  Stuarts  returned  and  pre- 
rogative was  asserted  again  ;  until  after  a  struggle  of  centuries,  in 
16S8,  a  mingled  monarchy  and  aristocracy  governed,  which  has 
changed  to  the  present  aristocracy,  daily  yielding  to  the  people, 
who  still  worship  the  sovereign  and  the  lord,  although  the  first 
is  reduced  to  a  pageant,  and  the  second  is  so  intimately  blended 
*  with  themselves  as  scarcely  to  retain  any  of  the  sacredness  derived 
from  blood.     Yet  it  is  this  government  so  complicated  in  structure, 
so  guarded  by  its  laws  and  judiciary,  that  it  is  the  best  known  in 
Europe.     In  1831,  it  is  asserted,  that  out  of  65S  members  of  which 
the  English  house  of  commons  consisted,  the  number  of  487  were 
elected  by  144  peers  and  123  commoners.     Reform  has  since 
advanced,  and  popular  elections  have  become  someiVhat  more 
real. 

To  return  home.  The  powers  of  congress  as  determined  by  the 
judiciary  are,  priority  of  payment  over  other  creditors  in  cases 
of  insolvency,  or  preference  given  to  debts  due  to  the  United 
States.  The  power  to  create  a  bank.  The  right  of  pre-emption 
to  all  Indian  lands  lying  within  the  territory  of  the  United  States. 
The  title  is  in  the  United  States  by  the  treaty  of  peace  with  Great 
Britain  and  by  subsequent  cessions  from  France  and  Spain,  and 
from  the  individual  states.  Leaving  to  the  Indians  only  the  right 
of  occupancy,  the  United  States  having  an  absolute  and  exclusive 
right  to  extinguish  that  title  of  occupancy  either  by  conquest  or  pur- 
chase. "  The  title  of  the  European  nations,"  says  Chancellor 
Kent,  "  which  passed  to  the  United  States  to  this  immense  territo- 
rial empire,  was  founded  on  discovery  and  conquest,"  and  prior 
discovery  gave  this  title  to  the  soil  subject  to  the  possessory  right 
of  the  natives.  The  United  States  succeeding  to  the  European 
conquerors  and  discoverers  admit  no  other  than  the  right  of  occu- 
pancy to  the  Indians ;  to  be  protected  while  in  peace  in  the  posses- 
sion of  their  lands,  but  to  be  deemed  incapable  of  transferring  the 
absolute  title  to  any  other  than  the  sovereign  of  the  country.  Have 
they  been  protected  in  the  possession  of  their  lands  i 

The  constitution  gave  to  congress  the  power  to  dispose  of  and 
to  make  all  needful  rules  and  regulations  respecting  the  territorjror 


OCUffSTITUTIOX  OF  THB  UNITED  STATB8.  S49 

Other  property  belonsing  to  the  United  States,  and  to  admit  new 
stales  into  the  Union.  Cessions  were  made  of  terrilor}*  by  Vir- 
ciaia,  Massac liuse its,  Connecticut,  and  New  York.  Before  the 
adoption  of  the  constitution.  North  and  South  Carolina  and  Geor- 
ria  made  similar  cessions.  The  immense  territories  of  Louisiana 
and  Florida  were  obtained  by  purchase. 

Power  was  vested  in  conixress  to  prescribe  the  manner  in  which 
diepublick  acts,  records,  and  proceedings  of  every  slate  should  be 
proved,  and  the  eiTect  thereof  in  everv  other  state. 

Con^re^s  have  power  for  callinrr  forth  the  militia  to  execute  the 
laws  of  the  Union,  suppress  insurrections,  and  repel  invasions,  and 
U>  provide  for  the  or::anizin j,  arminii,  and  disciplining  the  militiaj 
4e  stales  reser>'inz  tiie  appointment  of  otncers  and  the  authority 
of  training  the  militia  according  to  the  discipline  prescribed  by 
5on2re5s,  who  have  government  over  such  part  as  may  be  employed 
o  the  service  of  the  United  States,  the  president  being  their  com- 
°*nder-in-chief.  When  called  out,  the  militia  are  subject  to  the 
foies  of  war:  court-martials  to  be  composed  of  militia  officers  only» 
wt  to  be  considered  as  noverned  by  the  articles  of  war. 

Tbe  authority  of  con^iress  to  appropriate  moneys  for  internal  im- 
P'oi-ements  has  not  been  decided  by  the  judiciary. 

The  executive  |>owers  of  the  srovernmenl  of  the  United  States 
''«  hy  the  constitution  vested  in  the  president.  The  object  of  this 
departinent  is  the  best  possible  execution  of  the  law.  The  law  once 
pfomul^ied,  no  discretion  is  left  to  the  executive  officer.  Promp- 
^de,  decision,  and  force  are  required,  and  these  are  most  likely 
Coexist  in  a  single  person.  Unity  increases  both  the  efficacy  and 
'^spODsibility  ol'  tlie  executive. 

Tbe  constitution  requires  the  president  should  be  a  natural-bom 
csiien  of  the  United  States,  or  a  citizen  at  the  time  of  its  adoption. 
Uemusi  be  ihirtv-five  years  of  ace,  and  a  resident  of  the  countr\-  four- 
toeo  years.     His  appointment  was  to  be  made  by  electors  not  con- 
Bicioe  of  the  body  of  the  people,  but  appointed  in  each  state  under 
the  direction  of  the  lecislaiure— concrress  determining  the  time  of 
choosing  the  electors,  the  dav  on  which  thev  shall  vote,  and  that  the 
daj  of  election  shall  be  the  same  in  every  state.     A  subsequent  act 
ofGon^ress  directs  the  electors  to  be  appointed  in  each  state  within 
thirty-four  days  of  the  day  of  election  of  president.     Constitu- 
tiooaJly,  the  number  of  electors  must  be  equal  to  the  whole  num- 
ber of  senators  and  representatives  which  the  state  is  entitled  to 
tend  to  congress:  and  it  is  provided  that  no  person  holding  an 
office  of  profit  or  honour  under  the  United  States,  shall  be  an  elec- 
tor.   These  electors  are  to  meet  in  their  respective  states  at  a  place 
tppointed  by  the  legislature  thereof,  on  the  6rst  Wednesday  in  De- 
ceinber,  io  every  fourth  year,  and  vote  by  ballot  for  the  president 
ind  viee-presidem— one  of  whoaif  «t  least,  shall  not  be  an  inbibi- 
a.  32 


S60  .  CONSTITUTION  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

tant  of  the  same  state  with  the  electors.  It  was  subsequently  to  the 
formation  of  the  constitution  thought  necessary  to  make  it  a  rule,  thai 
the  person  voted  for  as  president,  and  the  one  intended  as  vice- 
president,  should  be  designated  on  separate  ballots.  The  electon 
send  signed  and  certified  lists,  sealed,  to  the  seat  of  government,  o 
all  persons  voted  for  as  president  and  vice-president,  and  of  tlM 
number  of  votes  for  each.  These  lists  are  directed  to  the  presiden 
of  the  senate  of  the  United  States,  who  counts  the  votes  in  the  pre 
sence  of  the  members  of  the  two  houses  and  declares  the  result 
If  no  choice  is  made  by  the  electors,  the  house  of  representative 
are  to  choose  the  person  immediately :  but  the  votes  shall  be  taken 
by  states — ^the  representatives  from  each  state  having  one  vote. 
Two  thirds  of  tlie  states  make  a  quorum,  and  the  majority  of  all 
the  states  is  necessary  to  a  choice.  If  the  house  of  representatives 
shall  not  choose  a  president,  when  the  right  of  choice  rests  with 
them,  before  the  4th  of  March  next  following,  then  the  vice-presi- 
dent shall  act  as  president — as  in  the  case  of  the  death  or  other 
constitutional  disability  of  the  president  When  the  president  is 
elected  by  the  electors  as  is  intended  in  the  first  place,  it  is  in  this 
manner  decided  :  the  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votei 
of  the  electors  for  president,  is  president,  if  such  number  be  a  ma- 
jority of  the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed  ;  but  if  no  person 
have  such  majority,  then,  from  the  persons  having  the  highest  num- 
ber, not  exceeding  three,  on  the  list  of  those  voted  for  as  president, 
the  house  of  representatives  shall  choose  immediately,  by  ballot,  the 
president  . 

It  is  a  most  wise  provision  that  the  president  shall  be  chosen 
by  electors,  and  that  they  failing,  the  choice  shall  devolve  upon  the 
house  of  representatives.  Individual  rights  and  state  sovereign- 
ties are  protected.  There  is  a  tendency  towards  throwing  elections 
into  the  hands  of  the  populace,  the  majority  of  the  people,  who 
must  of  necessity  be  the  most  ignorant  of  the  nation,  and  is  at  pre- 
sent composed  to  a  great  extent  of  foreigners.  Our  inhabitant 
are  in  more  danger  from  the  admission  of  unqualified  electors  to  the 
polls,  than  firom  any  other  source  in  existence,  or  to  be  devised. 

As  now  regulated  the  vice-president  is  chosen  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  the  president  If  the  number  for  any  individual  on  the  lift, 
be  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed,  he  is 
vice-president :  otherwise,  the  senate  shall  choose  the  vice-presi- 
dent firom  the  ttoo  highest  numbers;  two  thirds  forming  a  quorum, 
Slid  a  majority  of  the  whole  being  necessary  to  a  choice.  No  per- 
son ineligible  to  the  office  of  president,  can  be  vice-president 
The  term  of  office,  in  both  cases  is  for  four  years,  commencing  on 
As-  4ik  of  March  next  following  the  election.     If  the  duties  ol 

sridsnt  derolve  constitutionally  on  the  vice-president,  he  acts  u 

eh  during  the  remtbder  of  the  term,  unless  the  distbilitj  of  dx 


CONSTITUTION  OF    THE  UNITED  STATES.  S51 

president  be  removed.  If  both  these  offices  are  vacant,  congress 
aare  authorized  by  law,  to  declare  what  officer  shall  act  as  president; 
and  they  have  prescribed  that  the  president  of  the  senate,  in  the 
first  instance,  and  in  the  next,  the  speaker  of  the  house  shall  act  as 
president  until  the  vacancy  is  supplied.  The  constitution  says, 
that  each  state  is  to  appoint  electors,  in  such  manner  as  the  legisla- 
ture may  du-ect.  In  New  York  they  are  now  chosen  by  the  people 
in  general  ballot.  At  first  they  were  appointed  by  the  legislature. 
Four  years  are  a  reasonable  term  for  the  office  of  president,  espe- 
cially as  he  is  eligible  to  re-election.  In  short,  we  may  say,  that 
the  mode  of  election  to  this  high  office,  has  avoided  the  evils  which 
the  advocates  of  hereditary  monarchy  predicted,  and  has  proved  the 
absurdity  of  such  a  mode  of  establishing  a  chief  magistrate,  over 
any  nation  or  people,  as  has  enslaved  the  minds  both  of  the  wise  and 
simple  in  the  old  world.  The  constitution  provides,  that  the  pre- 
sident shall  receive  at  stated  times  for  his  services  a  compensation, 
that  shall  neither  be  increased  nor  diminished  during  the  term  for 
which  he  is  elected :  and  that  he  shall  not  receive  during  that  time 
any  other  emoluments  from  the  United  States,  or  any  of  the  states. 
He  *i8  commander-in-chief  of  tlie  army  and  navy  of  the  United 
States,  and  of  the  militia  of  the  several  states  when  called  into  the 
service  of  the  union.  He  has  the  power  to  grant  reprieves  and 
pardons  for  offences  against  the  United  States,  except  in  cases  of 
impeachment  He  has  the  power,  by  and  with  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  senate  to  make  treaties,  two  thirds  of  that  house  con- 
curring. He  has  efficient  power  to  appoint  the  officers  of  govern- 
ment: he  is  to  nominate,  and  with 'the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
senate,  to  appoint  ambassadors,  other  publick  ministers  and  consuls, 
the  judges  of  the  supreme  court,  and  officers  whose  appointments 
are  not  otherwise  provided  for  in  die  constitution.  Congress  may 
Test  the  appointment  of  inferiour  officers  in  the  president  alone,  in 
the  courts  of  law,  or  in  the  heads  of  departments.  The  president 
is  required  to  give  information  to  congress  of  the  state  of  the  union, 
and  to  recommend  to  their  consideration,  such  measures  as  he  shall 
judge  necessary  and  expedient.  He  is  to  convene  both  houses  of 
congress,  or  either  of  them  on  extraordinary  occasions,  and  he  may 
adjourn  them  in  case  of  disagreement.  He  is  to  fill  up  all  vacan- 
cies that  happen  during  the  recess  of  the  senate,  by  granting  com- 
missions, which  shall  expire  at  the  end  of  their  next  session.  He 
is  to  receive  ambassadors  and  publick  ministers,  commission  all 
the  officers  of  the  United  States,  and  take  care  that  the  laws  be 
£uthfully  executed.  The  power  to  receive  foreign  ministers,  in- 
cludes the  power  to  dismiss  them,  for  he  is  accountable  to  the  peo- 
ple for  the  competent  qualifications  and  conduct  of  foreign  agents. 
The  constitution  renders  the  president  direcdy  amenable  by  law 
lor  all  mal-administration.    As  well  as  other  officers  of  the  Unitsd 


353  CONSTITUTION  OF   THB  UNITED  8TATB8. 

States,  he  may  be  impeached  by  the  house  of  representatives  for 
treason,  bribery,  and  other  high  crimes  and  misdemeanours,  and 
upon  conviction  by  the  senate,  removed  from  office. 

Other  nations  have  solemnly  said,  that  their  6rst  magistrate  can 
do  no  wrong,  yet  have  expelled  him  from  his  country.  They  have 
said,  and  say,  he  never  dies,  and  take  away  his  life  on  the  scaffold. 
Such  absurdities  are  here  unknown.  If  the  president  violates  the 
law,  the  house  of  representatives  can  arrest  him  in  his  career,  and 
the  senate  punish  his  guilt  and  folly. 

The  judiciary  department  of  our  government,  is  if  possible,  more 
interesting  to  us,  than  the  branches  I  have  considered.     The  con- 
stitution declares,  that  "  the  judicial  power  of  the  United  States, 
shall  be  vested  in  one  supreme  court ;  and  such  inferiour'courts 
as  congress,  may  from  time  to  time,  ordain  and  establish.'*    In 
this  case,   congress    have   no   discretion.      The    constitution  is 
mandatory.     The  origin  and  title  of  the  judiciary  is  equal  with  the 
other  powers  of  the  government,  and  is  as  exclusively  vested  in  the 
courts  created  by  the  constitution,  as  the  legislative  power  is  vested 
in  congress,  or  the  executive  in  the  president.     The  judges  both  of 
the  supreme  and  inferiour  courts,  are  rendered  by  the  constitution 
independent  both  of  the  government  and  the  people ;  they  arc  to 
bold  their  offices  during  good  behaviour,  and  their  compensation 
for  services  cannot  be  diminished  during  their  continuance  in  office. 
The  judges  are  bound  to  consider  the  constitution  as  the  supreme 
law,   and  consequently  are  a  check  upon  the  lavys  of  congress, 
which  may  contravene  it.     Bui  though  the  judges  are  thus  inde- 
pendent, they  are   by  the  constitution  amenable  for  any  corrupt 
violation  of  their  trust.     The  house  of  representatives  having  the 
power  of  impeachment,  the  judges  may  by  that  process  be  held  to 
answer  before  the  senate,  and  if  convicted,  they  may  be  removed 
from  office.     The  judicial  power  extends  to  all  cases  in  law  or 
equity  arising  under  the  constitution,  the  laws  and  treaties  of  the 
union  ;  to  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,   public  ministers  and 
consuls  ;  to  all  cases  of  admiralty  and  maritime  jurisdiction  ;  all 
controversaries  to  which  the  United  Slates  shall  be  a  party  ;  to  con- 
troversies between  two  states ;  to  controversies  between  a  state 
when  plainiifT  and  citizens  of  another  state,  or  foreign  nations  or 
subjects  ;  to  controversies  between  citizens  of  different  states,  and 
between  citizens  of  the  same  state,  claiming  lands  under  grants  of 
different  states ;  and  between  a  stale,  or  citizens  thereof,  and  for- 
eign stales  ;  and   between  citizens  and  foreigners.     The  judicial 
department  of  the  United  Slates  is  thus  the  final  expositor  of  the 
constitution  as  to  all  questions  of  a  judicial  nature. 

The  supreme  court  consists  at  present  of  a  chief  justice  and  six 
associate  justices,  four  of  whom  make  a  quorum. ,  It  holds  one 
terra  annually  at  the  seat  of  government,  and  though  four  judges 


GONSTITUTiON  OF   THE  UNITED  STATES.  253 

tre  necessary  for  business  generally,  any  one  may  make  necessary 
orders  in  a  suit  preparatory  to  trial,  and  continue  the  court  from 
day  to  day  :  and  the  judge  of  the  fourth  circuit  aUends  at  the  City 
of  Washington  on  the  6rst  Monday  of  August  annually  for  inter- 
locutor}' matters. 

The  supreme  court  has  exclusive  jurisdiction  of  all  controversies- 
of  a  civil  nature  where  a  state  is  a  party,  except  in  suits  by  a  state 
against  one  or  more  of  its  citizens,  or  against  chizens  of  other 
states,  or  aliens,  in  which  cas^e  it  has  ori2:inal  but  not  exclusive 
jurisdiction.  It  has  also,  exclusively,  all  such  jurisdiction  of  suits, 
or  proceedings  against  ambassadors,  or  other  publick  ministers,  and 
tbeir  domesticks  or  domesiick  servants,  as  a  court  of  law  can  have 
or  exercise  consistently  with  the  law  of  nations  ;  and  original  but 
not  exclusive  jurisdiction  of  all  suits  brought  by  ambassadors  oi 
other  public  ministers,  or  in  which  a  consul  or  vice-consul  shall  be 
•  party.  The  constitution  also  gave  the  supreme  court  appellate 
jurisdiction  both  as  to  law  and  fact,  with  such  exceptions,  and  un- 
der such  regulations  as  congress  should  make.  It  has  also  appel- 
ate jurisdiction  over  the  decisions  of  the  state  courts,  under  the 
limitations  which  congress  has  prescribed,  touching  the  construc- 
UOD  and  effect  of  the  constitution,  laws  and  treaties  of  the  United 
States.  Certain  cases  may  be  examined  by  writ  of  error,  and 
reversed  or  af&rmed  after  decision  in  the  circuit  courts. 

The  supreme  court  is  also  armed  with  that  superintending  au- 
thority over  the  inferiour  courts  which  ought  to  be  deposited  in  the 
faighest  tribunal  and  dernier  resort  of  the  people  of  the  United 
States.  It  has  power  to  issue  writs  of  prohibition  to  the  district 
courts  when  proceeding  as  courts  of  admiralty  and  maritime  juris- 
diction, and  to  issue  writs  of  mandamus  in  cases  warranted  by  the 
principles  and  usages  of  law,  to  any  courts  appointed  by,  or  per- 
sons holdino:  offices  under,  the  authority  of  the  United  States. 
This  court,  and  each  of  its  judges,  have  power  to  grant  writs  of 
we  exeat,  and  of  injunction  ;  but  the  former  writ  cannot  be  granted 
unless  a  suit  in  equity  be  commenced,  and  satisfactory  proof  be 
made,  that  the  party  designs  quickly  to  leave  the  United  States ; 
and  no  injunction  can  be  granted  to  stay  proceedings  in  a  state 
court,  nor  in  any  case,  without  reasonable  notice  to  the  adverse 
party.  All  the  courts  of  the  Unhed  States  have  power  to  issue 
all  other  writs  necessary  for  the  exercise  of  their  respective  juris- 
dictions, and  agreeable  to  the  principles  and  usages  of  law. 

The  circuit  courts  are  established  in  the  districts  of  the  United 
States,  and  usually  consist  of  one  of  the  justices  of  the  supreme 
eourt,  together  with  the  judge  of  the  district.  They  are  invested 
wilh  orignal  cognizance,  concurrent  with  the  courts  of  the  sev- 
eral states,  of  all  suits  of  a  civil  nature  at  common  law  or  in 
aqnity  where  the  matter  in  dispute  exceeds  five  hundred  dollars 


$54  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATB8* 

exclusive  of  costs,  and  the  United  States  are  plaintifi,  or  an 
alien  is  a  party,  or  the  suit  is  between  a  citizen  of  the  statf 
v^here  the  suit  is  brought,  and  a  citizen  of  another  state.  Tbej 
have  cognizance  generally  of  crimes  and  offences  cognizable  unde: 
the  authority  of  the  United  States.  But  no  person  can  be  arrestei 
ih  one  district  for  trial  in  another,  and  no  civil  suit  can  be  brough 
against  an  inhabitant  of  the  United  States  out  of  his  district.  Thi 
circuit  courts  have  likewise  appellate  jurisdiction  from  judgment 
in  the  district  courts  over  fifty  dollars  ;  and  in  certain  cases  when 
the  judiciary  of  the  United  'States  has  jurisdiction  either  of  the 
subject  in  controversy,  or  of  the  party,  suits  may  at  an  early  period 
of  the  cause  be  removed  from  a  state  court  into  the  circuit  court 
of  the  United  States.  The  circuit  courts  have  also  original  cogni- 
zance in  equity  and  at  law  of  all  suits  arising  under  the  law  of  the 
United  States  relative  to  the  law  of  copyrights,  inventions,  and  dis- 
coveries. They  are  courts  of  limited  though  not  of  inferum 
Jurisdiction. 

The  district,  as  well  as  the  circuit  courts  are  derived  from  the 
power  granted  to  congress  of  constituting  tribunals  inferiour  to  tbe 
supreme  court.     The  district  courts  have,  exclusive  of  the  state 
courts,  cognizance  of  all  lessef  crimes  and  offences  cognizable  un- 
der the  authority  of  the  United  States,  and  committed  within  theii 
respective  districts,  or  upon  the  high  seas,  and  which  are  punishable 
by  fine  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars,  by  imprisonment  nol 
exceeding  six  months,  or  when  corporal  punishment  not  exceed- 
ing  thirty  stripes  is  to  be  inflicted.     They  have  also  exclusive 
original  cognizance  of  all  civil  causes  of  admiralty  and  maritime 
jurisdiction,  of  seizures  under  impost,  navigation,  or  trade  laws  oi 
the  United  States,  where  the  seizures  are  made  upon  the  high 
or  in  w'aters  within  their  districts  navigable  from  the  sea  with 
sels  of  ten  or  more  tons  burthen  ;  and  also  of  all  seizures  made 
under  the  laws  of  the  United  States ;  and  also  of  all  suits  for  pen- 
alties and  forfeitures  incurred  under  those  laws.     Concurrent  with 
(the  circuit  and  state  courts,  they  have  cognizance  of  cases  where  an 
alien  sues  for  a  tort  committed  in  violation  of  the  law  of  nations  or 
of  a  treaty  of  the  United  States,  and  of  all  suits  at  common  law,  in 
^hich  the  United  States  are  plaintiffs,  amounting  to  one  hundred 
•dollars.     They  have  jurisdiction  likewise,  exclusive  of  the  courti 
.of  the  several  states,  of  all  suits  against  consuls  or  vice-conauby 
.except  for  offences  of  magnitude  higher  than  above.     In  case  of 
rcaptures  made  within  the  waters  of  the  United  States  or  within  a 
*roarine  league  of  its  coasts,  they  have  cognizance  of  complaints  bj 
irbooasoever  made.    They  are  authorized  to  proceed  by  Scire/aciat 
40  repeal  patents  unduly  obtained.     In  certain  cases  their  judgea 
lutve  power  to  grant  writs  of  injunction  to  operate  within  their  dift- 
iricts.    Guards  are  provided  against  the  evil  of  a  diflbrence  d 


OOXSTITrXlON  OF   THK  VMTBO  STATBS.  S6& 

bftwipfu  the  dreait  judire  ind  the  cfistnct  judge.  The 
mndks  aiv  in  the  sispnraie  court.  The  principil  officers  of  the 
cnnti  ire  inorneys  and  counsellors  clerks  and  mai^habu  The 
»  anp  expresisly  permined  to  manage  their  own  causes. 

Clerifs  are  appointed  by  the  several  courts,  except  that  the  deck 
rf  the  dtstrict  court  is  ex  i»iSno  clerk  of  the  ciiruit  court  of  such 
tekt.  Thev  have  custodv  of  the  seal  and  ieconis«  and  are  bound 
lisetl  and  sicn  all  processes,  and  to  record  the  proceedings  and 
^dciaents  of  the  courts.  They  must  give  security  for  faithful  per- 
fanniDce. 

Marshals  are  analoirous  to  sherid&  at  common  law.  Thev  are 
ifpenied  by  the  pr>e^dent  and  senate  for  four  yearss  removable  it 
pktsore*  They  may  ap|mnt  deputies.  The  marshal  abo  pvds 
*Nmy  to  the  United  States  for  the  iaithfnl  performance  of  his 

QIV, 

The  powei^  fjanied  by  the  constitution  are  specifick.    The  pow- 

c>^  vesmi  in  the  state  pcivemments  continue  unakered  and  unim- 

ptStpd,  except  so  far  as  they  arv  granted  to  the  United  States.     The 

po|4e  of  the  United  States  have  declared  the  constitution  to  be  the 

*^«eine  hw  of  the  land.     That  which  is  repugnant  to  the  coosti- 

^■boii  is  oecess^arilv  void.     This  makes  nu^aiorv  evejx  act  of  coo- 

peasw  or  of  any  state,  that  is  in  opposition  to  the  constitution  of  the 

roiled  Siaie*.     The  supnen>e  court  of  the  United  States  has  the 

to  decide,  and  there  is  no  appeal  fiom  its  decision.     The 

jurisdiction  of  the  supreme  court  is  confined  to  those  cases 

wittch  ttdfect  ambassadors  public  minrsiers.  and  consuls,  and  to 

iktme  in  which  a  state  is  a  party.     It  is  a  question  whether  this 

«U:iinI  jurisdiction  is  exclusi%  e.     The  appellate  jurisdiction  of  the 

court,  in  certain  cases,  over  final  decisions  in  the  state 

is   uikioubted :   but  it  exists  onlv  in  those  cases  in  whicb 

it  is   affirmatively  given  :    tlierofore  the  appellate  jurisdictioQ   oT 

Ar  Hifweme  court  depends   upon  congreiss.      The  consiitutioo 

s  that  the  judicial  power  shall  extend  to  all  cases  arising  under 

cmisiifUoo.  laws,  and  treaties  of  the  United  States.     It  bis 

a  subject  of  discussion  whether  the  courts  of  the  United  States 

m 

a  comtnon  law   junsiiiciion.  and.  if  anv.  to  what  extent* 

_  «  • 

Tct  in  manv  cases,  the  lancua^  of  the  constitution  and  laws  would 
he  inexplicable  without  reference  !o  the  common  law :  and  the  coo* 
mmuitm  not  cnily  supposes  the  existence  of  the  common  law,  but  it 
is  appeded  to  tor  the  construction  and  interpretation  of  its  pow^n^s. 

Tbe  District  of  Columbia  and  the  territorial  districts  of  the  Una- 
wed  StMtis.  are  not  states,  within  the  sense  of  the  constitutioo. 

tssrict  courts  act  as  courts  of  common  hw  and  also  is 

of  idminltT.     Whatever  admiralty  aini  maritime  jurisdiction 

Alikt  comts  possess  is  excJusive ;  for  the  constitution  de- 


256  CONSTITUTION  OF    THE  UXITSD  8TATB8. 

clares  that  the  judicial  |)ower  of  the  United  States  shall  extodta 
all cojff it  of  ddiDmUy  and  n'.nr!ti:;ie  iuri.-^uiciion. 

In  these  caj?e?,  iliealieiri'.io:!  «'rstai;.'  power  or  soverei£:ot]r  eiktB* 
to  wit:  when*  the  coni-iiiiiiion  i.i  exjiref^s  t  Trns  sranis  an  escloaiv 
authority  to  tiie  union,  and  in  anotlier  prohibits  to  the  states  the  ex9- 
cise  of  a  like  authoriiv :  and  where  it  rrrants  an  auiboritv  lo  the 
union,  lo  which  a  similar  authority  in  the  states  would  be  ibsolutelf 
and  totally  coniradicion'  and  re;)!;rnant.  This  is  the  descripdos 
of  the  powers  civen  by  t!ie  coiisiiiulion,  as  stated  by  the  Ftderalid, 
and  approved  by  Kent  and  Story. 

The  limitation  of  (he  power  oftiiC  slates  contained  in  the  consd- 
tution  do  not  apply  unless  expressud  in  lerins.  **  No  state  shall eoter 
into  any  treaty,  alliance,  or  conTeuera'tion  :  arrant  letters  of  fnarqoei 
and  reprisal;  coin  money  :  emit  bills  of  credit ;  make  any  thins:  bol 
gold  and  silver  coin  a  tender  in  payment  of  debts  ;  pas«  noy  bill  of 
attainder  or  €x  jitjst  jhct't  law,  or  law  impairins:  the  obligation  of  con- 
tracts, or  grant  any  title  of  nobility."  These  and  some  other  pwh 
hibitions  as  respecting  duties,  liie  keeping  troops  or  ships  of  warii 
time  of  peace,  etc.,  without  permission  of  congress,  speak  ibr 
themselves.  Hiils  of  credit  are  defined  to  mean  **  promissoi]' 
notes  or  bills  issued  exclusivelv  on  the  credit  of  the  state/*    The 

m 

prohibition  does  not  ajiply  to  the  notes  of  a  state  bank,  drawo  oi 
the  credit  of  a  fund  set  apart  for  the  pur|)ose. 

By  the  constitution  congress  have  power  to  establish  a  unifonD 
rule  of  naturalization  :  and  to  **  rejulate  conmiei-ce  with  foreigB 
nations  and  amoni:  tlie  several  <^:aus.'' 

This  brief  view  of  the  constiiiition  of  the  United  States,  will  I 
hope  prepare  ilie  reader  for  liio  hi-tory  of  the  New  York  cooreiK 
tion  of  17SS,  wiiich  forms  an  inijionant  part  of  the  historv  of  the 
state,  and  to  which  we  will  slioriiv  direct  our  attention.  The  con- 
vention  of  New  York  addressed  a  circular  letter  to  the  several 
states  of  the  union,  inviting  tjjcin  to  call  a  ireneral  convention  to 
revise  the  consthuiion.  Nor  is  tijis  to  be  wondered  at  considering 
all  the  circumstances  of  our  ^lat*.*.  and  the  conflicting  interests  tiiat 

were  to  be  reconciled  by  tliai  instrument.* 
17SS         The  leirislature  of  New  York  met  this  year  in  Januaiji 
and  the  subject  of  cailini:  a  convention  to  consider  the  pro- 
posed  Federal  Constitution  caused  waim  debate.     Parties  assumed 


•  A«  in  the  ron«triir!inn  nf  th«*  ron-titution.  he«We?  the  Frdendist,  gee  Knit'i 
Comm..  Vol.  I.  :^torv'«  Con«iti:r]:ionii  \j\w.  It  wil!  not  be  proper  ioawork  *«^* 
this,  to  refer  to  the  niinieron^  ,ii'l:'  -;1  <l<r  -.iin-  h\  which  \\s  anKmcaon  has  beca 
aKertained  an«!  '^•TTi*.-!.  Ti.»— •  «!"  >i"r>.  *«•  p-r-jMcnon*,  tto  free  from  technMrmlity 
as  in  t>e  inieUiE:hl<*  to  any  in  in  nf  uti  i* T'^'i!)  iinir.  althou'h  not  belonf  injr  to  ifa* 
le^al  profession,  were  for  the  m<t^  pin  prouo  inr^ed  by  the  late  inasifioas  ducT 
Justice  Marabail.  *'  The  mantle  of  TJijali : '  a  hackneyed  ailuaion. 


of  Fedenlisc  md  A^.xi-^^denlist.    The  fint  ipprovcd 

«*-?>::; ^:ii^::  :;,:.:  4'i>::*tv'.ViV.*.  hi.;  ex<ri\v.t^i  iheir  rowers,  as 
irjii  Si^iV*  cc*r.vfni\i  r.-^erv'.**  K^r  :":;o  pwr.\>$e  of  r>?r:<3r.i:  the 

T.->*  An:lH>J;'ra  i?:5  n*^v:.:i::\i  i.i  A^^nK  K\r  ii«?lt\caie*  lo  the 
:r.^::^  t:-.:^  C  :y  o*  \;';r  Yor\.  NVir/.A-i  Dcr.r.iiir,  M^hoc* 

c  >.:*.  LX  M^rlni:<  Wii'i^i  asi  Aaron  B j:t  :  bu:  the  Fedenl 

••  •  •  •    • 

B*\vv  nrvx^e^'vi:.-.-  :*>  :ne  in*>?e  inirv^rrsnt  ereats  of  ih:>  rear,  I 

Oa  S^jMi^  ir>e  l>»:h  of  A:>r.\  ^i^:nf  iK>\*s  w^no  irer?  si  plar 
«>i:  :.**  Hv>*-'^!;i!.  :.*  :::o  0::v  o:*  New  York,  then  oi;:  of  tovro* 
ky  CirjSs^f  oa  ssranfoJ^s  V::  by  worki'sen,  5aiw  ihe  m»iiiated  bcNiies 
or  .Ir^ft  of  r..:r.:5:':  5.:'.«oc:fi  ".ef:  hv  >:u«ier:$  i>f  surofnr  i:^  a  room 
'iea  asae'i  for  d:^%?vc:ior..  Tr>e  re-v>r;  sorfai^.  an«i  a  nx^  coJWied, 
•>»»  rare  w«<  :r.i?='«tNi  ar^i^^t  a«i  iov>;csaa>  and  5ur^«^o:)s«  es- 
?*^^il'..^  i  vo-::^  r.^::.^  of  :.*:?  :urf  of  H^^ks,  s^alnsl  niKHn  and 
*•«*  dciicn  ihe  vonc>?aK«*  »"»f  '^'^  n;:l:i:iJi3e  wi»  vowec.  Three 
*tfc-*  diy*  :>.f  '.i^.^b  v.'.^rt'i^'-.v^  a^A  \\\n\ii\i  iht*<:iwT?  with  :hreats 
*^*  r.vf-..-"^,  Ti^e  bou5e  of  Sir  Jo>.n  Tiirr^-e,  J  he  Bn:?«h  cow;::, 
2  Q  j**r  Sc^:-^:.  ^3?  Ti^-i:h  *i;n^*uhv  5^\  e^i.  h  vr%<  saiii  "  Sir  John" 
1» ?:ii5an^e^Tw«?d  •*  S:::  i:^^^^./*  The  writer  saw  Oovemour O: :n?oa 
[T  r*yri3i?lk  aa^i  w  :ri  c niv:  s:  ihis  r^jee.  s::S^'.:^h  husiW  £t  one 
by  tbe  rlvXer?*  Mi*y  -rrirr.^i:-  tr.v^:'*;:^  liou^:]es?  e\arinpra!ed 
ff-triies^  wYre  :r.  cirv^u'-i:;.^.".  -*  :o  :he  *:;>:;::err.:cr-:  of  hun^aa  bvxiiea 

ih  aie  l^L*^  of  A;*r-\  the  sheria  n?np?>er:ed  to  the  corr:mon 

6!C^."C  ii>e  i:»ev:;:r*:v  of  :V.r  \^.-  ::":  i'orj5.ec:::"."."*e  of  daji^s^Wi  dooe 

•  "  •  • 

•  it  ^yTi«voJ5  p^^^or*:  r.-?  r^^'^^  j«i>'  allui^tN:  Kv>  and  it  wis 
^'•xrpc,  liax  an  orverarki  nfieea  rnea  wer?  neccsisarr  for  the  sera* 
'^rf  lae  tail*  and  a  oo':::;v.::cx"*wa<api>oirK\?  ic^  wait  on  GoverDOur 
Cbck«  aai  rM::e#t  <'i:e':;  ::;:?r*i  fnvn  ihe  nil'.hia  of  ihe  ciir,  and 
2>p  SL-^ni  wo'-li  :^,»\I.:;-  f.^r  ne-.r  *i3h5i<jeT>ce.  The  comr^nT  of 
i.enk  ia  marcHr^  :o  :he  ^i:)  nsJ  srrrj*  w?>p5^^J  nom  n'jarv  of 
6t  ibe  nn^S.     Tre  d.v.o.*^  Hu^k*  and  others  we^p  io  iail 

*3t  woceccon.  and  iSe  rkvcr*  a:raokcd  I'^-e  Hace,     Some  uoow 

•  •  ■ 

^rt  Thrown  in,  ani  i:  ira?  saiti,  one  of  ihe  nH>!>  in  ane?n:»:snf  to 
fcfre  »  WIT  in  a;  a  wi.r.^o*.  fell  bv  a  ihn»x  of  a  bavone^  A 
SKaoitaK  wa*  a?x»o:rteji  :o  repair  the  i*ii- 

Feijrairy  1«,  tbe  iep*!a:;:re  oi  Xcw  YoA  nwaolred  that  the  rwo- 
tec  d'"  c\>npe«5  of  Sexen^ber,  !?>?•  and  !e::«r  acconipar} ire. 
'•cocaaeodiac  to  tbe  peiK»!e  of  New  Y'ort  to  choose  by  ba'.ioc 
IO  accc  ia  cooTeHMW  K>r  ibe  purpoae  of  iikiBf  iiAo  c^ 
[.  SS 


t08  CONTENTION  OV   NKW  TOHK. 

iideratioii  the  coDstitudon  agreed  upon  by  the  convention  from  the 
states  met  at  Philadelphia  should  be  Complied  with ;  that  the  Dum* 
ber  of  delegates  to  be  elected  be  the  same  as  the  number  of  mem* 
bers  of  assembly ;  that  all  free  males  of  twenty-one  and  upwards  be 
voters ;  that  the  election  be  held  the  last  Tuesday  of  April,  1788, 
and  continued  not  more  than  6ve  days,  with  other  directions  for 
said  election:  and  consequently  the  following  gentlemen  were 
returned,  viz : 

From  tbe  City  and  County  of  New  York — John  Jay,  Richard 
Morris,  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Alexander  Hamilton,  Robert  R.  Liv* 
ingston,  Isaac  Rooseveh,  James  Duane,  Richard  Harrison,  and 
Nicholas  Low.     9. 

City  and  Countyof  Albany — ^Robert  Yates,  John  Lansing,  Jun., 
Henry  Outhout,  Feter  Vroman,  Israel  Thompson,  Anthony  Ten 
Eyck,  and  Dirk  Swart.    7. 

Suffolk — Henry  Scudder,  Jonathan  N.  Havens,  John  Smith, 
Thomas  Tredwell,  and  David  Hedges.    5. 

£72rfer— Governour  George  Clinton,  John  Cantine,  Comeiiiis 
C.  Schoonmaker,  Ebenezer  Clark,  James  Clinton,  and  Diifc 
Wynkoop.  6. 

QueeM — Samuel  Jones,  Jonathan  Schenck,  Nathaniel  Law* 
rence,  and  Stephen  Carman.     4. 

IGMg9 — Peter  Lefferts,  and  Peter  Vandervoort.    2. 

Richmond — Abraham  Banker,  and  Gozin  Ryers.     2. 

Westchester — ^Lewis  Morris,  Philip  Livingston,  Richard  Hat* 
field,  Phillip  Van  Cortlandt,  Thaddeus  Crane,  and  LottW.  Saris.  6. 

Orange— John  Haring,  Jesse  Woodhull,  Henry  Wisner,  and 
John  Wood.     4. 

Duchess — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Melancthon  Smith,  Jacobus  Swaif* 
wout,  Jonathan  Akin,  Ezra  Thompson,  Gilbert  Livingston,  and 
John  De  Witt.    7. 

Montgomery — William  Harper,  Christopher  P.  Yates,  John 
Frey,  John  Winn,  Volkart  Veeder,  and  Henry  Staring.     6. 

Columbia — Peter  Van  Ness,  John  Ray,  and  Matthew  Adgate.  S. 

Washington  and  C/in/(?;i— Ichabod  Parker,  John  Williaiu, 
Albert  Baker,  and  David  Hopkins. 

They  met  at  the  Court  House,  in  Poughkeepsie,  in  tbe  county 
of  Duchess,  on  the  17th  of  June,  1788,  where  they  elected  ooa* 
nimously  Governour  George  Clinton,  president. 

Subordinate  officers  being  appointed,  it  was  ordered  that  tbt 
convention  debate  with  open  doors,  and  commence  with  prayoi, 
after  which,  Messrs.  Duane,  Jones,  R.  Morris,  Lansing,  and  Har- 
ris,* were  chosen  a  committee  to  report  rules. 


*  At  iMr«  WM  BO  Harrif,  •hiiar  Utrp«r,  Hmring,  or  Harmon,  iaprobiU|y  i 


PBOCBBDINOS  AND  DEBATES  IN  OONVBNTION.  S6f 

Rules,  as  is  common,  being  agreed  upon,  the  constitution  was 
read  on  the  19tb,  and  Robert  R.  Livingston  addressed  the  chair. 
He  professed  to  speak  to  those  who  had  not  made  up  their  minds 
on  the  subject  before  them.  The  object  of  government  was  to 
secure  peace.  The  deficiency  of  the  former  confederation  was 
obvious.  The  people  of  the  United  States  were  blessed  with  an 
opportunity  afforded  to  no  other  nation  for  forming  a  government 
to  secure  happiness.  In  the  old  world,  kings  would  retain  their 
power.  Here  it  was  acknowledged  thcU  (dl  power  is  derived  from 
the  people.  He  advocated  the  constitution  presented  to  them. 
Perfection  was  not  to  be  expected.  Jealousies  must  be  eradicated, 
and  our  union  secured  upon  a  broad  basis.  He  touched  upon  the 
state  of  the  United  States,  and  dwelt  on  the  advantages  New  York 

Possessed  for  internal  and  external  commerce  and  improvement. 
le  feared  that  a  piospect  of  these  advantages  had  excited  an  im- 
proper confidence  in  ourselves — had  rendered  us  regardless  of  what 
was  due  to  other  states.  He  remarked  upon  the  blessings  of  union 
anoong  the  states — the  defenceless  situation  of  New  York,  if 
standing  alone,  if  the  neighbouring  states  should  be  hostile — recom- 
mended yielding  her  independence  to  Vermont,  and  showed  the 
dangers  to  New  York  of  the  British  colonies  and  the  Indians.  Ha 
argued  that  our  wealth  and  our  weakness  equally  demanded  union 
with  the  other  states. 

He  took  a  view  of  the  old  confederation,  and  showed  its  insuffi- 
ciency— the  British  holding  possessions  within  the  limits  of  New 
York,  and  no  power  to  redress  the  grievance — national  credit  un- 
stable—commerce unprotected.  If  the  former  confederacy  was 
insufficient,  inorc  power  must  be  added.  He  pointed  out  the  deficien- 
cy of  European  confederacies,  and  dwelt  on  that  of  the  Netherlands, 
wbo  when  struggling  for  every  thing  most  dear,  permitted  the  bur- 
then of  the  war  with  Spain  to  be  borne  by  Holland  alone.  He 
showed  the  evils  of  the  Germanick  league  as  arising  from  the  total 
independency  of  its  parts. 

He  observed  that  congress  should  have  the  power  of  regulating 
the  militia — the  power  of  regulating  commerce.  He  spoke  of  the 
necessity  of  a  Federal  judiciary — and  commended  generally  the 
constitution  as  submitted.  It  was  then  proposed,  and  agreed, 
that  no  question  should  be  put  in  the  committee  upon  the  proposed 
constitution,  or  any  article  or  clause  thereof,  until  after  the  said 
constitution  and  amendments  should  have  been  considered,  clause 
by  clause. 

On  the  20tb,  Mr.  Lansing  addressed  the  chair. 

Mr.  Lansing  thought  we  ought  to  be  extremely  cautious  how  wa 

gave  distinct  interests  to  the  rulers  and  the  governed.     That  the 

'    state  governments  would  always  possess  a  better  representation  of 

the  opiiMOn  of  the  people — ^power  could  be  deposited  with  greater 


psocsBDtares  asd  dsbates  vx 

safetr  wrth  the  state  than  with  the  general  rorerrrfr.e^t-    He  ^>^i£ 
ine  prefer.:  confe/ieri'ion  c5---^.lt:  of  a:r.*]:or3'*:o''.,  ij.o'.r:;  «eE&-J£:« 
of  :!.*  c*f€C!5-     Exter:^:  sr.c  :r.:^r'sl  cl-': .  !et  or  -r-'-.t  o^-^jc  £« 
prerefiie-::.  if  ccr.rr€=.=  vr^re  vesiec  '.^i  r.  ro^er  tr*  nls^  r.^r.  \zA 
raonev.  and  :>o'srer  :o  ei^^r'^e  its  rec'/iTi'ior*-     T:.^  rez^iAL^c  « 
cofr. TTjerce  sr.o-jli  be  v^\^.i  'st  co:.rre-f.     He  !h;o-r-:  c-KTrwi 
would  be  cn:rUe  to  n*k  a  •.'■^r  wi'.i  brrjiin  for  the  pOf«-**.  tiZ'L  w« 
h*d  a  fleet  lo  rr^-yz  7r::h  t;.a*  r-i'ior^.     Tr.e  rr*-?ert  <:£c  jjties  of 
the  co:32trv  aro«.e  frorr.  the  extrsvcrar.t  iTr^^rtatlon  of  E:roc«3 
coodr.  jpon  the  terrr.lratioD  of  w^r  wl:..  Enriard-     He  wi*  secs- 
bie  of  the  vslje  of  iiiiio::.  !>'-*t  wc  -.'■'i  r.ot  e^^er}  for  :t.  rUk  the  loa  « 
ciTit  iiberv.     He  tho-JLr.t  tr.e  :;o-.Teri  -.•ovy^'i  to  '>r  r'^en  t.oti« 
Feders!  Z0Terr-r::ec?  wo-;!d  :.:i'?e  u.«  i::  t..e  *:"«;st:o3  of  p*f>Cr'.e  ccc- 
qyered  ard  ^overr^ed  Lj  t:  :re  they  tsd  r.ot  cho^e"  a*  zoTerrxcrs, 
and  sapyKir^r  »■»  Yori  cor.cjerei  sr.d  ro-serr-e*:   bj  >'*»  E-x- 
land — where  r^anners  and  :r.s;itf:t!oT:5  were  Iik.e  r-er  owa,  tbc  erf 
would  Eo:  be  verr  jre^t.     He  l.ad  slread*.  csilUhe^  in  a  ijar::>ijet 
bs5  aDorei.'insio.':*  ir.at  a  cor-s/^i^Ldsted  rovemirient  of  reD-iui 
pnr-c:5!e«.  havif^z  frr  it?  or,ject  T:.e  co'^troi  of  so  eitte:r?:«e  a  t4 
lorv  a*  of  the  Vr.:'f:*i  S-stte*.  ro'^;d  r.oi  tL-rere:'.?  the  r>ht*  ac-c  LV 
cr«ie«  of  the  tieor*!* — ref  e^t.or*  had  zid^i  force  to  the  o:::^Joa. 
Hi?  cofistittientT  wished  aner.d'rer.ta  to  the  jr^M-^jf  confecersMt. 

Ti.e  chancehor  'Mr.  Livi::r*:o::;  in  r^f.j-  ihot:rhi  tiae  pcwer 
to  coerce  rec';:*£tsoE«.  wo'r:d  act  awk:rard:v  and  tadir. 

Mr.  Me!ar^ct;.or.  .Smith  wa.«  a  nian  of  rourh  exterloijr.  powerfd 
in  br.<'.'.T  ar-r-^arance.  ar.d  ::r.da:-r.ted  :n  ex:.re*?:rz  cl*  cIec,  wLxi 
be  did  :l  olaia  !ar.?;»re,  b'jt  "siih  a  §irca5:s  ti^it  wa*  ccttlrr.  a*<t 

Mr.  Me!ar:cthon  .StJ'-t  lali-ed  for  the  co:i?:dera*:on  of  :h<  cots6- 
tot:oa  by  ^riz^v'.sz  £'d  ::.*  £r-t  seri-ior*  brlr.r  read  »:ii<c5 
remark,  he  ?ra?r.  rore  sf:er:he  s^'cd  ^5.=  :e«d.  Hewo--!c  sacri- 
fice a! 5,  exce&t  o-jr  !:oe:t'^?.  to  -.r-io?..  B-it  "wrv  ?re  o'-r  weakresKS 
c^el:  -j»3  :  He  •:":  r.o:  --^iiev^  :.e  extern  at.=t€*  i  isiicii.  Bs 
if  war  with  ot:r  re"rhv>-r2  w%=  to  i>e  the  re*-.":  of  rot  acceeciiiar  to 
the  nrosKrsed  cor^^tiiitlcr..  there  ws*  co  Lse  i.-;  dcbatirr.  -We 
bad  bener  recefsc  th-elr  d:c"ate5  thsn  be  --nabie  to  re*;*:  tbec"* 
Wc  koow  the  o:d  cor-^tltitiou  bad.  b-t  co  co:  ktjow  'J»  oew  ooe 
to  be  eood.  Defec'i^e  a«  the  o!d  or*e  wa*.  we  cirht  bare  a  wonc 
Former  confederacies  had  failed.  *o  had  orher  zoTe.T-fLecSw  Hoi- 
lud  tnd  ezperierced  eviLs:  but  «he  }et  exis'ted  acd  Ai>cr»>bed. 
The  Gencaoick  coci^cerac^  wa*  or,e  of  prince*  who  coc^sdertORr 
people  as  propeny ;  rArrc  o-::er  cari$e«  for  eTj;  exlred  be»:de«  tfa»e 
of  ffae  eoDfedcncT.  He  wa«  pies«ed  tr.^t  Ll^irrrtoo  had  acci 
ladged  that  ihe  purpose  of  the  r.ew  c-r^tit-  -ioa \ia*  tot  a  coei 
oncjt  hot  a  eoesoiidaced  zovemxer.t.     Oom  thk  coDccssioA,  k 

that  the  oppoaeja  of  the 


/ 


rXOCBSDINGS  AND  BBBATBS  IN  CONTSNTION.  SWl 

FeimdistSy  and  the  upholders  Anti-federalists.     Montesquieu  had 
Slid  that  a  confedernted  re;nib1irk  has  all  the  inteinal  advantages 
ofarepuhiick,  wjiii  tho  external  force  of  a  moiiarrhiral  jrovernment. 
After  some  remarks  0:1  the  fitrures  and  siniilos  used  bv  those  who 
preceded  him,- lie  stateii  his  ohjt'Ciions,  and  lirst,  to  section  second 
of  article  one,  clause  three.     First,  the  rule  of  apportionment  is 
onjust.    Second,  there  is  no  precise  number  fixed  on.  below  which 
lie  house  shall  not  be  redured.     Third,  inadequacy  :  the  rule  of 
tpportionment  of  represonfitives  is  to  be  accc»niing  to  the  number 
of  white  inhabitants,  with  ihree-tifihs  of  all  others,  i.e.  in  addition 
to  representatives  of  the  whirls  to  throe-firths  of  the  slaves  in  the 
state.     He  exposed  liie  absnniiiy  of  giving:  power  to  a  man  who 
could  not  exercise  it.    Tiie  inteniion  is  obviously  to  give  privileges 
to  those  people  who  are  so  wicked  as  to  keep  slaves.     He  knew 
the  injustice  of  this  apportionment  would  be  admitted,  and  the  ne- 
cessity of  accommodation  pleaded,  if  we  would  have  union  with 
the  south.     We  miirlit  be  under  the  necessity  of  submitting  to  this, 
though  utterly  repugnant  to  his  feelings. 

He  thought  one  representative  for  every  30,000  of  the  people 
Dot  enough:  the  people  would  not  govern  themselves.  He  acknow- 
ledged the  difficulty.  He  knew  the  experiment  of  representative 
government  had  not  yet  been  fairly  tried.  He  considered  it  in 
other  times  and  countries.  America  Had  the  best  opportunity  for 
trying  this  experiment,  but  he  did  not  think  it  consistent  with  a 
consolidated  government.  He  thought  the  state  governments  alone 
could  secure  the  rights  of  the  |>eo|)le.  We  were  yet  in  a  stage  of 
society  in  which  we  could  deliberate  freely ;  he  feared  that  fifty 
years  hence  it  would  not  be  so.  Already  patriotism  was  laughed  at. 
Government  he  said  must  re^^t  upon  *'  the  good  opinion  of  the 
people."  He  thought  the  inefficacy  of  the  present  confederation  was 
owing  to  want  of  confidence  in  it.  and  that  arising  from  declaimers 
who  compared  it  to  *•  a  rope  of  sand ;''  these  declaimers  being 
frshionable  and  leading  people.  The  ills  the  people  felt,  arising 
from  their  own  extravagance,  they  attributed  to  the  government. 
He  closed  his  speech  by  a  motion  that  the  number  of  representt- 
tires  be  fixed  at  one  for  everv  tiO,000  imtil  thev  amounted  to  300, 
•od  apportioned  amons:  the  states  by  the  number  of  inhabitantSt 
and  that  **  before  the  first  enumeration,  the  several  states  shall  be 
entitled  to  choose  double  the  number  of  representatives  for  that 
purpose  mentioned  in  the  constitution." 

The  next  speaker  was  Alexander  Hamilton.*     He  defended 


DariBf  the  tiuing  of  the  convention,  three  of  the  memher*.  Hamilton.  Midi- 
•ad  Jajr,  published  in  the  papers  of  the  Cnited  Statat  that  admirabla  woik 
di  eeUtetad  aad  called  tha 


26S  PBOCBBDINOft  AND  DEBATES  IN  COXVBNTlQir. 

Robert  R.  Livingston's  first  speech,  and  set  himself  io  opposition 
to  Lansing  and  Smith.  He  agreed  with  Livingston  as  to  the 
weakness  of  New  York,  yet  hoped  we  should  not  sacrifice  our 
liberties :  that  we  ouglit  not  to  be  actuated  by  unreasonable  fear, 
but  by  a  prudent  regard  for  the  public  welfare.  The  radical  vice 
of  the  old  confederation  is  tliat  the  laws  of  the  union  only  apply 
to  states  in  their  corporate  capacity.  Instead  of  obeying  the  law, 
the  state  examined  it ;  and  by  its  own  peculiar  interests.  Thus 
thirteen  bodies  judged  congress,  and  each  took  its  own  course. 
If  the  requisition  benefitted  the  individual  state  it  was  complied 
with,  otherwise  not.  This  state  bore  unequal  burthens  owhig  to 
the  delinquency  of  others.  In  time  of  war  this  state  is  exposed, 
and  will  ever  be  the  theatre  of  war.  In  the  last  war  New  York 
sufiered  greatly,  yet  complied  with  the  requisitions  of  congress, 
while  New  Hampshire,  not  suffering,  was  totally  delinquent.  North 
Carolina  is  delinquent.  Many  other  states  contributed  but  little. 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania  are  the  only  states  tliat  perfectly  dis- 
charged the  Federal  duty.  The  security  of  many  states  caused 
their  non-compliance  with  the  requisitions  of  congress.  To  force 
s  compliance  made  civil  war  necessary,  with  all  the  horrours  of 
disunion.  The  remedy  is  that  the  national  laws  shall  operate  upon 
individuals,  as  the  state  laws  do.  He  insists  on  the  want  of  con- 
fidence in  a  single  asscmbhj.  The  fundamental  principle  of  the 
old  confederation  must  be  discarded  ;  a  new  system  adopted. 

He  alludes  to  the  Amphictyonick  confederacy.  The  Dutch — 
the  German — are  noticed,  because  brought  into  view  by  others. 
Confederacies  have  hitherto  been  fouiided  on  false  principles. 

•'During  the  war,  common  danger  prevented  the  operation,  in  its 
full  force,  of  the  ruinous  principle  on  which  the  old  confederation 
was  founded. 

"The  country  is  divided  into  navigating  and  non-navigating  states. 
The  northern  are  the  first :  the  southern  the  second.  The  southern 
states  wished  to  impose  a  restraint  upon  the  northern,  by  requiring 
two  thirds  in  congress  to  be  necessary  to  pass  an  act  in  regulation 
of  commerce.  They  feared  that  a  navigation  act  would  discourage 
foreigners,  and  throw  navigation  in  tiie  hands  of  the  northern  states, 
and  thus  cniiance  freiglit  to  the  south.  Again,  the  small  states 
wished  to  retain  their  present  advantages,  and  the  large  states  thought 
Rhode  Island  and  Delaware  ought  not  to  enjoy  an  equal  sufifrage 
with  themselves — hence  a  contest — compromise  was  necessary. 
A  committee  was  appointed,  and  they  formed  the  arrangement  as 
it  stands.  The  convention  could  not  establish,  but  only  recom- 
mend a  constitution.  It  is  objected  that  three  fifths  of  the  negroes 
are  taken  into  the  representation.  The  south  is  unfortunate  tliat  a 
great  part  of  the  population  as  well  as  property  is  in  blacks.  With- 
out this  indulgence  by  accommodationy  no  union  could  have  beaa 


nttxoa  AND  DBBArxs  IX  co:vTX3rTiasf,  MS 

faracd.  Bat  he  imj s^ed.  that  it  ira$  jost  M^  cnitifv  the  south.  Ther 
Mne«  ce^uun  staple?— toS.^coo.  rioe,  i:uii•^v— <«aniial  anicles  in 
tPBiue*  oi  coinn»en."e :  and  the  ativini^^o^  mey  obuin  in  treaiies, 
•itihi  br  all  Tiie  siaies.  Acaln  :  reprcsor.iiijon  siicuilti  be  corn* 
ponded  of  persons  and  pro;>en}\  Si^ve*  are  niM  considered 
lAHTtber  15  pn>}>eriy.  Tjiey  are  men.  though  dOi^Tided  to  the 
nftditioo  oi"  *la*-ery.  They  are  j^r^on?  knovrn  to  uie  niunici|^ 
livtof  tbe  states  which  thev  inhabit,  as  viell  as  to  the  lairs  of  d«-> 
It  wcHiki  not  be  just  to  compu:o  tl'jese  slaves  in  ibe  aissess* 
of  tULes.  and  discard  them  from  the  apixmionmeni  of  repre- 
Besides  that  a  creat  nurttbor  of  |>eo|^le  in  the  state  of 
Xnr  YotIl  who  are  not  represented.  \^i:l  bo  included  in  the  whole 
CiiUDeniion.** 

Mr.  Hamilton  proceeded  to  consider  the  objections  to  the  nure- 
^<M  repreiseotatlves.  **  There  are  no  dine^rt  words  prohibiting  con- 
ceal ttom  redocinf  the  number :  but  tne  construction  of  the  clause 
1"^  DO  such  power.  They  may  iiiii'::.  but  canooi  diminish.  One 
^  ererr  ihiny  thousand  is  fixed  as  t:-e  standard  oi  increase,  till  by 
Die  i^rrease  i:  bec^oraes  ne.-'es^ary  lo  ii'nii  liie  raiio.  At  pre^seoft 
it  mirht  considerabk  e\*^eeii  s:\iv-n\e.  In  tiiree  veai^.  it  would 
QU«fd  one  hundred.  'Fo  wtiai  point  the  representation  ought  to 
kiecras^.  is  matter  of  opi':ion.  In  Massac husenss  the  a$sem- 
^v  consists  of  three  handrtd  :  in  South  Carolina,  one  hundred  ; 
ii  \ew  York,  sixnr-ave.  Congress  is  to  consist  at  first  of  nineiv- 
fioe  members.  New  states  niav  be  created,  which  is  another  source 
of  increjis^.  If  our  n-jmbcr  at  present  is  three  miiKons.  one  for 
xbim*  thousand  -n^^es  one  hundred  representatives,  in  twentv-fi«-e 
yean;,  we  sbail  have  twci  hundred." 

He  ibeo  considereii  the  rat  jral  advantages  of  the  state  covem- 
■MSI&— fivuu:  them  an  indi:encc  a;^d  ascendancy  over  ibe  naiiooal 
Ipraamem — precluding,  as  he  said,  the  possibility  of  Fedenl 


Jme  dlsu  Mr.  Jonathan  Wiiiiams.  elected  fnom  Wasbin^OB 
CliiiiOQ  counties,  addressed  the  chair.     He  would  atxribule 
of  the  counin-  to  habiis  of  juxun-.  and   the  iniro- 
of  foreign  comnK^dliies-     Tne  anicle  of  tea  will  amount 
J  ears  to  all  our  K>roi^n  debi.     Ail  our  present  dilBcul* 
DOl  lo  be  atiribiiied  :o  the  defects  in  the  coiifederatioQ. 
He  Uiinks  the  question  bcK^reti}ep.)  moti'^entous.     The  constitution 
•oc  swtUow  up  the  Slate  rovemments.     He  tianks  tiie  num* 
td  lepresentaiives  too  small  to  ressisi  corruption.     He  objecis 
1  ejections.    Ai^nosl  elections  are  more  democratick.    He 
establish  a  bad  cover nment  for  fear  of  anarchy. 

Smith  rose  in  opi>osition  to  Mr.  Hiroiiton.     He 

with  bim  that  the  powers  of  the  cenetal  government  ought 

Midividiials  lo  a  certain  degree.     He  will  confine 


964         nuxniBDiHos  asxd  dsbatbs  m  oosnnnRM. 

self  to  the  subject  under  consideration.     He  will  not  replr  td  the 
arguments  to  justify  the  rule  of  apportionment,  tiiouefa  conBdeot 
they  miirht  be  refnted.     He  is  persuaded  that  we  must  }ield  tfai§ 
point  to  accommod'ite  the  ^outii.     He  does  not  see  that  the  clause 
fixes  the  representation.     He  sees  that  the  repres€n:atites  cannot 
exceed  one  for  thirty  thousand,  and  that  whatever  larger  number 
of  inhabitants  maif  be  taken  for  the  rule  of  apportionment,  each  sttfe 
shall  be  entitled  to  send  one  representative.     If  there  is  any  other 
limitation,  it  is  certainly  implied.     He  thinks  each  niember'^s  share 
of  power  will  decrease  by  an  increase  of  representatires :  and  that 
the  senate  and  president  will  in  like  manner  feel  their  power  dimi- 
nished.    He  argues  for  a  great  number  of  representatives,  and 
thinks  the  increased  expense  nothing.     He  hints  at  the  state  le^ 
iatures  becoming  insignificant.    He  details  the  qualifications  of  a  rep- 
resentative of  the  people,  that  he  knew  them,  their  interests,  wishes, 
etc.     For  this  reason  the  number  should  be  large  enough  to  take  ia 
the  middlins:  classes.     He  thinks  the  federal  eovernmeDt  is  so  cob- 
stituted  as  to  be  confined  to  the  first  class  or  natural  aristocrac?  of 
the  country.     It  is  true  we  have  no  legal  distinction  of  this  kind ; 
but  birth,  education,  talents,  and  wealth  create  such  distinctioos. 
When  the  number  is  small,  men  of  the  middling  classes  will  not  be 
anxious,  even  if  qualified,  to  become  representatives,  as  the  styk 
of  the  richer  representatives  will  deter  them.    Beside,  the  influence 
of  tJie  ereat  will  enable  them  to  carr\'  elections.     A  substantial 
yeoman  will  hardly  ever  be  chosen.     He  thinks  the  substantial 
yeomen  of  the  country,  fronr  necez-sary  mode  of  life  and  self-denial, 
more  temperate  and  of  better  morals  than  the  great.     The  rich  do 
not  feel  for  the  poor,  because  they  do  not  know  their  difficulties. 
Mr.  Smith  compared  the  feelings  of  the  great  in  this  country,  to 
those  of  a  hereditary  nobility.     The  pride  of  family,  wealth,  ta- 
lents, command  an  influence  over  the  people.     Congress  io  1775, 
have  stated  this  in  their  address  to  the  inhabitants  of  Quebec,  and 
that  good  laws  were  opposed  to  such  influence.     He  would  hive 
the  first  class  or  great,  admitted  into  congress :  but  a  suflieieot 
number  of  the  middlinfi  class  to  control  them.     A  representative 
body  composed   of  yeomanry,  is  however,  the  last.     He  dreads 
the  progress  of  anti-republican  and   anti-democratick   principals, 
which  he  says,  are  already  prevalent,  even  among  those,  who  risked 
all  for  republicanism  a  few  years  a?o.     The  men  who  now  ask  for 
an  energetick  government,  will  want  something  beyond  the  system 
DOW  composed,  in  a  few  years.     It  is  time  to  erect  a  barrier 
such  men. 

Hamilton  was  the  next  speaker.  He  had  pointed  out  the  prin- 
ciple of  accommodation,  on  which  the  constitution  was  framed. 
He  contends  that  sixty-five  and  twenty-five  representatives,  in  two 
bodies,  affiurd  security  to  libeny.    The  interest  of  tba  Ivfe 


FBOCBSOINC^S  XXD  DEBATES  IX  CONTENTION*      965 

win  be  to  increase  the  representadoD.  The  sense  of  the  people 
will  guide  their  delegates,  as  they  know  they  must  retura  to  the 
people.  He  adduced  other  arguments  against  the  pro|H)sed 
ameadmenL 

He  asserted  that  a  pure  democracy  must  be  a  bad  government. 
The  whole  people  assembled  were  a  mob.  The  confidence  of 
the  people  will  be  gained  by  a  good  administration,  though  in  few 
bands.  Massachusetts  is  represented  by  three  hundred,  New  York 
by  sixty-five.  The  people  of  the  latter  have  as  much  confidence 
in  the  government  as  the  former.  Publick  confidence  is  secured 
by  prosperous  events.  Large  bodies  are  less  competent  to  govern 
tban  small  ones.  The  requisite  information  for  well  governing,  is 
not  augmented  by  the  increase  of  the  governing. 

The  proper  mode  of  holding  elections,  is  to  divide  the  state 
into  districts.  This  state  at  present  should  have  six.  The  sena- 
tors of  this  state  are  not  more  deficient  in  knowledge,  than  mem- 
bers of  assembly.  They  have  the  confidence  of  the  people  as 
much.  Yet  they  are  elected  in  four  districts.  They  are  the  fewer, 
but  possess  the  confidence  of  tlie  people  as  much  as  the  more 
numerous  house. 

" Who  are  the  aristocracy  among  us?"     None  are  elevated  to 

Esrpetual  rank.  There  are  rich  and  pooi^ — wise  and  unwise, 
very  distinguished  man  is  an  aristocrat.  The  intended  govern- 
ment does  not  render  a  rich  man  more  eligible  to  govern  than  a 
poor  one.  It  is  bottomed  on  the  same  principle  as  the  state  consti- 
tution. [The  absence  of  tiiose  laws  of  primogeniture,  of  which 
perpetual  wealth  is  a  security,  are  omitted  here.] 

As  riches  accumulate  in  a  few  hands,  the  tendency  will  be  to 
depart  from  "  the  republican  standard."  It  is  the  common  mis- 
fortune attendant  upon  all  states. 

An  advantage  which  large  districts  have  over  small,  is  the  greater 
difficulty  to  bribe. 

Men  do  not  grow  wicked  in  proportion  as  they  enlighten  their 
minds :  there  is  as  much  virtue  in  one  class  of  men  as  in  anodier. 
The  kind  of  vices  incident  to  rich  and  poor  is  diflerent,  and  the 
advantage  lies  with  the  rich.  Their  vices  are  more  favourable  [less 
detrimental]  to  a  state,  and  partake  less  of  moral  depravity.  But 
the  people  must  choose  whom  they  please  to  govern — that  is  the 
true  priflciple.  Where  the  legislative,  executive  and  judicial 
branches  are  distinct ;  where  the  legialature  is  divided  into  sepa- 
rate bouses ;  and  where  the  vigilance  and  weight  of  the  state  go- 
▼eroments  check  the  general  government,  it  is  absurd  to  talk  of  a 
subversion  of  liberty. 

It  is  a  iabe  supposition  tiiat  tbe  old  confederacy  was  inefficacious 
because  it  was  decried — oo  government  can  be  rendered  unpopu- 
lar, wboae  operations  are  wise  and  vigorous.  Tbe  cosfederatioa 
▼OL.  n.  34 


266  rwocExmses  asb  debates  m 

iras  framed  amidst  taioa!t — (be  cmerak  w?re  cnsoood. 
iHoed  In  h^ir.e.  The  pres^nre  of  war  prereoied  aniesidiDeflL  «r  fte 
appreciiLoa  of  tbe  fcu!*-?  of  the  zorernmeot.  Tbai  pressure  a*- 
CKived.  lijt  caua*  of  s-ncriuiri?  ita^u  aud  ibe  oenikitr  of  dio«e  t9 
come,  were  ?^eea.  Tite  spirii  of  repoblicaiuiFai  his  not  di'iihiifigg 
Soaoe  mea  who  bsre  ipeculattire  doobis  on  ibe  soiijert  of  tut«»- 
meDi  hare  expressed  tiiem  ;  but  the  principle  of  rejwUkB 
ism  axe  too  firm  to  be  shaken  by  sceptical  leuoos.  He  eo»- 
clodedr  by  boplnz  thai  the  consiiiutioo  would  retDedj  all  ifae  cv% 
dreaded. 

Mr.  3f ehsdboD  Smhfa  §ptAe  io  replr,  aiad  insfled  opoe  dK  ae- 
cesshv  of  iTtcr^A^z  the  istesded  repre&eDiasion.  and  BTnmhr  Ae 
power?  of  iLte  n-ew  £:oren:nient.  A*  to  the  state*  beinr  chedu  op- 
oo  the  s:*-:>erjj  iroreniiijeTii,  be  coald  see  do  possbDiir  of  choci- 
in;  a  §oreni:!ieot  of  iadepeodent  power?,  nhicb  exleodcd  foal 
objects  and  reTOorces  without  Ihuhation.  A«  to  aoris^ocncT.  he 
did  DOC  co3-F2der  the  men  who  were  exahed  abo^e  othen*  as  de»- 
titfjte  of  rhttse  or  tDoralitr  :  be  onW  insisted  that  ther  coc3d  M 
wymi*nl.i2/F:  « !ih  the  warn*  of  the  people. 

Mr.  Ls^-L-jr  was  ac  advocate  for  larrer  represeota^oo  «f  wJ 
as  Mr.  ?fc:;?ii.  We  ought  liow  to  iucrease  the  sKrober?.  cod  ixf 
leave  it  to  future  circafit-rtaBces.  It  was  oof  prjdent  to  trnflt  if* 
fair?  to  a  bocr  of  which  forj-six  nouid  be  cofDpeien:  to  pass  hm: 
ac'i  iTsentv-fo-.r  of  these  a  niaVjrTrr.  There  were  elrfat  tisiee  ibe 
DLJiiher  iu  'J-e  coriirsoss  of  Great  BritaiD.  and  vc*.  Thii  hoQ5« 
frecuertlv  com-T/ned.  How  much  laore  easilr  so  scitl]  a  rodr 
co.irres-r. 

GoTerLO -T  Cli^non  profes-'-d  a  wish  toobtajn  irforrcaiion  oi 
impon-ani  i'-L'^r^t.  Geui.-enien  appear  to  have  onijr.ed  sooe 
sacercUC'-*-  He  iho;*i-Lt.  Lots  ever,  the  represeaiE'ioa  in  coarres. 
ouzLl  TO  '^  riiore  f^ilh  The  sfri3!I::ess  of  each  state,  reodw*  k 
ea-T^v  fo:  :.-■:;  ::-l^rs  is  i'^  rx;Lire  of  re:ir<=>^c*-2ilve.  tobe  ir-ibrmed  rf 
a!l  u-e:  Is  re':ul»;'^.  iTit  ir.Lf  U  ven-  cinerent  is  re^r-ect  to  the  UnSrtJ 
S!2!es.  1  he  r^rrierelJTr  of  ihe  reprer^r.t£t3ve^  wiL  he  rDac-paifrtBd 
wiib  :!'-*:  '"yi^'iJ  wiriis  sr^d  wL-Les-  A  few  c>en  n:uft  be  depeoded 
opoQ  for  ThLf  ir-forrr:«i:oa.  L  not  uJs  a  reason  for  er.!irrii»r  tbe 
Do:i.her  of  rej-revj^riifvcss  r  TLe  ler-^iaior?  ia  a  s^te,  are 
kzkown  to  iL-;lr  filiow  cl*iz*ecs.  Not  so  in  the  rreai  coiaDCi!  of  die 
nation. 

A  law  cs^lr'J:'Aei  Ujt  Georgia,  n::.**!  act  crue!3vcr«on  New  Tcrk. 
and  the  zradu^I  escrow: Ls::eL*^  zi^de  by  one  pan.  wotiid  MX  be 
Men  in  tiire  br  aoo'Jjer. 

Mr.  Hir:/l:o3  pro;e--fed  to  ir^^Trer  ilie  raenber  from 
(Got.  C!ir:toE)  b'jt  wo'-!d  6r?t  reply  lo  the  reo'^efDen  frofn  A 
wad  Docbe^-,  ihiji*lnz  ^Jid  >£nitb.)     As  to  the  danrer  of 
lioD :  the  chances  of  corraptioD  are  less  uoder  the  new  tlnn  the  nld 


PBOCBBDINOS  AND  DEBATES  IN  CONVENTION.  267 

eoMiitutioD*  Under  the  old,  ntoe  states  could  declare  peace  or  war. 
A  great  question  required  tweuty-four  members  to  decide  in  the 
new  :  id  tlie  old  eii]:hieen.  It  will  ever  be  the  iniere:?l.uf  the  several 
states  to  maintain  an  ample  representation  under  the  new  constitu- 
tioo  :  **  for  as  every  member  has  a  vote,  the  relative  inlluence  and 
authority  of  each  state,  will  be  in  proportion  to  tlie  representatives 
ahe  has  in  cons^ress/*     Under  the  old  confederation,  as  even'  and 

■7'  • 

each  state  has  but  one  vote,  it  is  inditferent,  whether  the  state 
has  two  or  six  representatives.  As  to  corruption  in  tlie  old  con- 
gress— if  nine  states  can  pass  the  mo<t  important  resolves,  a 
foreign  enemy  by  (niinin<^  a  single  member,  and  thus  silencing  a 
state,  may  frustrate  an  essential  resolution.  L>utin  the  new  scheme, 
a  majority  of  all  the  members  nuist  be  c^^ined.  Comparisons  be- 
tween our  (^ovemment  and  that  of  Hui^land  are  false :  manv  towns 
b  Enirland  possess  a  seat  in  parliament,  and  are  in  the  possession 
or  s^(x  of  the  king.  These  are  called  rotten  boroughs.  But  the 
knights  of  die  shire  are  generally  found  incorruptible — parliament 
his  impaired  the  overgrown  peroj^ative,  and  limited  the  monarchy. 
Mr.  Melancthon  :>mith  has  obser\ed,  that  members  from  New  York, 
hr  example,  can  know  Ihtle  of  die  circumstances  of  Cieorgia  or 
South  Carolina  ;  and  therefore,  the  many  must  rely  upon  the  few 
ibr  information.  A  {>articular  knowledge  of  local  circumstances  is 
Dot  necessary  to  the  Federal  representative.  His  object  is  tlie  g:e- 
aeral  interest.  The  state  government  must  take  care  of  local  af- 
birs.  One  man  can  know  and  represent  the  interest  of  a  state  as 
well  as  twenty.  The  representative  in  congress  must  obtain  his 
koowlediTC  of  local  alTairs  in  other  states,  from  the  members  repre- 
tenting  tliose  states.  In  consirress,  tlie  members  of  a  state  adhere 
loo  pertinaciously  to  the  interests  of  the  state  from  which  they  come. 
This  causes  party  spirit,  and  embarrasses  the  publick  aliairs.  As 
10  internal  taxation,  the  national  legislature  will  not  resort  to  it,  ex- 
cept in  very  extraordinar}'  cases,  and  then  they  must  consult  the 
customs  adopted  by  individual  states.  The  state  legislatures  will 
be  sentinels  on  the  encroachments  of  congress.  The  argument  that 
pKs  to  prove  that  Uie  habits  of  die  several  states  and  their  interests 
are  essentiallv  different,  and  dierefore,  no  c^overnment  can  suit 
diem,  is  opi>osed  to  all  union.  But  the  spirit  of  accommodation, 
which  produced  the  present  constitution  under  consideration,  will 
by  decrees  assimilate  all  the  states. 

Govemour  Clinton  denied  being  adverse  to  a  union.  He 
wished  for  a  Federal  government,  Uiough  Mr.  Hamilton  might 
wish  for  a  consolidated  one.     Mr.  Hamilton  explained. 

Monday,  June  23d. — Mr.  Harrison  said,  gentlemen  agreed  that 
the  old  government  u-as  incompetent:  feeble  requisitions,  Uiat  may, 
or  may  not  be  attended  to,  are  not  sul)icient.  it  is  Ukewise  agreed, 
that  a  close  tmion  is  necessar}*.     It  is  agreed,  that  however  desira- 


268  PI0CBBDIII08  AND  DBBATB8  IK  COJiVJiJITlOir. 

ble  such  anion,  liberty  must  not  be  sacrificed  to  it.  He  advocated 
the  number  agreed  to,  in  the  new  constitution,  and  thought  six 
members  from  New  York  can  be  at  all  times  found  to  represent 
the  feelings  and  interests  of  the  people,  and  the  present  arrange- 
ment is  temporary,  and  remedies  itself.  The  constitution  declares, 
that  the  representation  shall  be  determined  by  the  population,  and 
every  state  shall  have  at  least  one.  Congress  cannot  reduce  the 
present  number.  As  the  United  States  increase,  the  representih 
tives  at  the  present  rate  would  become  a  mob  :  therefore,  congress 
have  a  discretionary  power  to  form  another  ratio.  He  supports 
the  article  in  debate.  In  three  years  an  increase  will  take  place  in 
the  number,  and  he  has  confidence  that  corruption  will  not  be  felt 
before  that  time,  in  the  present  limited  number. 

Mr.  Lansing,  said,  that  when  the  subject  of  apportionment  of 
representatives,  came  before  the  general  convention,  the  large  states 
insisted  '*  that  the  equality  of  suffrage  should  be  abolished."  This 
the  small  states  opposed — ^it  would  reduce  them  to  a  state  of  sub- 
ordination. The  difficulty  threatened  a  dissolution  of  the  con- 
vention. A  committee  of  states  was  agreed  upon,  and  they  reported 
a  recommendation  of  that  inequality  in  representation,  which  is 
now  the  subject  of  debate.  The  ratio  was  first  determined  at  one 
for  40,000.  At  this  period,  ''  I  left  the  convention."  No  ques- 
tion had  been  taken.  *^  It  is  acknowleged,  that  if  the  people  of  the 
smaller  states,  shall  amount  to  50,000,  this  number  may  be  taken 
as  the  ratio.  What  then  is  to  control  tlie  general  government?^ 
He  contends  that  if  the  interest  of  the  large  states  leads  to  increase, 
the  interest  of  the  small  leads  to  a  diminution  of  the  number,  and 
their  equality  in  the  senate  will  enable  tliem  to  oppose  the  large 
states  successfully.  He  thought  the  subject  had  been  sufficiently 
discussed. 

Mr.  Lansing  said,  40,000  was  the  number  agreed  upon,  and  ha 
did  not  know,  if  that  had  been  determined  by  accommodation,  how 
the  number  came  to  be  reduced  to  30,000. 

Mr.  Hamilton  said,  such  (40,000)was  agreed  to,  but  after  other 
paits  were  agreed  to  and  the  convention  was  about  rising,  his  ex- 
cellency,  the  president,  expressed  a  wish  for  reduction  to  30,000y 
and  it  was  agreed  to  without  opposition. 

Chancellor  Livingston  thought  Mr.  Melancthon  Smith,  had  mis- 
apprehended hij  argument ;  he  advocated  the  number  fixed  by  tbe 
D6W  constitution.  As  to  the  people,  he  would  have  their  interests, 
not  their  feelings  represented.  The  rich  are  objects  of  envy,  and 
envy  is  a  bar  to  promotion.  The  governour  of  the  state  was  nol 
elected  for  his  riches,  but  his  virtues.  He  would  prove  that  the 
rich  and  ii^reat  are  not  aristocrats.  He  would  place  Mr.  Smith 
among  the  aristocrats  for  his  merit.     The  people  will  confide  io 


ynriinixni  ax0  woatbs  uc  camnortiQii.         Sflt 

of  uqr  ueritofioos  kind.  Power  is  no  ohJMlioii  to 
gor«ninieDL  All  good  sroTennDeni  must  Imto  power, 
ibo  parse  and  swonK  He  coai^4uiienc$  HaniiltoD^s  idea*  that 
tfte  ratio  of  represencaiion  mit^t  be  governed  by  ibe  populatioD  of 
IMarae«  as  the  lowest*  and  y<>^t  eotiiled  to  v/te.  He  thinks  the 
stttse  of  the  people  «'>^  in  favour  of  a  lur^  representation. 

Mr.  Melanctboo  Smith  ro$e  a^in.  He  meant  and  expressed  that 
the  kiieres^  of  the  people,  not  their  feelings,  should  be  represented. 
Chanceilor  Lirin^on  op(¥>^ng  him.  distorts  his  ideas.  His  ideo 
«f  art$iocrats  is  not  new. 

Mr.  John  Jar  for  t{>e  6rst  time  addressed  the  chair.  It  seemed  to 
be  reoeraUr  a^rreed  that  a  strong:  Kederal  sovemment  is  necessary 
la  the  raiteii  States.  He  called  u(H>n  Mr.  Smith  to  know  if  bio 
■Kfefstood  him.  that  our  countr}'  is  too  extensire  for  a  complefea 
re|N education  :  and  Mr.  Santh  answered  that  he  tboujrht  a  proper 
ifpreseotation  for  a  strv>n^  Federal  ^vemment  was  unattainable 
aoder  the  proposed  constitution.  Mr.  Jay  went  on — No  Federal 
gwerameot  is  worth  ha% io^.  unless  it  provides  for  the  interests  of 
dbe  I  oiled  States.  If  the  pn>posed  constitution  does  »y  it  is  what 
He  thinks  the  number  pro%*ided  for  representation  suffix 
under  present  circumstunces.  As  to  corruption*  durtn^^  tba 
tet  war  there  were  irenertlly  less  than  stxty-fivemen  in  conc^ress^  and 
Great  Britain  could  not  comipr  a  majority.  The  old  contrress  was 
liable  to  corruption  than  the  intended  one.  because  a  foreigo 
bv  brtbiu:r  one  metnber.  took  on  the  %*ote  oi  a  state — two 
wmbers  beiu:;  necessarv  to  a  vote,  and  seldom  more  than  two 
WtoKiin^. 

Mr.  M.  Smith  said  a  few  words  in  support  of  his  amendment 
Mi  the  cooTention  arijouni^. 

June  :^4th — the  3d  section  of  the  1st  article  bein?  read,  Mr.  6* 
Liii&sstOQ  said,  the  senate  would  hare  powers  co-e^ten5i%e  with 
the  hoitse  of  represeotitives.  except  as  toon^Q^tin^  revenue  laws; 
T  woukl  hare  ^:reater  importance,  as  tliey  were  a  smaller  and 
bodT«  and  continuing  longer  in  odice.  save  them  more  dij^ 
He  tbou«:ht  these  powers  made  them  dans:erous.  They  hod 
powers  in  a  judicial  capacit}\  and  in  forming  treaties ;  tbej 
likewise  a  council  of  appointment.  He  thought  these  powers 
M>  £Teoi*  and  subversive  of  libertr.  Senators  w^ould  aasociaie 
widi  senators^  forget  the  people,  and  become  the  aristocrats  of  tbo 
kod.  He  would  shorten  the  term  of  olSce.  and  lessen  their 
powen^  He  moved  that  mo  ptrsim  be  eligil^le  <»  semHar  morw  tkam 
ytmn  im  a»y  /Wv/re.  amJ  the  stitce  U^isiatitnfs  kaix  ptmrr  io  ntoli 

anaolKMrr  ^mJ  eiett  others. 
Mr.  Loftsioj  soid,  he  thought  it  was  the  intent  of  the  frameffs  of 

to  make  the  power  of  lepresentatiros  the  orgao  of 


S70  PBOCEEDINOS  AND  DEBATES  IN  CONVENTION. 

the  people,  and  the  senate  tltat  of  the  states  :  therefore  the  states 
ought  to  have  a  control  over  the  senators.  The  idea  of  rotation 
he  liked.  He  wished  the  power  of  recall  to  exist.  Kemoviog 
members  would  check  party  spirit,  which  had  been  known  to  pre- 
vail. He  thought  evils  might  result  from  the  small  number  of 
senators. 

Chancellor  Livingston  said,  six  years  was  not  too  long  time  for 
a  senator  to  remain  such,  considering  his  duties  and  the  knowledge 
required  to  perform  them.  Evil  would  result  if  tlie  state  could 
recall.  He  ridiculed  the  notion  of  corruption  started  by  G.  Liv- 
ingston, or  of  the  senators  rendering  themselves  perpetual. 

Mr.  Lansing  said,  the  object  of  the  amendment  was  to  make 
senators  more  independent  of  the  state  legislatures.  He  thought 
senators  would  be  elected  who  had  knowledge  of  foreign  states, 
and  therefore  need  not  be  continued  in  office  to  gain  tliat  know- 
ledge. And  if  one  third  go  out  every  two  years,  cannot  those 
who  come  in  obtain  knowledge  from  those  who  remain  ?  The 
power  of  recall  existed  in  the  old  confederation,  and  although  not 
used,  might  deter  from  corruption.  The  senate  do  not  originate 
money  bills,  but  it,  by  its  power  to  declare  war,  makes  them  neces- 
sary.    All  publick  bodies  are  liable  to  corruption. 

Chancellor  Livingston  noticed  an  errour.  The  senate  had  not 
a  right  to  declare  war ;  it  required  the  whole  legislature.  The 
power  of  recall  would  subject  the  senator  to  the  parties  in  the 
state. 

Mr.  Richard  Morris,  from  the  city  and  county  of  New  York, 
spoke  for  the  first  time,  and  advocated  the  freedom  of  senators 
from  a  power  of  recall. 

Mr.  G.  Livingston  asked,  if  any  person  would  suppose  that  a 
state  being  invaded,  any  other  state  would  refuse  its  protection  ? 

Mr.  Harrison  not  only  agreed  that  a  vigorous  government 
was  necessary,  but  that  it  be  divided  into  two  houses.  The 
lower  house  represents  the  people,  the  senate  is  to  give  stability  to 
government.  He  did  not  agree  to  either  rotation  or  recall.  He 
would  have  the  meritorious  senator  liable  to  re-election.  Shall  we 
deprive  the  people  of  the  power  of  re-electing  a  man  who  has  proved 
he  can  serve  them  ? 

Chancellor  Livingston  said,  the  power  of  recall  would  enable 
the  stale  legislatures  to  annihilate  the  government. 

Mr.  Smith  said,  the  state  legislatures,  by  neglecting  to  re- 
appoint at  the  end  of  six  years,  had  the  power  of  destroying  the 
government. 

Mr.  Lansing  said,  it  had  been  already  proved  that  the  power  of 
recall  was  not  likely  to  be  used,  as  it  had  not  been  used  under  the 
old  government.  He  would  agree  that  tlie  state  recalling  should 
be  obliged  to  re-appoint. 


PBOCBBDINGS  AND  DEBATES  IN  COXVBNTION.     271 

Mr.  Ilainilion  ailvoiMtoil  stabiliiv  ami  vigour  in  ihe  covernment. 

K%'en"  ri'p;iLtiu*k  >liouUl  \\:\\c  a  ponnaiiont  body  to  dieck  the  rtiic- 

luaniin-*  of  a  popular  as^iMnlily.     This  hoily  should  he  small — hold 

onice  for  a  con^idoralilo  \\i\\v — ho  the  centre  of  political  knowledire. 

Trie  amend  UK- nt  would  di'i'-rive  liio  senate  of  its  permanency.    The 

fUte  :ro\ernmenl>  ha\o  a  natural  superiority  o\er  the  ireneral  cov- 

emment.     We  are  uj  :^uarii  acainst  lix*al  prejudices.     The  object 

of  liie  convention  in  fonniu::  the  senate  uasto  prevent  ttuctnatioDS 

in  J  cabals.     The  senators  will   look  up  to  the  state  leixislatures. 

lasiabdliy  lias  been  tlie  prominent  and  defective  feature  in  most 

republican  systems.     Now  is  tiie  time  to  apply  the  remedy. 

Mr.  I-an-ii^^  h.id  not  ha*l  his  o:»inions  changed  bv  the  ar>iuments 
ur^i-.i  i.v  liie  Ftdcraiisis,  i.  e.  Hamilton,  C'nanrellor  Livin^Mon, 
etc.  He  admitted  tiie  iivce»itv  of  two  luuise-  in  the  lejislaiure.  He 
would  not  liLue  the  Fctlvfal  i:o\crnmeni  indej>cndent.  The  states 
lia^inj  no  con?iituiional  contnd.  would  be  ::ridua!lv  extinguished. 
Tiic  {H'.M»!o  would  I'tioiiu*  s!]i'*i  c:s  ins:c;;d  of  citizens.  The  states 
iuii  no  jH)wer  10  conu  lui  \\it!i  tiie  ::cneral  ^rovernment.  The  people 
rai:-:  ri.:«i.l  «»r  uaii  tiii  tiie  ii»:i^  t«.rni  of  the  senators  expired,  and 
saeneivct  oiiicrs. 

Mr.  S:ii;!n  ob-ervod.  i!nt  t!]e  checks  in  the  amendment  either 
*trp  or  \vt  re  not  suiVicii'iit  lo  ffive  stabilitv  to  the  inwemmeot, 
tuil  Ijf  cor.sidired  lii.t  il.t-  onl\  quoslion. 

\Vrd:u  :=i!.iv,  Juit'  'J'lfu.  Mr.  Smith  resumed.  He  still  adhered 
loihi  iu>ii.»!i  of  re:idt'riiv  llic  s  .:r.e  men  ineli::ible  for  six  vears,  after 
?en  ::\:  -:\  \  ear>  ;>  >i  :;.;:i»rs.  He  did  not  wi>h  the  senate  to  be  ftrr^ 
l^'^i;..  a!:liou^h  >i:dile.  He  ur::cd  other  anruments  in  favour  of  ro- 
a::ori.  He  il:en  ar^-  .t  d  f.»r  ii;e  power  to  rival!.  He  feared  the 
iV'ivle  would  be  lired  i»f  :M\i:ij  o::iv*ers  for  the  state  irovernment*, 
v-'i  I'jat  tlif  slitf  li'^'i-i  it  ::«  -  wowjil  have  notldu::  to  do.  In  lime 
•jw  j-iier.d  iTOVirnir^':::  «i»'.;ld  swailow  up  all.  He  insisted  ujH>n 
Lhe  ft  ir,  or  dan -ir  of  i*i»rr:;:iion,  bv  means  of  tiie  *>rrins  in  the  dis- 
pt^-il  I.:' the  ^'cutr.i!  ,i»\er:ii:ii\u.  He  insisted  the  representatives 
in  i.ie  r.t."»tr  jovein!:u".ii>  w«  ri-  wore  uniler  the  eyes,  and  in  fear  of 
?^»?  iv'«>-..':t  :::.i:i  rri'^.-e"*  *^w^  l.i  C(ri::ress  would  be. 

>i:.  H.i  ..  *■•:':  t-;^' .-.  ^  ■!  i».i  i'\c  :iLi;:>ibili:y  o\  hist»pponents.  He 
in*\uT-::..  i»l'^-  -.  :'.^*\\,:..  .: :..;  ii  ,!-".. .:;in\-  iuui  no:  liu' people  appoint 
trht  S'T.v.i.  f.v  s:.  '.ii;,  :  :i  i:.  le.islaiures  represent  the  people, 
Tn»  -•«  rviic  sr.o:.lii  i-e  -o  :".»:r.:rd  as  lo  ciieck  tiie  state  iiovernmenls. 
Tr:e  r!.eck  upon  :.:•'  -m  ..it-ir  i:-.  :!;.it  his  future  existence  depends 
Di^>n  ni-i  -rate.  "  \\  i  I-. .'.  i  ii  this  s;ate  a  duty  of  tul  per  |Kiimd  on 
m;:.  nnd  i:  i^poraies  !',/.:ly  ;i:.ii  ii>  ai:\a;i:aj:e,"  but  to  some  slates  it 
wn-jid  be  \rr\  iiiir;i.i  :5-oiy.e.  "I'm-  ott  rn  s:a:es  would  oppose  a 
*a':  tax.  Initl  l-v  co:  _-i>"-^.  Tiioir  >*  n.iiors  iniirht  see  the  reason 
f..r  ;i  i^i — w.»uid  i:  I'l  \\".-i  :=»  .i\e  ti.t  state  power  of  recall .'  Six 
yeare  is  a  jKrioJ  shon  enou^'h  for  s:abdity  in  the  senate.    One  third 


S7S         nocBSDisGs  axd  debates  nr 

of  tbem  go  out  at  the  end  of  two  rears,  two  thirds  in  four,  and  the 
whole  in  six.  There  will  be  a  con>tani  and  frequent  change. 
There  is  a  difference  between  the  rizht^  of  a  state  and  its  interests. 
The  ri^hu  are  defined  by  tjie  con»tauiion,  which  has  nothing  lodo 
with  the  intereifis.  **  Conzrt^ss  can  no  more  abolish  the  state  gor- 
emments  than  they  can  dissolve  the  Union/'  Factions  in  congrea 
have  arisen  from  stale  prejudices.  The  principle  of  rotation  would 
cause  the  senator  to  attend  more  to  his  own  interest — he  will  eo- 
dearour  to  perpetuate  lii<  power  by  unconstitutional  means.  The 
aroendment  would  discard  two  men,  however  valuable,  and  replace 
them  by  men  untried.  As  to  corruption,  the  president  has  offices 
at  his  disposal.  But  how  many  offices  are  there  for  which  a  mio 
would  relinquish  his  senatorial  di:;nitv  ?     Verv  few. 

Mr.  Smith  believed  that  factions  mieht  be  in  existence  in  the 
senate  and  unknown  to  the  le;;islatures  of  the  states.  Violent  fac- 
tions have  existed  in  conj^ress  respecting  forei<;n  matters**  of  which 
the  publick  are  ignorant."  Some  things  have  happened  which  are 
not  proper  to  be  divuUed.  There  are  other  causes  of  parties,  be* 
sides  the  clashing  of  state  interests. 

Chancellor  Livingston  ob$erve<l,  the  committee  should  remember 
that  the  circumstances  of  the  country  were  altered,  by  theknowled^ 
that  New  Hampsliire  had  adopted  the  constitution.  The  confcit' 
ratioft  WIS  now  Jissolvnl.  The  question  now  before  the  conventioo 
is  one  of  policy  and  expediency.  He  looked  with  horrour  on  the 
idea  of  disunion.  Since  iftstcrJaifj  he  felt  that  the  news  had  made 
a  solemn  impresHon  on  him. 

Although  it  is  acknowledged  that  the  people  at  large  did  not  or 
could  not  judge  what  was  best  for  tiiem  as  a  nation,  yet  state  legis- 
latures miirht  iiave  this  knowledire  ;  vet  he  thouirht  them  incooi* 
petent  judges  of  what  was  best  for  the  Union.  He  thought  the 
new  constitution  had  provided  every  check  necessar}'  for  the  senate. 

Mr.  Smith  observed  upon  an  assertTon  of  some  one,  that  a 
majority  of  the  slates  would  not  agree  to  the  amendment  He 
said  the  constitution  had  been  carried  in  most  of  the  states,  so  that 
no  opportunity  for  amendment  was  afforded.  As  to  the  change  of 
circumstances,  he  said  it  made  none  in  his  views. 

Mr.  Lansing  sauK  it  is  true  the  ninth  state  had  ratified  the  consti- 
tution, still  it  is  our  duiv  to  maintain  our  riirhts.  Let  the  nine  states 
make  the  ex|)eriment.  He  wisiied  for  union,  but  thought  that  New 
York  could  provide  alone  for  her  own  safety.  He  wished  a  reso- 
lution to  this  purpose,  that  nothing  in  the  constitution  authorised 
coogress  to  alter  any  regulations  of  any  state  respecting  the  times* 
plicesy  or  manner  of  holding  elections  for  senators  or  repreaeots- 
tivtSi  unless  the  state  failed  to  make  or  could  not  make  the  necet- 
ittj  regalations. 

Ifr.  Jaj  observed  that,  if  by  design  or  accident*  the  stiles  sboold 


AXD  ABBATBS  IK  OOMTSHTlOlf.  973 

ippMt  represAotitiTes*  ihere  should  be  m  remedy.  He  beliered 
was  the  desuro  of  the  Federal  coDveotion. 

R.  Morris  su^irested  thai  ihe  power  of  coutinuin^  ihe  covern- 

nt  ou^ht  to  belong  to  the  Federal  representatives  of  the  people. 

Oovernour  Clinton  reprobated  the  representations  made  of  the 
weakness  of  New  York  ;  he  likewise  denied  the  distinctions  made 
becveeo  the  house  of  representatives  and  senate.  All  were  elected 
b;  the  people.     Their  will  was  law. 

Mr.  Jaj  thous:ht  the  iiovemour  had  mistaken  the  ^ntleman. 
The  only  question  was,  how  this  will  is  to  be  expressed. 

Mr.  Meiancthon  Smith  proposed  further  amendments,  but  with- 
drew them. 

June  :^th :  Thursday.  Mr.  M.  Smith  again  proposed  dividing 
the  state  info  districts  for  elections. 

Mr.  Duane  thought  no  one  state  should  dictate  the  mode  of  elec- 
tbos  to  others.  This  power,  by  the  constitution,  resides  in  each 
itate. 

Mr.  Smith  onlv  wished  this  liberty-  secured  to  each  state. 

Mr.  Duane  thought  the  mode  proposed  would  embarrass  elec* 
tions.  as  it  made  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  necessar}*,  to  return  a 
member. 

Mr.  Lansing:  proposed  to  modify  Mr.  Smithes  amendment  so 
tkit  congress  could  not  present  the  states  passing  laws  to  divide 
the  state  into  districts ;  which  being  agreed  to.  the  committee 
passed  the  succeeding  paragraphs,  without  debate,  until  they  came 
to  the  second  clause  of  Section  Gth.  Mr.  Lansing  then  proposed 
this  amendment :  *'•  No  senator  or  representative  shall,  during  the 
lime  for  which  he  is  elected,  be  appointed  to  any  ottice  under  the 
United  States;  and  no  oilicerof  the  United  States  shall  be  elected 
a  representative.*'     On  this,  there  was  no  debate. 

Mr.  Williams  objected  to  the  powers  given  congress  in  respect 
to  taxes*  and  moved  that  no  excise  shall  be  imposed  on  any  arti- 
cle the  £Towth,  or  manufacture  of  tlie  United  States — no  direct 
taxes  be  laitl,  but  when  moneys  arising  from  imposts  and  excise 
aie  found  insufficient — and  under  certain  restrictions. 

June,  27ih — Mr.  Meiancthon  Smith.  Taxes  are  of  the  utmost 
impofftaoce.  The  constitution  gives  powers  to  congress  to  raise 
money  in  all  ways,  except  by  duties  on  crfKm^.  The  indivi- 
dual states  in  time,  will  have  no  ri<:ht  to  raise  anv  monev.  Under 
the  present  new  system,  he  thought,  the  sute  taxes  and  United 
Scales,  would  clash.  Tiie  power  of  the  confederacy  would  swal- 
low up  the  Sutes.  They  will  be  undermined  and  sink  gradually. 
The  former  confederacy  had  upon  the  whole  worked  well.  Some 
certain  speci6ck  revenue  must  be  resened  to  liie  states. 

Mr.  Williams  followed  on  tiie  same  side.  Tiiis  clause  would 
destroj  the  state  goremmenta.  A  poU  ttx  is  unjust  and  oppressive, 
roi^  u.  35 


274  pmocBXDiNOs  and  debates  in  coHvsaiTioir. 

CbaDcellor  Livingston  agreed  that  no  government  coald  exist 
without  revenues ;  that  consideration  of  the  states  must  be  avoidedf 
and  that  "  the  extent  of  our  country  will  not  admit  of  a  represen- 
tation upon  principles,  in  any  great  degree  democratick."  The 
amendment  of  Mr.  Williams,  excludes  excise  on  products  and  ma- 
nufactures of  the  United  States,  and  says,  a  requisition  shall  precede 
an  imposition  of  a  direct  tax.  In  time,  we  may  become  manufac- 
turers, and  the  necessity  of  imposing  excise  on  home  products 
arise.  As  to  requisitions,  we  have  seen  enough  of  them  to  be  sus- 
picious. The  United  States  may  be  obliged  to  lay  direct  taxes, 
and  if  requisitions  precede,  we  shall  be  laughed  at — ^we  lose  the 
time  when  the  money  is  wanted,  and  waste  it  in  petitioning  for 
requisitions,  and  in  petitions  which  are  never  granted.  The  state  that 
is  invaded  has  always  been  the  first  to  pay  the  requisition :  the 
state  unharmed  paid  little  or  nothing.  Indirect  taxes  will  be  gene- 
rally sufficient :  bnt  congress  must  have  power  in  case  they  are 
not  If  the  requisition  is  refused,  the  amendment  proposes  compul- 
sion. This  supposes  a  complete  set  of  officers,  etc.,  kept  in  readi- 
ness. If  resistance  is  made,  who  will  lend  to  congress  the  money 
wanted  in  the  first  place,  and  that  necessary  to  compel  obedience  ? 
The  avails  of  direct  taxes,  are  the  funds  to  be  pledged  for  borrow- 
ing. This  state  has  been  and  will  be  (in  time  of  foreign  war,)  the 
theatre  of  war.  It  is  for  our  interest  to  give  congress  power 
to  relieve  us  by  imposing  direct  taxes.  The  United  Slates  govern- 
ment, and  that  of  the  states,  will  not  clash  in  laying  taxes.  It  is 
upon  the  interest  of  the  United  States,  or  of  congress,  we  must 
depend.  The  state  has  unlimited  power  of  direct  taxation  upon 
itself:  and  when  it  has  laid  a  great  tax  on  any  one  article,  it  would 
be  unwise  in  congress  to  tax  the  same  :  it  would  not  be  the  inter- 
est of  congress  to  do  so.  We  have  resources  enough  to  support 
our  state  and  our  general  government — if  we  have  not,  let  us  have 
only  one — a  state — or  a  consolidated  government.  As  to  the 
assertion,  (made  by  Mr.  Smith)  that  every  government  will  raise 
more  money  than  it  can  use — I  do  not  understand  it — let  the  con- 
vention keep  in  mind,  that  the  accounts  of  the  general  government 
are  to  be  submitted,  from  time  to  time,  to  publick  inspection. 

Mr.  Smith  remarked,  that  from  time  to  time,  meant  anything  or 
nothing — from  century  to  century. 

Chancellor  Livingston  said,  the  representatives  would  consider 
economy  essential  to  their  popularity. 

Mr.  Hamilton  remarked,  that  when  we  had  given  a  proper  bal- 
tnoe  to  tbe  branches  of  the  government,  and  fixed  representation 
«|pOD  pure  principles,  we  may  safely  furnish  it  with  the  necessary 


We  want  (be  proceeds,)  a  free  government  with  mutual  checks. 


VBOCnDIXGS  AXO  DEBATK3  IN  C0NTK.\TI02I.  tit 


of  the  led^lature  bv  the  consotution  is  to  be  elected  br 
the  people^-wA^  same  ptf^plt — ^who  choose  the  *:ate  legislatures. 
Tbej  are  fortwoyeare.  andthenreciirntoiheircon^timents.  Here  the 
people  ii>vem,  Yoii  have  another  bmioiu  «:  .*'<  :y,  ctioseo  by 
TOUT  state  ie^islature:^.  You  Inve  an  exeouiivt*  oroatovl  by  an  adroi- 
nble  nio«.ie  of  election.  He«»  are  chocks  :  bv.i  yoa  must  trust 
your  ^vemment  with  necessary  power? ;  you  must  have  eonfi- 
tknce  in  it.  liovemmeni  must  have  the  power  of  the  sword  and 
ii>f  pur^e :  but  you  do  not  place  both  in  one  iK^use :  the  pu^^e  is 
with  one  branch,  and  the  swoni  with  anotiier.  Is  it  not  the  same 
ia  the  New  York  state  jzovemnient  ? — The  stnte  s^wemment  has 
DM  to  provide  a^ii:st  invasion,  nor  niaint  tin  fleets  and  armies— 
DOT  to  re^ulare  cor.iinerce.  make  alliances*  or  form  treaties  of  peace. 
Taeir  ooi-v:  is  civil  at\l  oomestick*  poice  and  iusiice.  But  the 
ceneril  ^vernment  has  all  the  former  cares  and  expenses.  lo 
Grejt  Britain,  the  exivnses  of  peace  to  tiiose  of  war.  are  one  to 
founeea.  T.je  pn'kpor.ion  between  the  s:ate  and  ceneral  corem- 
ment.  will  be  infinite  I  v  creater.  Where  the:i.  ou^rht  the  resources  to 
be  lodp?dr  Your  coverniuent  must  ha\e  power  to  cail  the  ability 
of  Lne  country  into  aciioa.  There  can  be  no  exclusive  revenues. 
Txf  ««r*x<v  jw-rv  jt.»  incn\:se  <zs  to  nnii-.r  j/.'-rr  f.;j-ti:<\>«  ttHNec^f* 
*:n.  The  laws  of  the  slates  nu:s;  no:  tor.cii  t'^e  itnpropriaied 
resources  oi  tiie  I  nited  :?tates  :  but  the  United  States  may  relin- 
quish to  the  Slates.  It  may  bo  necessar}-  to  borrow — and  to  bor- 
anr  you  must  have  ple^ljes  to  ^ive.  You  must  srive  credit  lo  vour 
covemmen:.  It  would  be  melancholy,  if  true,  that  a  free  ^vem- 
men:  cannot  exist  in  a:i  extensive  country.  This  idea  comes  trom 
ao  author  un3Ci|uainted  wi;:i  re  present  .it  ion.  Tre  confederacy  of 
states  makes  the  notion  stiil  more  false.  The  state  c^^vernraents 
are  absoiuieiy  neces><iry  to  the  Federal  system.  He  uses  many 
ai^uments  to  show,  liiat  we  mav  more  saielv  trust  the  ceneral  «>- 
rernment  than  even  t!:e  state  o-^vernmer.:. 

Mr.  Hamilton  continued :  As  commerce  increased,  and  know- 
iedire  was  let  in  u'pK>n  t!ie  people,  tliey  perceived  their  own  conse- 
<{iience — they  united  with  kin^  to  throw  oii"  t!:e  yoke  of  th^  barons 
or  iristocracy.  Wherever  the  popular  weight  causes  the  vessel 
to  lean,  thcire  will  power  tiow.  Ti:e  co:is:itu:ion  is  so  formed 
that  the  states  can  nrvn  ide  tor  their  own  existence.  Tiie  laws  of 
the  United  Sntes  are  supreme  for  constitutional  obiects,  and  so 
are  the  state  laws,  in  the  same  wav.  Thev  are  not  hostile.  The 
United  States,  and  the  state  s^^vemment,  may  tax  the  same  object : 
but  thev  collect  the  tax  bv  dinereni  oiiicers. 

Juoe  2Sth — Mr.  Hamilton  introduced  papers,  to  show  how  much 
the  state  of  New  York  sunered  by  the  system  of  requisitions  durin j^ 
the  hte  war. 

Garemour  Clinton  supposed  this  wis  in  consequence  of  a  con- 


276  PtOCEBDI^GS  AND  DEBATES  IN 

rersaiinn  vith  him,   and  thonght  the  paper?  related  to  matien 
prei-iou*  to  :!:c  ac^e^sion  of  all  the  states  to  the  union. 

Mr.  Diiane  aclcr.o'.vlcflzed  the  conversation,  but  thoorbt  A  a 
duty  10  hrlrr^  fonv^ni  the^e  papers.  He  i^as  conrinced  that  om 
gre2te.-t  mi^forturie  was  the  want  of  such  a  goremment  ai  m 
now  orTe red. 

Gnvernoiir  Clinton  r,:d  not  wish  to  withhold  these  papers.  After 
some  tV.nlier  discui5s:on,  the  papers  were  read.  And  Got. 
ton  said,  ihs!  the  severe  distresses  of  liie  people  at  the  timef 
them  tiurik  the  confederation  too  weak.  He  declared  that  be  w«i 
a  frier. 'i  to  a  strong  and  etTicient  government ;  bat  he  feared  aa 
extreme*.  If  the  proposed  constitution  is  shown  to  be  safe,  he 
would  dro:)  all  opnosiiion.  He  alwavs  wished  to  zraot  an  impoit 
to  cor._';:.<«. 

Mr.  I'tiine  35ked  the  rovemorir.  if  he  had  not  received  at  timei 
from  t!:e  co:i:rr.ir.;er-in-chief  notices,  that  if  New   York  did 
furnish  s':')r:iies.  iho  arrnv  must  be  disbanded. 

Tr;e  co'  orr.our  said  it  was  true.     He  said,  he  had  been 
for  to  co'.nciis  of  v.ar,  where  tlie  slate  of  the  armv  was  laid  before 
him.  and  it  wi-i  miirlancholv  indeed.     In  one  instance,  this 
by  impressinz  flour  frorri  the  people,  saved  the  army  from  di 
I'jtion. 

Mr.  Handl'on  said,  the  view  in  introducinj  the  papers,  was  to 
show  the  eviis  trtis  state  suffered,  because  requisitions  were  icsuf- 
ficiept  to  call  forh  the  exer.ions  of  the  countnr.  or  its  re:sources. 

Tni?  di-i.-':--*  o'^cisioried  the  mad  project  of  creatin::  a  dictator: 
and  Gov^THOMr  (J iir. tori's  op;ios::ion  to  that  project  is  known,  and 
a-'^nii'.ide.l.  He  oh'ects  to  Govemour  Clinton,  that  he  onooscs  :be 
ne'.v  cf»r.riir:ir:on,  but  does  rot  o5er  a  substitute,  by  which  to  cain 
strenr^.n,  T^liiio  .:  dan  j'rr  to  our  lih»^:nies.  When  congress  nqiif^:^ 
en  »  ■'r-r-^'  for  i'^vrrtiy  five  years.  t..is  state  opposed  it.  New  York 
ari  K::o:-7  I-/-;!-:  rireventcd  it.  In  respect  to  the  proposed  Tax- 
ation, tr.orc  is  not  i  word  in  the  constitution,  which  dves  an  ex- 
clusive pov.r-r  to  the  United  States,  except  in  imposts.  CKber 
taxes  are  concurrent,  and  both  the  genera!  government  and  the 
state,  tax  the  same  t':iinz«  and  the  individual  cannot  pay  bodi :  tbe 
first  come,  first  ser\'ed.  Neither  power  is  supreme.  The  impoit 
given  to  the  United  ."^t/ites,  jrives  them  power  to  discharge  the  debu 
and  absolves  the  individual  states  from  responsibility. 

If  we  are  to  unite,  it  is  for  sreat  purposes,  and  these  require 
great  resources  and  powers.  The  United  States  will  have  exteo- 
|ifc  and  aniform  objects  of  taxation.  The  states  a  great  Tarierr, 
Id  wkieh  onir  state  laws  can  apply.  The  legislature  of  New  York 
authorize  a  poll  tax.  T::ere  may  exist  circumstances  to 
even  such  a  tax  necessary  ;  and  when  necessar\%  the  people 
aoborii  to  it.     He  accused  the  opposition  of  jealoosr  and 


VBOOBBDINOS  AND  DEBATES  IX  CONTEXTIOS.  S77 

Gonjecture.  No  one  difficulty  in  the  consiltiinon  can  be  polo  ted 
out,  that  will  not  apply  to  ilie  state  loveri'.r.ie:."'-.  Ti.e  mo*t  a:;i- 
bilioua  men  will  be  careful  to  draw  forth  lu-r  n.--o  ^rce^?  of  tiir  c-eo  >!e 
as  gently  as  possible.  The  supposed  ^'ni.i  of  rnu^cv  in  New  Yoric 
is  complained  of,  but  it  is  a  want  of  co.irM  ^ice  hi  i..-i  old  govern- 
ment of  the  Union.  Mr.  Haniiiion  corir-i...i.ird  3,"i!:^-i  tr.«=  araead- 
ment  which  required  that  no  direct  tax  ;:io:.iiii  be  laid  unia  [mprysi 
tnd  excise  had  pro%'ed  insntnclent.  He  saiii.  Ne^'  Voryi^,  fror.-:  iia 
situation  and  extent  of  unsettled  lands,  rr.orrc  ever  be  a  c<j':..T.e:':i.ii 
and  agricultural  state.  If  tiie  sreneral  joverriraen*  U  rer'-rs^-ed 
from  free  application  to  other  resource-  it  «</>'  /■'/.</'  '■:  '<«/'/  x-  •. /<  -i^:- 
freaie.  Excessive  im|)Oi?ition.-  on  coi'iinierce  wili  t,'':  ir-jurio*-?  :o  :.ie 
state  of  New  York.  K xcis e  w  j !  1  o j j-? ra te  :  i . e  t^. :ne  w  ly .  O  .  r  >-.  -r !  j^p- 
bours  not  possessin:^  ouradvaiitaaei?  for  oomnirrrcear.  i  i^ric  -  :  -re, 
will  be  manufacturers,  and  proi^^cted  hy  t-.-i  arr.v-r*'ir.,r:.:.  a.*-:  •*» 
burthened.  It  is  the  interest  ot"  N»iw  York  l::?iI  i;.o-e  ?-::>-. -r-  -:.o  -.■: 
be  taxed  in  which  our  neijjhbours  ex^^el  u* :  exci-e^  or*  :.\a:..^fic- 
tures  are  for  our  advanln^^e.  The  nature  of  o^r  'i'iior.  :e'{'.i."es 
that  we  should  g^ive  up  our  tfffifc  iniporft.  Wir.i  sriO-Oi.e*  fo:  ':j? 
warmth,  and  objections  to  irentlemen  r>:i:i;io^!.  ::  rr,<::  v.-:  i  ;w.<'.*r* 
of  the  new  government  were  inrtuenced  by  arii.'^/.ion.  M:.  iIs:r...:ori 
concluded. 

Mr.  Lansin<r,  in  reply,  said  it  ua-  conceded  t'.'i!  ti.e  lo-.-'.ivj^on 
gave  powers  tocon^re-.s  to  lay  all  kinds  of  taxe-j.  L;:!."i\o:j'?  will 
succeed,  which  must  be  carried  to  tl:e  conn??  of  the  l.  :..'■:*:  S'a'e*. 
They  will  give  extensive  jurisdiction  to  Tl:e  corirt-;  of  tr.e  >:':ef5i*..on. 
The  amendment  would  prevent  excires  on  iW'iUMV-.fA'.:*:*  of  trie 
United  States,  and  prevent  direct  t?ixe«  nufil  requMrion-  :.<ive  oeen 
made.  The  Federal  government  beiu'^  but  part  of  a  sviriei:'.  o'i^ht 
not  to  have  the  whole  power  of  exfuriln^  ?rupport.  Tiie  ^rer.eral 
government  should  have  general  powers.  A«  to  requi-iiioM-?.  tiio-se 
now  proposed  are  different  from  those  acknowledi'ed  fonnerly  to 
have  been  incompetent;  the  amendment  ret] n ires  carrviri^'  tn^  laws 
of  congress  to  the  doors  of  individuals,  and  not  calling  on  whole 
communities.  The  states  have  complied  with  the  requi-ritions,  by 
making  laws  for  their  effect;  but  it  has  been  indiiiduals  who  have 
not  obeyed.  Congress  will  have  by  the  amendment  the  right  to 
enforce  the  requisitions. 

Mr.  Lansing  objected  to  the  supremacy  of  the  laws  of  the  Uni- 
ted States.  He  objected  to  the  assertion  that  (hjnger  to  the  state 
governments  could  only  exist  in  a  distempered  fancy.  These  im- 
pressions thus  fanciful  to  him,  have  made  serious  impressions  on 
good  and  great  men.  History  shows  the  encroachments  on  the 
rights  of  the  people.  It  is  admitted  that  the  state  governments 
are  necessary.  Mr.  Hamilton  has  said,  the  idea  of  hostility  be- 
tween the  general  and  state  governments  is  chimerical ;  but  Mr* 


278  PROCEEDIN'GS  AND  DEBATES  IX  COAfUTimi. 

Lansing  \r3s  persuaded  such  hostility  urould  exist.  LainGr 
charzed  Hamii:on  vrjth  liohiiri-j  different  opinions  in  the  conin- 
tion  at  Pbiia*ie!n!jia.  H^m'i.'.on  cienied  this,  and  an  ah«c2!30s 
took  place,  uLici:  i^  here  o::/:'/ed. 

On  the  -30;h  of  Jure.  i;:e  *-;:::*:  ciispute  occupied  a  erest  larof 
the  day.  When  iLe  debate  aj^ln  look  place.  Mr.  Wiijiaic*,  Mr. 
Smith,  and  Mr.  Jones  sfK^ke.  Smith  said  that  the  natioDal  bewi 
oti^ht  not  to  have  all  tlie  means:  nor  siiould  the  power  cLufed 
withr  the  naiional  deferjce  Lave  aii  tije  revenues.  In  En^landfibe 
kinor  had  the  power  of  war  Lui  parliament  of  scpply.  He  wooic 
have  the  constitution  plain,  and  not  liable  tod ;frerentconslnictwfS' 
He  thought  the  natior.al  i^o^erri-reni  would  hare  too  sreai  cooM 
over  the  states,  and  could  siei  asifie  the  powers  in  the  state,  ttcesr 
sarv  for  its  well  beinz-  He  continued  to  resnark  on  the  necessur 
hosiilhv. 

Mr.  Diiane  addressed  the  convention.  He  thought  the  5T§ttB 
of  requisitions  ou^lit  to  be  forever  discarded.  He  Loped  yet  to 
sec  a  na\y  of  the  L'r.ited  Stales.  He  spoke  of  the  necesBdr  o?" 
both  annv  and  navv.  to  repress  tije  existing  arcression?  of  Grer 
Britain. 

Mr.  Jav  besan.  bv  describin-  the  ireneral  characteristicks  fet 
a  Eovernmeri!  of  the  L'riied  SiiV;-.  Woujd  i\  be  proper  that  the 
state  govern  me  nls  si.ouid  !5i:ji!  tiie  riational  resources  r  Woulo  i: 
be  riffht  that  tl;e  50\ere;::r-  po'Aer  oj't.i.e  naiion  should  depend  oo  the 
will  of  the  several  n:f:-n.L-er:» :  Trii:  ti.e  interest  n\  a  nan  sbo'jii 
govern  tiie  tthoie  r  As  to  coilec:!",.-  a  direct  t35.  a-ter  reo'jisi'jno : 
would  not  the  motivtr  ti.'-iii.':  jc.-i  r.oii-com&iiar.ce  iikewii^e  inctace 
resistance  to  coJiection:  A  r.';rr/:.-^r  of  states.  sim:'?riv  situated. 
might  unite,  and  cor»:ro:  il.e  ;.'*:■  i;rr  J  joverriment.  He  re  narked 
upon  taxation,  and  iho;::!M  it  v,0[:'*-i  be  dirricjlt  to  disiln^aish  sotae 
ait ic l€*  of  A m e nc a n  irf*::^  f' . : e ! r n  rn i n  -j ik c t u r e . 

Mr.  M.  .Smiih  rem^rkei  vrf.n  >Fr.  D'jsr.e's  wish  for  a  citt. 
He  ihoucrht  it  wo'jid  be  v. lid  and  ridi'^-jlo-js  for  rears  to  coiz*. 
He  talked  of  centuries,  ar-i  did  not  w::-h  to  provioe  for  lime*  so 
distant.  He  commented  on  Ws^iiinr'on's  circu'.ar.  compiajcin; 
of  requisitions.  He  siiz'nstized  Mr.  Jay's  notion  of  non-cnmr^Tirc 
joinin;  to  resist  conjres*.  as  i'.j'.^^sr}-.  Ti'iey  r.izTA  cozDr 
to  resist  a  tax.  aithoM'.n  no  re'':t;:-]::ori  had  been  rr.ace. 

Cbaoceilor  Livingston  said,  the  ojj position  talk  at  random,  arc 
ran  into  inconsistencies.     Th'='V  diner  from  each  other,  and  irom 

_  m 

tkemselres.     Thev  tell  u-  coi:rres-  wiii  tax   to  the  uunors:.  acd 

m 

ihe  people,  and  they  teii  u-  congress  ha*  rot  power  so  lo 

Thejr  say  the  state  sovemmenis  wi.i  be  left  powerie**-     Is 

srorer  property  notijinzr— over  iife  and  death,  notfainr.'— 

Oba  ikejnoc  raise  iDoney .' — and  regulate  the  militia.'     The  strain 

r  mmf  and  ridicole  was  conrinoed,  and  then   he  said:^-TlM 


rBOCBBDINGS  AND  DEBATES  IX  CONVENTIOV.  t79 

States  and  the  United  States  have  distinct  objects.  They  are  both 
supreme  :  the  one  as  to  national  objects,  the  other  as  to  doinestick 
and  internal  objects.  He  then  returned  to  ridicule  : — And  we  are 
told  that  we  are  not  to  make  a  government  for  futurity  !  We  are 
to  make  a  government  of  a  day  ! 

July  2d — Mr.  G.  Livingston  said,  if  the  clause  under  con- 
rideration  was  not  amended  we  should  not  have  a  shadow  of  liberty 
left.  The  new  government  cannot  be  depended  on.  There  would 
be  a  contest  between  the  general  and  state  governments  for  the 
taxes,  and  collision  in  the  collecting.  He  endeavoured  to  ridicule 
the  arguments  of  the  Federalists,  but  very  feebly,  and  showed  him- 
self wounded  by  the  Chancellor's  ridicule,  by  what  approached 
to  personal  abuse. 

Mr.  Williams  thought  Chancellor  Livingston's  speech  unworthy 
of  notice  in  point  of  argument,  but  would  not  submit  to  have  his 
own  arguments  misstated.  He  would  not  enter  seriously  into  the 
subject,  until  he  heard  serious  answers  to  his  arguments.  He  ap- 
peared very  much  vexed  by  the  Chancellor's  ridicule,  and  power 
of  exciting  laughter. 

Mr.  Smith  refers  to  the  same.  Perhaps  the  convention  wants 
something  to  divert  them.  He  compared  the  Chancellor's  speech 
to  a  farce  after  a  tragedy.  He  thought  he  aimed  to  amuse  the 
auditors  without  the  bar  :  and  that  he  had  acquhted  himself  most 
admirably. 

Mr.  Smith  ridiculed  Chancellor  Livingston,  and  said  he  contra- 
dicts himself,  and  that  his  creed  was,  '*  I  believe,  that  the  general 
government  is  supreme,  and  that  the  state  governments  are  su- 
preme, and  yet  they  are  not  two  supremes,  but  one  supreme."  He 
thought  it  no  proof  of  strength  of  argument,  when  ridicule  was 
resorted  to. 

The  Chancellor,  well  pleased  that  his  ridicule  had  succeeded 
in  irritating  his  antagonists,  pretended  to  apologize  for  it.  He  now 
charged  Smith  with  falsifying  him.  He  had  maintained  that  a 
single  league  of  states,  could  not  long  exist,  but  not  that  a  Fede- 
ral government  could  not  exist ;  but  ironically  says,  what  wounds 
bim  deepest  is,  that  his  worthy  kinsman,  Mr.  G.  Livingston, 
should  join  his  dagger  with  the  rest,  and  force  him  to  exclaim 
**  thou  too  Brutus."  If  this  gentleman's  wrong  conclusions  from 
fiilse  premises  are  ridiculous,  it  is  not  my  fault.  When  argu- 
ments appear  to  him  absurd  and  ridiculous,  he  must  expose 
them. 

Mr.  Lansing  proposed,  respecting  borrowing  money,  the  amend- 
ment, that  no  money  be  borrowed  on  the  credit  of  the  United 
States,  without  the  assent  of  two  thirds  of  the  members  of  both 
bouses  present 

Mr  Jones  moved  this  amendment  respecting  post  officesy  etc*. 


880  PBOOBBDINOS  AND  DEBATES  IN  CONVBNTIOir. 

**that  the  power  of  congress  to  establish  post  offices  mod  post 
roads,  is  not  to  be  construed  to  extend  to  the  laying  out,  makings 
altering,  or  repairing  highways  in  any  state,  without  the  consent 
of  the  legislature  of  such  state." 

In  respect  to  armies,  Mr.  Lansing  proposed,  "  that  no  standing 
army,  or  regular  troops,  shall  be  raised,  or  kept  up,  in  time  of 
peace,  without  the  consent  of  two  thirds  of  the  members  of  both 
houses  present."  Mr.  Smith  moved  that  the  militia  should  not 
be  marched  out  of  their  own  state,  without  the  consent  of  the  exe- 
cutive of  the  state,  nor  continued  in  service  more  than  six  weeks,  with 
other  restrictions.  Mr.  Lansing  moved,  to  restrict  the  powers  of  coo* 
gress  to  those  expressly  given,  and  others  to  be  reserved  to  the  states. 
Mr.  Smith  moved  against  a  power  to  grant  monopolies.  Mr.  Tred- 
well  would  have  two  thirds  of  the  members  present,  necessary  to 
declaring  war.  Mr.  Lansing,  would  not  have  the  privilege  of  habetu 
corpw  to  be  suspended  more  than  six  months,  or  until  the  next 
meeting  of  congress.  Mr.  Tredwell  moved  respecting  ex-pott 
facto  laws,  and  that  no  capitation  tax  should  ever  be  laid  ;  and 
the  words  from  ^^  time  to  time"  be  defined.  On  the  third  article, 
Mr.  Jones  and  Mr.  M.  Smith  spoke,  but  no  debate  ensued  :  and 
Mr.  Jones  submitted  several  resolves  respecting  the  jurisdiction  of 
courts,  particularly  the  United  States  court. 

On  the  7th  of  July,  the  secretary  read  the  fourth  and  fifth  arti- 
cles without  interruption  ;  but  in  the  sixth,  Mr.  Lansing  proposed 
that  no  treaty  should  operate,  to  alter  the  constitution  of  any  state. 
Mr.  Smith  moved,  that  all  ofllcers  of  the  United  States,  shoald 
be  bound  by  oath  or  aflirmation,  not  to  infringe  the  rights  of  the 
individual  states. 

After  the  constitution  had  been  gone  through,  Mr.  Smith  mov- 
ed, that  the  inhabitants  of  the  ten  miles  square,  to  be  granted  to 
congress,  shall  be  secured  in  the  privileges  of  others ;  with  certaio 
restrictions. 

Mr.  Lansing  then  read  and  presented  a  bill  of  rights  to  be  pre- 
fixed to  the  constitution.  No  business  was  done  until  July  the 
10th,  when  Mr.  Lansing  divided  the  amendatory  resolves  into  ex- 
planatory, conditional,  and  recommendatory.  On  the  11th,  Mr. 
Jay  moved,  as  the  opinion  of  this  committee,  that  the  constitution 
under  consideration,  ought  to  be  ratified  by  this  convention  :  and 
further  that  the  explanations  ought  to  be  called  for,  and  amendments 
deemed  useful,  recommended. 

This  motion  was  supported  by  Chancellor  Livingston,  tod 
Chief  Justice  Morris,  and  opposed  by  Mr.  Smith  until  the  IStb, 
when  Mr.  Smith  moved  as  an  amendment  to  Mr.  Jay's  motioo 
"  upon  conJUion  nevertheless,^^  that  until  a  convention  shall  be  called 
and  convened  for  the  purpose  of  amendments  such  and  sncb 
powers  shall  not  be  exercised. 


FBOCEEDINGS  AND  DEBATES  IN  CONVENTION.  281 

On  the  16th,  Judge  Hobart,  moved  an  adjournment,  which  was 
negatived.  Mr.  Duane  brought  in  a  plan  of  ratification  with 
amendments.  Mr.  Smith's  proposition  was  debated  witil  the 
19th,  when  Mr.  Lansin<r  proposed  a  conditional  ratification  with 
amendments.  On  tlie  23d,  the  word  condition^  was  struck  out,  and 
**  infidl  amfidencc^^  substituted,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Jones. 

Mr.  Lansing  wished  the  adoption  of  a  resolution,  tliat  the  state 
of  New  York,  should  have  a  right  to  viithdraw  herself  from  the 
union,  after  a  certain  number  of  years,  unless  tlie  amendments  pro- 
posed should  be  previously  submitted  to  a  general  convention. 
This  was  negatived. 

The  committee  considered  the  amendments,  until  the  25th  July, 
when  they  agreed  to  them,  rose,  and  reported.  The  convention 
then  agreed  to  the  report,  and  a  circular  letter  was  agreed,  to  be 
sent  to  the  different  legislatures  recommending  a  general  conven- 
doD.  On  Saturday,  July  2Gth,  all  being  read,  and  the  question  put| 
there  appeared  for  the  affirmative,  Afessrs.  Jay,  Hobart,  Hamilton, 
R.  Livingston,  Roosevelt,  Duane,  Harrison,  Low,  Scudder,  Ha- 
vens, J.  Smith,  Jones,  Schcnck,  Lawrence,  Carman,  LefTerts, 
Vandervoort,  Bancker,  Ryers,  L.  Morris,  P.  Livingston,  Hatfieldf 
Van  Cortlandt,  Crane,  Sarles,  Woodhull,  Piatt,  M.  Smitli,  G.  Li^ 
ingston,  and  De  Witt.     30. 

For  the  negative,  Messrs.  R.  Yates,  Lansing,  Outhout,  J. 
Thompson,  Tredwcll,  Cantinc,  Schoonmaker,  Clark,  J.  Clintony 
Wynkoop,  Haring,  Wisner,  Wood,  Swartwout,  Akins,  Harper^ 
Frey,  Winn,  Veeder,  Staring,  Parker,  Williams,  Baker,  Hopluns, 
Van  Ness,  Ray,  and  Adgate.     21.* 

*  It  is  remarkable  that  for  the  adoption  we  sec  tlic  names  of  so  many  distill- 
ipuihed  men,  and  for  thit  contmry  ko  very  few. 

It  will  be  teen  that  several  of  the  Anti-fedenili^ts  voted  in  the  aflirmative  when 
the  main  question  was  taken ;  in  reference  to  which  cirnuiistance  Mr.  George  F. 
Hopkins  tells  me,  that  when  a  hoy,  in  tlie  year  17^^H,  he  heard  the  conversations  at 
the  time  the  convention  wns  flittini^,  and  knows  that  Francis  Childn  was  the  short- 
liand  reporter,  and  has  told  him  that  he  w:u)  ahsoiit  (or  loHt)  the  most  remarkable 

2ieech  made  on  that  occasion;  which  wax  hy  Alexander  Hamilton,  and  produced 
e  vote  in  favour  of  the  adoption.  The  convention  had  met  for  the  iinal  question, 
and  the  majority  was  known  to  he  for  rejecting  the  constitution.  Aitcr  a  time  of 
eilence  he  arose  and  addressed  them  for  tiirce  hours,  hrin^ing  fonvard  every  ar- 
gument and  appealing  to  the  feelings  of  tiie  audience.  Many  even  melted  to  tears, 
when  he  dwelt  upon  tJie  miseries  tiiat  munt  ensue,  if  the  constitution  was  rejected, 
and  disunion  take  place  among  the  states.  [iL«tead  of  proceeding;  to  take  the 
jeas  and  nays,  as  was  expected,  Gill>ert  Livin;;ston.  oni;  ot  the  oppositifui.  moved 
an  adjournment,  saying,  "There  is  much  weight  in  Mr.  Hamilton's  words."  That 
night  the  oppositionists  held  a  caucus,  and  it  was  determined  tiiat  (liihert  Livingston, 
If.  Smith,  and  another,  should  vote  for  the  constitution :  whitrh  they  did.  and 
made  a  majority  of  two.  Mr.  Hopkins  rememhers  the  admiration  caused  by  the 
epeech  at  the  time.  He  says,  that  at  the  door  of  the  post-nlfice,  a  ^roiip  of  persons 
attracted  his  attention,  and  he  listened.  They  were  warm  in  expressions  of  ad- 
miration  of  Hamilton's  speech.  At  tliis  time,  James  Kent,  (the  \enerable  ex- 
ehancellor,)  who  had  been  an  auditor,  came  up,  and  exHaimed,  "  I  could  never 
have  believed  that  the  power  of  man  was  equal  to  tJie  production  of  so  much 
eloquence !" 

VOL.  II.  36 


283  CONCLUSIOIf. 

Governour  Clinton,  the  president,  had  no  vote.  The  conTention 
adjourned,  without  day ;  and  thus  New  York  became  an  integral 
member  of  this  great  (I  will  not  say  confederacy,  but)  nation. 

Although  the  Federal  constitution  had  been  adopted,  and  Wash- 
ington called  to  administer  the  government,  still  it  was  to  be  seen 
how  the  great  experiment  would  work.  It  was  yet  unknown  that 
confidence  in  the  United  States  would  be  established  at  home  and 
abroad  ;  that  the  inhuman  policy  of  Great  Britain,  in  stirring  up  the 
savages  to  desolate  our  frontiers  and  steep  in  blood  that  land  ahe 
had  been  forced  to  abandon  to  us,  would  be  firmly  met ;  and  the 
forts  held  and  strengthened  by  her,  in  contravention  of  the  articles 
of  peace,  for  the  purpose  of  stimulating  the  Indians  and  supplying 
them  with  the  means  of  murder,  would  be  wrested  from  her.  But 
the  new  system  of  government  proved  that  a  representative  com- 
monwealth was  better  than  any  other  mode  for  the  happiness  of 
mankind,  and  that  the  arts  of  a  baffled  monarchy  only  served  to 
bring  ruin  on  the  savage  nations  deluded  by  them ;  until  after  a  war 
of  twelve  years,  carried  on  by  the  red  man,  in  whose  hands  Eng- 
land, though  pretending  friendship  for  us,  put  the  scalping-knife 
and  the  tomahawk,  the  men  of  the  wilderness  found  that  they  were 
only  the  tools  of  a  faithless  kingdom,  which  sacrificed  them  and  their 
country  to  her  hatred  of  the  people  who  had  rejected  her  laws  and 
defeated  her  armies.  In  1795,  Wayne  gave  peace,  by  victory,  to 
the  frontiers,  and  soon  the  free  state  of  Ohio  exhibited  a  prosperity 
unexampled  in  the  history  of  the  world. 


~:>nC-n) 


APPENDIX. 


C^OO'  ^^  ^o^ 


t 


APPENDIX. 


Appendix  A. — Vol.  1.,  jp.  23. 

For  the  remains  of  Indian  towns,  and  forts,  and  of  forts 
apposed  to  be  anteriour  to  tiie  race  of  Red-men  found  by  the 
Europeans,  I  refer  the  reader  to  Mouhon,  first  part  of  histor}'  of 
tbe  stale  of  New  York,  published  by  John  Van  Ness  Yates,  and 
Joseph  \V.  Mouhon,  and  the  memoir  by  the  Honourable  Dewitt 
Clinton. 

On  the  cast  bank  of  Seneca  river,  are  found  remnants  of  Indian 
defences.  These  foitifications  have  been  traced  eighteen  miles 
e*$t  of  Manliiis-sqnare ;  and  in  Oxford,  Chenango  county,  on  the 
east  bank  of  Chenango,  are  remains  of  forts.  One  is  found  in  the 
town  of  Onondaga,  two  near  Auburn,  and  three  in  the  vicinity  of 
Canandai<:ua.  In  mauv  other  places,  tliere  are  found  cemeteries 
^itb  Indian  remains,  and  vestisres  of  fortifications.  In  the  vear 
1- lo,  I  had  an  opportunity  of  visiting  those  of  Pompey,  Onon* 
^§^1  Canandaigua,  and  several  others.  Without  military  skill, 
**^<1  perhaps,  devoid  of  the  feelings  which  appear  to  have  possessed 
^  Reverend  Mr.  Kirkland,  and  manv  others,  I  could  form  no 
Precise  notion  of  these  works  of  defence.  Some  appeared  to  me 
'^{Qnants  of  Indian  palisadoed  villages,  and  some  as  if  thrown  up 
rf  ^  French  in  their  excursions  into  what  is  now  our  state. 

Our  ingenious,  industrious,  and  learned  fellow  citizen,  Mr.  Moul* 
1^1  has  given  us  all  the  various  theories  and  traditions  on  the  sub- 
let of  the  origin  of  the  Indians  known  to  Europeans,  and  of  those 
*^  preceded  them.  The  Lenape,  or  Delawares,  told  Mr. 
H«ckcwelder,  that  they  came  from  the  west,  in  very  remote  times, 
*^  met  the  Iroquois  journeying  likewise  from  the  west,  at  the 

rt  river  Saimae  Sipie^  or  river  of  fish,  (another  derivative  name 
Mississippi,)  where  the  Alkgewi  lived  in  great  fortifications, 
^  cities,  with  whom  they  contended  in  many  battles,  and  finalljf . 
^^MiqQered.  They,  the  Lenape,  then  increased  and  spread  to  the 
Adiniick  coiats,  and  the  Hodaoo  rirer,  and  the  New  Eo^hmd 

A 


n  AFFEXDIX  B. 

States.  The  Iroquois  took  the  countrv  of  the  lakes  and  the  Sc 
Lawrence,  and  subsequently  quarreled  and  n^arred  with  the  Dela- 
wares,  who,  as  thev  told  the  stor\',  were  of  course  rerv  much 
abused. 

For  the  various  Indian  tradition^.  I  refer  to  the  learned  aofboTt 
above  named,  and  for  the  corjje'i-iure?  of  European  writer?  on  tbe 
first  peopling  of  our  continent  from  e\  er}'  nation  of  every  part  of 
the  knowo  world.  Onondaga  we  know  w  as  the  ^n'eat  council-hoase 
of  the  Iroquois  confederacy.  But  we  do  not  know  that  it  was  tbe 
spot  "  where  men  of  the  ^lalay  race  from  the  southwest,  and  of  the 
Tartar  blood  form  the  northwest,  and  of  the  Gothick  stock  from 
tbe  northeast,  have  succe?si%'ely  contended  for  supremacy  and  rale^ 
and  which  may  be  considered  as  having  been  possessed  by  each, 
before  the  French,  Dutch,  or  English,  had  ever  vi<iied  or  known 
the  country  !''  Yet,  thu?  philosophers  and  historians  amuse  tbem- 
aelves^by  writing  and  publishing*  what  is  called  history. 

All  that  has  been  said,  or  can  be  said,  i«  brought  together  very 
pleasantly  in  a  small  compass  by  Mr.  Mouhon,  and  be  endfr— no 
&ult  of  bis — for  even*  speculator  on  the  subject,  as  to  who  where, 
or  from  whence  came  the  aborigines  of  America,  must  end 
"  Who  can  say." 


Appexdh  B. — Vol.  1.,  p.  29. 

The  following  is  from  an  intelligent  friend,  educated  in  ! 
England,  travelled  in  Europe,  and  for  d  number  of  years,  settled 
in  the  western  part  of  New  York,  surrounded  at  the  time,  by  the 
Iroquois.  His  decease  is  a  los.«  both  to  his  family  and  the  com- 
munity. I  may,  without  indelicacy,  name  the  late  Samuel  AL 
Hopkins,  at  one  time,  an  eminent  counsellor  at  law  in  this  city. 

"  Dear  Sir, — The  native  Indians  of  this  part  of  North  America* 
appear  to  me,  to  be  a  people  exceedingly  remarkable — whether  we 
look  at  the  question  of  their  origin  ;  their  character  and  manoeri, 
or  their  regular,  and  as  it  seems  neressar\-  tendency  to  final  ex- 
tinction. Before  this  last  event  shall  arrive,  I  have  often  felt  anx- 
ioiUf  that  some  Tacitus  should  snatch  from  the  winds  the  Sybil-leal 
which  contains  the  delineation  of  their  exceedingly  peculiar  cha- 
ncter,  and  hand  it  down  for  the  wonder  of  ages,  that  shall  pass 
after  tbe  enqtiirer  is  gone.  But  in  truth,  it  is  equally  wanted  by  the 
^jpnaeot  age,  and  even  by  men  of  information,  who  live  alnxMt 
them— ibri  think  thau  the  greater  pan  of  our  own  comitiy- 


APPENDIX  B.  Ill 

men,  have  little  other  idea  of  Indians  than  Europeans,  who  seem 
to  conceive  of  them,  merely  as  ir/W,  ferocious — and  unsocial,  like 
beasts  of  prey. 

In  person,  it  appears  to  me,  that  our  Indians  are  above  the  size 
of  European  nations — thin  limbs,  both  neat  and  muscular.  In 
countenance,  course,  rou«;h,  and  huge,  so  that  few  of  the  women 
even  in  youth,  posses:*  beauty,  and  in  aje,  are  very  ugly. 

Their  capacities  of  mind,  place  ^them  in  my  judgment,  among 
the  most  bright  and  intelliirent  of  all  the  varieties  of  the  race  of  man 
— Yet,  here  lies  their  peculiarity  which  strikes  my  mind  so  forceably, 
and  which  I  shall  be  too  feeble  and  imperfect  in  attempting  to 
describe. 

First  of  all  comes  their  vntameahle  character,  as  I  call  it — and 
yet,  it  would  cost  me  sheets  to  explain  to  a  foreigner,  in  what  sense, 
and  how  untamraUe — for  they  always  live  in  towns — no  people  on 
earth  are  so  peaceable  among  themselves — all  our  experience  on 
the  northern  frontier,  shews  them  to  be  good  and  kind  neighbours 
when  treated  justly — and  they  shew  the  utmost  aptitude  for  acquir- 
in«:  arts,  letters  and  sciences,  whenever  they  choose  to  apply  to  it— 
I  never  heanl  of  family  broils — parties  of  any  kind,  nor  domestick 
quarrels,  except  when  excited  by  ardent  spirits— or  by  the  inter- 
ference of  white  people. 

Then  how  or  why  nntamenhh"  ?  They  seem  invincibly  attached 
to  the  hufifrr  stah,,  and  to  a  community  of  goods,  (lands)  or  more 
truly,  to  have  no  property  at  all  except  the  utensils  and  stock  of 
each  family,  and  the  i^un,  etc.,  of  each  hunter  ;  this,  however,  as  to 
propert)'  has  some  exceptions. 

But  to  the  position  that  they  ncrer  sit  down  in  the  regular  pur^ 
suit  of  property,  or  comfort  in  asrricultural  or  civick  life — that  they 
meter  adopt  the  manners  and  pursuits  of  while  people  permanently 
— never  live  intermixed  amons:  us  in  anv  manner  ;  to  this  as  far  as 
I  learn,  there  has  never  been  in  the  200  years  of  our  national  history 
oaf  $i»vfr  rxcf'pfion. 

It  is  200  years  since  our  ancestors  began  to  study  their  language 
and  reduce  it  to  wriiinir  and  irrammar ;  to  leach  them  ours ;  build 
colleges  to  educate  their  children  ;  caress,  bribe,  flatter,  and  make 
them  scholars,  and  in  some  instances  I  believe  sincere  christians. 
The  boys  learned  Latin,  Cireek  and  Mathematicks,  and  often  were 
the  best  scholars  in  forms  and  classes,  by  which  they  were  caressed 
and  beloved.  Their  taste  was  fine,  and  their  manners  polished  ; 
but  some  went  immediately  back  to  their  tribe  and  hunted — some 
preached  Christianity  many  years,  and  then  became  drunkards. 
Sonoe  (say  ^>kenando  of  ( >neid:i)  lived  and  died  Christians,  but 
^ith  Indian  manners.  I  have  never  heard  of  one  who  lived  and 
diedy  reared  and  left,  a  family  and  property  in  the  manner  of  white 


IV  APPBNDJX  B. 

people.     Tbey  fly  the  face  of  civni2^d  society  and  domestick  bar 
bits,  and  yet  to  a  great  extent  have  a  civilization  of  their  own. 

I  could  answer  all  arguments  about  their  depressed  condition 
and  much  such  stuff.  They  are  not  depressed.  Their  chiefs  go  to 
Albany  and  Washington  and  dine  with  govemours  and  pre^dents. 

How  wonderfully  different  the  African — dull,  sensual,  tame, 
beyond  all  the  tribes  of  men ;  so  that  you  can  hardly  drive  bim 
out  of  the  town,  nor  even  make  him  hunt^  or  go  into  the  woods  at 
all,  unless  you  drag  him  there  as  a  slave. 

The  Indian  tamed  is  like  a  fox  tamed,  and  not  more  like  ns 
than  that  fox  is  like  a  dog. 

Perhaps  their  oratory  is  the  only  irah  of  their  character  well 
understood  by  the  publick.  I  fully  accede  to  all  that  is  said  of  it, 
though  I  never  heard  their  speakers  on  zny  great  occasion.  I 
knew  Red  Jacket  tvell;  I  place  him  in  point  of  native  talents  (and 
powers  as  I  believe  to  persuade,  delight  or  astonish)  on  a  level 
with  the  greatest  speakers  of  the  age,  in  England,  Ireland  or 
America.  A  friend  of  mine,  a  man  of  genius,  who  had  well 
studied  the  Ancients  and  Moderns,  and  who  heard  one  of  Red 
Jacket's  greatest  efforts,  declared  to  me  that  the  dignity,  grace, 
and  power  of  the  man,  gave  an  idea  which  he  could  never  other- 
wise have  had,  of  what  Demosthenes  must  have  been. 

But  the  publick  do  not  know  that  these  speeches  are  studied  and 
prepared  with  the  utmost  care — that  they  are  delivered  in  a  highly 
cultivated  dialect,  or  kind  of  court  (council)  language,  which  the 
common  people  can  scarcely,  if  at  all,  understand  ;  and  that  the  ear 
of  a  council  of  chiefs  is  as  nicely  tuned  to  all  the  harmonies  of 
language,  as  that  of  the  Athenian  populace  was.  To  aid  this 
harmony,  their  flexible  language  submits  (euphoniae  gratia)  to  every 
imaginable  contortion,  so  that  even  one  word  shall  be  divided  in 
two,  and  receive  another  entire  word  between  its  parts  to  aid  the 
harmony  or  force  of  a  sentence. 

If  I  am  right  in  the  assertion,  with  what  amazement  will  yQu  learn 
that  they  have  no  poetry  :  I  mean,  no  metrical  poetry.  At  least,  I 
never  could  hear  of  any  thing  of  the  kind.  Equally  astonishing — 
no  musick — for  tliough  I  have  heard  them  when  half  drunk  muttering 
some  lugubrious  sounds  with  the  voice,  and  have  seen  and  heard  a 
flute  with  three  or  four  notes,  on  no  scale  or  proportion,  and  ma- 
king no  melody  whatever;  yet  I  conceive  these  are  merely  imita- 
tions of  what  they  have  seen  among  us,  and  not  their  own  ancient 
traditionary  attainments. 

From  my  infancy  I  heard  of  Indian  wU.  I  have  not  heard  mtieh 
in  this  countr}',  except  a  few  fine  repartees,  in  the  serious  stjle,  by 
•ome  of  the  great  men.  But  in  my  boyhood,  every  tale  of  other 
timat  in  New  England  was  fraught  %vith  instances  of  retorts  said  to 
bn  made  by  squaws  and  Indiana  of  the  common  sort— of  wUcb  I 


AFPBNDIX  B.  V 

ooij  sav,  that  i/  our  fathers  made  them  for  the  InJianSy  then 
tbey  made  better  speakers  for  them  than  for  tlieniselves.  I  could 
■ow  repeat  some,  (too  loiii:  to  explain  iiuelili^ibiy)  the  exquUiie 
felicity  and  keenness  of  which,  equal  any  tiiin*;  winch  we  have  re- 
CQfded  of  the  Greeks — vet  the  si\  le  is  widelv  ditierent — the  flavour 
IS  didereut  as  Burgundy  and  Ciiampai^ne. 

Their  manners  are  Asiatic — (I  speak  of  the  men  of  rank)— 
sedate,  calm«  dehberate*  crave — a  strict  attention  to  these  things, 
which  not  even  the  approach  of  danger  (except  in  battle,  when  thejr 
become  animated  with  ra!;:e  and  tierceness)  can  ever  disturb. 

They  look  with  supreme  contempt  on  our  quick  walk  and  ges- 
tures, rapid  talkin<r«  iau;chin(;«  and  tridio:;  airs.     Nothing  can  be 
more  decorous  than  their  councils.     Take  another  example,  well 
known  :  they  express  surprize  at  nothing — not  even  at  things  which 
10  them  must  be  most  astonishiui;.     Those  who  never  saw  a  ciiv, 
vill  walk  throu::!)  New  York  or  London,  and  neither  gaze  nor  eveQ 
kok  at  any  thin^.     The  common  Indians  would  gaze  and  wonder 
•t  manv  articles  of  mv  furniture,  when  I  came  here,  but  the  chiefs 
voald  api^ear  to  see  nothing,  nor  would  have  so  much  tlie  air  of 
ig  as  the  most  polislied  Englishman  or  Frenchman. 
This  is  the  efiect  of  much  iHctdcutioH^  and  would  lead  me  to 
speak  of  the  subject  of  their  K  Juration — a  topick  which  would  sup- 
priae  your  readers,  if  you  could  collect  a  full  statement.     1  mean 
iDo,  xhe  moral  not  the  phwcal  part  of  their  education — for  equally 
will  vou  be  asionisiied  to  know  that  it  is  to  ^'«l/  more  than  to  the 
physical,  that  1  r/W/iV  they  attend.     I  hiow  a  good  deal  of  this,  from 
conversation  with  some  of  their  chiefs,  through  interpreters.    Tbey 
have  detailed  to  me  the  advice  they  gave  to  their  children — in  which 
there  was  a  creat  deal  of  s^ood  sense  and  real  wisdom.    1  once  saw 
tbeyoun:;  men  of  two  towns  about  to  enter  upon  a  very  masculine 
ud  somewhat  dangerous  game  of  b^tlly  where  some  rougher  s|>ort 
iDight  be  expected,  and  therefore  danger  of  sudden  quarrels,  (a 
more  elegant  game — nt  rival  for  any  drawings  I  have  seen  of  the 
Grecian — and  which,  (>erhaps,  I  may  try  to  describe  to  you  here- 
ifter)  when  the  old  chief  addressed  them,  I  think,  more  than  ao 
Itour,  to  inspire  them  with  gi>od  temper,  foriituile,  torbearance,  etc. 
Tbe  enect  was  most  adminble  :  for  when  thev  entered  in  the  <rame 
t  voQQg  man  was  soon  disabled  by  a  blow  from  his  antagonist's 
tKket ;  but  the  smile  with  which  he  answered  that  the  hurt  was 
^diog,  and  the  perfect  lairness  with  which  his  antagonist  stopped 
^  pursuit,  (so  the  rules  were)  inspired  me  whh  the  highest  idea  of 
the  power  witii  which  they  are  taught  to  controul  themselves. 

Ther  have  distinct,  well  denned  notions  of  £:ood  manners — more 
^y  just  tiian  ours.  These  are  inculcated  with  great  care;  and 
^justly  remark  it,  when  our  freedom  of  maooers  allow  of  real 


n  APPB3n>ix  c. 

impoliteness — Tor  example,  several  talking  at  once,  or  one  inter- 
nipting  anoiher — ^which  they  hold  to  be  unpardonable* 

Speaking  of  the  want  of  mfuick,  I  ought  to  hare  mentioned  what 
6ne  Toices,  and  consequently  ears,  they  have,  wherever  they  bare 
been  formed  into  religious  societies,  and  taught  musick:  their  voices, 
especially  of  the  women,  have  been  admired  as  not  merely  fine, 
but  remarkably  so. 


Appexdii  G. — Vol.  L.  p.  30. 

The  Hudson  River  has  its  source  in  44®  5'  N.  Lat.,  and  nms 
winding  an  east  course  one  hundred  miles  to  Sandy  Hill,  receiving 
on  the  wav,  Schroon  and  Sacandaira  Ki%*ers^  Its  course  is  fron 
Sandv  Hill  to  New  York  Harbour,  south :  and  raav  be  thus  divided : 
from  Sandv  Hill  to  Albanv,  50  miles — thence  to  New  York,  14^ 
If  we  measure  the  junction  of  the  irreat  river  with  the  ocean  at  the 
Narrows,  it  makes  eigiit  miles  more,  and  a  total,  from  its  source,  of 
301  miles. 

Hudson  commenced  his  voyage  up  the  North  River  on  the  iMi 
of  September,  1009,  and  went  that  day  as  far  as  Yonkers.  The  next 
day,  passing  through  Tappan  and  Haverstraw  (oat  straw)  Bays,  be 
arrived  between  Si^ny  and  Verpimck's  Points,  **a  strait  between 
two  points  which  trended  N.E.  by  N.  one  league:"  he  saw  *•  very 
high  lands,**  and  proceeding,  anchored  off  West  Point.  The  ma- 
riner has  expressed  some  of  his  feelin:r*,  as  he  went  forward,  and 
we  may  imagine  more.  Passin^r  the  Hi:rh!ands,  he  anchored  foe 
the  third  ni:;ht,  in  the  bav  bevond.  Fittv  miles  on  the  (burth  dav, 
brought  him  to  Catskill  Landiiii:.  He  had  seen  the  mountains,  oo 
his  way.  September  16th,  bmu^riii  him  between  Albany  and  Hod- 
son  City.  The  sixth  day  carried  him  six  lea^rues  hi::ber,  frequently 
croundins:,  and  anchoring  for  the  ni:rht  amon:r  shallows.  There- 
fore Moultou,  whom  I  follow,  siip(^>osed  the  Halt^moon  to  have 
cooe  up  as  hti^h  as  Castlecon — that  Inland  where  subsequently  the 
Dutch  built  their  first  fort  or  trading  house,  in  the  nei^fabourliood 
of  Albany. 

During  the  17th  and  15th  of  September,  Hudson  bad  cootinoed 
ftitadiy  intercourse  with  the  natives,  and  on  the  19th,  Mr.  Modtoa 
ioppoaes  the  Half-moon  proceeded  as  hi:rii  as  Albany.  For  fosr 
4vf9  he  continued  hu  friendly  intercourse  with  the  Indians  and  an 
tioQ  of  the  river.  Here  the  skipper  made  the  naii^res 
by  civing  them  ardent  spirits.  Whether  this,  or  the  dmnfcn 
OQ  IManhitlin  Island* described  bv  Heckewelder,  wis  the< 


APPENDIX  D.  Yll 

mencement  of  native  degradation,  I  know  not.  Here  it  was  that 
Hudson  saw  some  warriours  of  the  Iroquois.  Thus  about  the 
same  time,  Hudson  introduced  rum,  and  Champlain,  gunpowder, 
for  the  destruction  of  the  Five  Nations.  Descending  the  Hudson, 
and  stopping  occasionally,  the  friendly  natives  on  all  occasions 
gave  them  welcome ;  but  the  mate  of  the  Half-moon  seeing  one  of 
these  poor  creatures  carrying  off  a  trifle,  the  value  or  use  of  which 
was  unknown  to  him,  showed  his  super  iour  intelligence,  civilization, 
and  powcTj  by  shooting  him.  Panick-struck,  the  companions  of 
,  tlie  sufferer  fled — the  ship's  boat  was  manned  in  pursuit — an  Indian 
who  was  swimming,  put  his  hand  on  the  boat's  gunwale,  and  it  was 
struck  off  at  a  blow,  by  one  of  the  Christians,  and  the  bleeding 
wretch  drowned.  Thus  it  was  that  wherever  Europeans  came 
among  the  native  Americans,  they  marked  the  spot  with  blood. 
On  the  2d  of  October,  the  Half-moon  returned  to  Manhattan* 
Two  of  the  unoffending  natives  had  been  against  their  will,  seized 
somewhere  in  New  York  Harbour,  and  carried  up  the  river  by 
Hudson.  They  had  escaped,  and  .preceded  the  ship  in  her  de- 
scent, no  doubt  communicating  the  story  of  their  wrongs.  The 
more  recent  injury  and  murders,  doubtless  had  been  told  to  the 
river  Indians,  near  Manhattan  Island :  and  now,  armed  for  revenge, 
the  natives  appeared  in  their  canoes,  and  approached  the  ship. 
They  discharged  their  arrows,  and  in  return,  by  musketry  and 
cannon,  nine  were  killed,  and  the  rest  fled  in  dismay.  Three  or 
four  days  after  this,  Hudson  put  to  sea. 


Appendix  D. — Vol.  L,  p.  34. 

1606  James  I.,  by  letters  patent,  granted  to  Sir  Thomas  Gates, 
Sir  George  Somers,  Richard  Hakluyt  and  others,  all  the 
territory  in  America  lying  on  the  sea  coast,  between  the  34th  and 
45th  degrees  of  north  latitude :  i.  e.  from  Wilmington  North 
Carolina  to  Canada :  together  with  the  Islands  within  100  miles 
from  the  shore.  The  design  was  to  colonize  Virginia ;  i.  e.  all 
the  territory  then  so  called,  and,  as  usual  to  propagate  Christianity^ 
an  excuse  made  for  all  the  schemes  of  cupidity,  conquest  and  mur- 
der which  were  adopted  by  the  kings  and  people  of  that  good  old 
time.  The  patentees  were  divided  into  two  companies,  a  south 
and  north.  The  first  was  generally  for  the  division  since  called 
Virginia,  and  the  second  for  New  England.  The  supreme  go- 
yernment  was  vested  in  a  council  residing  in  England  and  appoint- 
ed by  the  king.     A  second  council,  likewise  appointed  by  and 


▼HI  Appsnix  Db 

Erected  by  roral  wisdom,  was  to  reside  in  the  cotoor.  The  eoli>* 
nists  were  to  hdre  all  the  rights  and  pririle^es  of  Englishmen,  bat 
(a  glaring  contradiction)  no  voice  in  governing  tliemselTes,  the  kinq 
and  bis  council  and  bb  deputies  framing  all  laws.  The  views  o( 
the  patentees  were  gain  alone,  and  by  the  shortest  road.  The 
views  of  James,  judging  by  the  code  of  laws  he  promulgated  fior 
the  colonists,  were  more  liberal.  He  made  no  pretence  of  joRf- 
diction  OTer  the  Indians,  as  the  Spaniards  had  done  ;  and  appeared 
to  respect  their  personal  liberties,  while  he  gave  away  their  coantrr. 
It  was  in  thi^  year  that  Bartholomew  Go<nold.  Captain  John  Smith 
and  Georce  Percv  embarked  for  Virginia :  and  in  1607.  tbeT  and 
150  others  arrived  in  Che^apeakp  b^y.  Jamestown  and  James 
river  received  their  names  from  these  drst  ED:rlL*hmen.  who  ibond- 
ed  a  permanent  establishment  in  America.  Smith  was  the  hero 
of  Virginia,  and  deserves  ever}*  American's  reverence.  He  and 
his  associates  are  charjreable,  however,  with  total  nei^Iect  of  the 
claims  nhich  the  Indians  had  to  their  soil.  It  was  taken  from 
them  oiihef^itatindv.  The  Dutch  of  Niew  Nederiandt.  and  the 
Puritans  of  New  England,  had  more  enlightened  views  on  thb 

subject. 
1609         A  new  charter  was  granted  to  a  ereat  company  of  adven- 

t'jrer»,  and  the  colony  in  Vir:rinia  was  consigned  to  Lord 
Delaware  as  cotemonr.  Error,  toliv  and  tumult  threatened  the 
colony,  which  was  arain  «aved  by  Smith :  but  an  accidental  per- 
sonal iniun*  obiijed  him  to  return  to  England,  where  he  died,  Jane 

'HUt.  10:51. 
1614  In  ih!*  year.  Captain  Argail.  the  ucprincipled  scoundrel 

who  seized  Pocahontas  to  exact  ransom  from  her  Uiber. 
was  despatched  by  Dale,  the  covemour  of  Virricia.  oa  a  pLradcal 
vovace  araln*t  Port  Ilovai.     The  French  bsd  in  1C<>3.  built  Port 

Roval  ir.  me  Bav  of  Fundv.  (ii  Acadie.)  Arainst  missev 
IGOo     iJerr.er.t  in  lime  oi" peace  Ar^al!  went.  piiindere.j  ux  place  and 

di*persed  the  initabi'^ints  :  but  as  t^  >eft  no  rarrison,  tbe 

1614  French  soon  returned  lo  their  habitations.     Arrall.  on  hs 
return  voyage.  vL-:ted  Manha:t23  Island :  and  the  Dmc^ 

(a  few  traders^)  subnciited  to  acknowledre  themselves  tribotafj  to 
Virriaia :  hot  resijmet!  :i;eir  rirni*  as  soon  as  ne  deputed.  It 
VBs  onlv  in  1611  that  tbe  D-jKn  West  India  Com  nan  v  wis 
ced^  and  sent  Block  zrxi  t  nri^r-ansee  io  New  Neil^riaod, 

a  few  hats  were  er-ened  for  tr^.^inr  wjih  the  Iodiaii&. 

1615  was  iKyt  until  161-3  tLai  the**  Djirh  traders  bcih  a 
faft  oo  the  islini^.     In    1014  UK^re  was  oenoer  farL  av 

IMl     ^oiejjftour.  oor  eftiblished  rov^rnTneM.      In    162K  ihe 
ti^iles  Geoeral  rnnied   New  Neiherhtrf  to  ii>e  Weit  |»> 
ConpiiiT ;  aod  ibej  neoi  a  rein  JbrceiDeoi  lo  the 


APPXNDIX  X.  IX 

16S3    New  Amsterdam  in  1623,  by  Captain  May.     In  this  year 

the  Dutch  in  Manhattan  buih  a  fort  on  the  bluff  com- 
mmodiiig  the  point  of  the  island,  and  probably  had  a  chief  man, 

captain  or  director,  aUhough  we  know  of  no  authorized 
162*5     director-general,  until  Peter  Minuit  in  1625.     Charles  I.y 

succeeding  James,  assumed  arbitrary  power  over  Virginia. 
Oppressed  and  discouraged  by  the  tyranny  of  the  king  and  his 
govemour,  Har\'ey,  the  colonists  were  attacked  by  the  Indians,  and 

another  bloody  strng«;le  ensued.  The  threatened  troubles 
1639     in  England  induced  Charles  to  relax  his  tyranny  in  Virginia, 

and  the  people  regained  a  part  of  their  rights,  which  occa- 

1651  sioned  the  espousal  of  his  cause  by  the  colonists.     The 
parliament  reduced  them.     The  celebrated  Navigation  Act 

1652  decreed,  that  no  production  of  Asia,  Africa  or  America, 
should  be  imported  into  the  English  dominions  except  io 

Tessels  belonging  to  Englishmen,  (or  English  colonists)  the  captain 
and  majority  of  crew  being  Englishmen.  Cromwell  governed 
Virginia  with  wisdom,  and  allowed  the  assembly  to  choose,  as  govern 
nour,  Sir  William  Berkley.  The  Old  Cavalier,  at  Cromwell's  death 
declared  for  Charles  II.  He  returned  thanks  to  God,  that  there 
were  no  free  schools  nor  printing ;  ''  for  learning  has  brought 
heresy  and  disobedience  and  sects  into  the  world,  and  printing  has 
divulged  them  and  libels  against  the  best  government :  God  keep 
OS  from  both  !''     This  was  a  6t  king's  governour  of  a  colony. 


Appendix  E. — Vol  L,p.  39. 

With  a  generous  disposition,  honest  intentions,  enthusiastick 
love  of  his  profession,  and  much  skill  as  a  navigator,  Henry  Hud- 
lOQ  was  not  without  faults ;  and  to  these,  as  usual,  his  misfortunes 
nny  in  part,  if  not  altogether,  be  attributed.  Some  of  these  errours 
belonged  to  the  time  in  which  he  lived.  It  was  a  grievous  crime 
to  seize  men  in  New  York  Harbour,  or  any  where  else,  and  force 
^m  to  accompany  him  and  his  ship,  they  knew  not  whither.  Al- 
^'K)ugh  he  did  not  murder  the  man  who  bad  borne  off  some  trifle 
from  his  ship  in  the  North  River,  yet  we  do  not  find  that  he  even 
fBproved  his  mate,  the  second  in  command,  for  that  act;  and  it  was 
^same  mate  who  was  a  principal  in  causing  Hudson's  dreadful 
iwh.  When  another  Indian  was  murdered  in  the  North  River 
by  one  of  the  crew,  we  do  not  hear  that  he  was  even  reproved  for 
^  barbarity.  And  we  may  reasonably  suppose  that  the  resent- 
■Mlof  the  natives  who  appeared  hostile  on  the  return  of  the  Half- 

3/1 


X  APPXITDIX  K. 

moon  to  ManbattaD  lahod,  might  have  been  allayed  bj  other 
than  in  their  blood.  It  was  a  fault  likewise  in  Hodson,  that  he 
took  with  him,  on  bis  last  voyage,  any  person  who  bad  been  muti- 
nous, or  otherwise  guilty,  during  the  preceding.  He  had  in  addi- 
tion, as  it  seems,  refused  to  take  with  him  a  person  chosen  by  his 
employers,  and  instead,  placed  his  confidence  in  a  youth  called 
Henry  Green,  who  had  by  his  dissolute  life  reduced  himself  to 
beggary,  and  had  been  abandoned  by  his  relatives  and  friendi. 
Yet  a  forgiving  disposition  might  have  caused  the  one  indlscretioo, 
and  a  benevolent  hope  of  rescuing  Green  from  bis  evil  courses 
might  have  caused  the  second.  But  that  he  was  deceived  in  both, 
is  evident.  The  mate  who  had  triumphed  in  murder,  was  onfit  to 
be  trusted ;  and  the  youth  whose  life  had  been  passed  in  the  de- 
baucheries of  London,  was  more 'likely  to  deceive  by  his  hypocrisy, 
and  be  guided  by  selfishness,  than  to  be  reformed  by  the  benevo- 
lence of  his  benefactor.  Thus,  Green  was  taken  on  the  voyage 
as  the  captain's  clerk,  instead  of  Colbum — chosen  by  the  mercbams 
who  fitted  out  the  expedition.  But  his  evil  habits,  cootrKted 
bj  a  life  of  sensuality,  prevailed,  to  Hudson's  destruction,  over 
every  good  natural  feeling  or  sense  of  gratitude.  He  had  become 
depravedly  selfish ;  and  the  selfish  man,  whether  a  conqueroor,  like 
Napoleon  Bonaparte,  or  a  fugitive  from  stanation,  like  Gieen, 
will  sacrifice  the  lives  or  happiness  of  others  for  bis  own  giatilic^ 
tion. 

Before  Hudson  had  passed  the  straits  into  the  bay  which  bears 
his  name,  dissentions  and  mutinous  conduct  prevailed  among  his 
crew.  Green  had  gained  the  favour  of  the  captain,  and  domineered 
over  others  of  the  company.  He  had  beaten  the  surgeon,  quar- 
relled with  some  of  the  crew,  and  taken  part  with  others,  in  their 
discontents.  After  Hudson,  thinking  that  he  was  entering  the  In- 
dian Ocean,  refused  to  take  in  victuals  at  Dijrges's  Island,  sought 
a  passage  by  the  south  coast  of  the  bay  in  vain ;  on  turning 
again  to  the  north,  his  discontented  crew,  stimulated  by  the  mate 
and  boatswain,  became  so  mutinous  that  the  master  displaced  these 
oflicers  and  appointed  others.  This  was  cause  of  deadly  enmity 
in  the  degraded  officeis.  It  is  supposed  that  Hudson,  on  finding  in- 
stead of  the  India  passage,  that  he  was  embayed,  became  distracted, 
eooimitted  many  errours,  especially  in  resolving  to  winter  in  that  deso- 
ngkm.^  It  was  now  the  last  of  October.  The  summer  had 
\  while  he  was  sailing  to  and  fro,  fruitlessly  seeking  an  outkf 
Utere  there  was  none.  In  November,  he  moored  bis  ship  in  a  cove, 
when  she  wis  frozen  in,  and  remained  until  the  next  June.  Hers 
die  ctrpenter  with  difficulty  erected  a  shelter  for  the  crew,  and  the 
fsmaioing  slock  of  provisions  was  shared  among  the  men,  lewaids 
beiiu;  oflbred  for  those  who  should  by  hunting,  or  fishing,  add  to  the 
mmSL    Tor  three  months  they  subnsted  on  Piamiagaiis  «iid  other 


APPENDIX  B.  XI 

gioose.  In  the  spring,  they  killed  swans,  wild  geese,  and  ducks* 
Sickness  afflicted  many  of  the  crew,  and  famine  by  degrees  stared 
«U  in  the  face.  They  were  reduced  to  feed  on  moss  and  the  branch- 
es of  shrubs.  As  the  ice  broke  away,  they  obtained  some  relief, 
from  fishing,  and  some  from  the  natives  of  this  dreary  world  who 
visited  them. 

Hudson  seeing  tlie  distant  woods  on  fire,  fitted  out  his  shallop, 
and  went  in  search  of  relief  from  the  natives,  but  in  vain ;  he  re- 
turned,.worse  than  he  went.     He  now  prepared  to  leave  the  dreary 
cove  where  they  had  passed  seven  months  of  misery.     Hudson 
delivered  all  the  bread  out,  which  was  one  pound  per  man.     And 
Habakuk  Pricket  says,  that  when  he  did  so,  he  wept.    They  steered 
north-east,  to  find  a  passage  from  their  icy  prison — they  caught  a 
few  fish — they  were  obstructed  by  ice — the  discontents  increased, 
and  6nally  broke  out  in  an  open  mutiny,  headed  by  the  infamous 
Green.     Juett,  the  discarded  mate,  and  Wilson,  the  reduced  boat- 
swain, were  now  the  friends  of  Green,  and  leaders  in  mutiny.    The 
mate  and  boatswain  thought  themselves  injured:  but  what  causa 
had  Green  for  hatred  towards  Hudson  f     We  are  told  that  tlie 
gunner  having  died,  his  clothing,  as  is  customary,  was  put  up  at 
auction,  that  the  sailors  might  buy  what  they  wanted,  and  the  mo- 
ney resulting  from  the  sale  be  kept  for  the  heirs  of  the  deceased* 
Green  coveted  a  particular  garment,  but  Hudson  sold  it  to  one 
who  bid  more.     This  is  the  supposed  cause  of  the  young  man's 
enmity.     But  the  real  cause  was  the  wicked  disposition  engendered 
by  his  previous  evil  habits  while  a  debauched  reveller  in  London. 
It  is  in  vain  that  you  give  to  the  selfish :  they  require  all;  if  you 
fefuse  the  last  thing  coveted,  you  make  an  enemy  by  the  refusal* 
Alexander  wept  because  there  were  no  more  worlds  to  conquer — 
Bonaparte  sacrificed  millions  because  a  part  of  the  world  rejected 
his  sway — from  the  same  disposition.  Green  doomed  bis  benefactor 
to  death,  because  he  was  denied  possession  of  a  garment  he  chose 
to  crave. 

The  mutineers  having  determined  to  sacrifice  Hudson,  his  son, 
ius  fiiends,  and  the  sick  men  of  the  crew,  and  thus  reduce  the 
pumber  to  be  fed.  Green,  in  the  latter  part  of  June,  came  to  Pricket 
to  the  dead  of  night,  and  disclosed  the  plot,  wishing  to  save  him 
sod  gain  his  influence  with  Sir  Dudley  Digges,  when  they  arrived 
IQ  England*  Pricket  endeavoured  in  vain  to  dissuade  the  conspi- 
ttors  from  the  execution  of  their  design.  Green  urged  that  what 
they  had  sworn  to  do  was  the  only  means  of  saving  the  lives  of  a 
ptft,  by  sacrificing  a  smaller  part,  and  Pricket,  the  narrator,  ack- 
nowledges that  he  took  an  oath  in  conjunction  with  the  mutineers; 
iHit  it  was  to  be  true  to  God,  his  prince,  and  his  country,  in  the 
•ction  then  in  hand. 

On  the  S8d  of  June,  1610,  (which  we  mav  consider  as  the  daj 


XII  APPENDIX  P* 

of  Hudson's  death,)  upon  his  coming  out  of  the  cabin  at  the  ed 
of  Juett,  the  discarded  mate,  two  conspirators,  John  Thoroia  and 
Bennet  Matthews,  seized  him  by  tlie  collar,  and  Wilson,  the  boat- 
swain, stood  ready  to  tie  his  hands  behind  him.  He  asked  wint 
they  meant?  They  answered,  "You  will  know  when  you  are  in 
the  shallop  !*'  They  drove  all  the  sick  people  upon  deck,  and  then 
forced  them  and  the  captain  into  the  small  boat,  which  they  bid 
ready  to  receive  them.  John  King,  the  carpenter,  and  John  Hud- 
son^ the  captain's  son,  who  would  not  join  the  conspiratorSr  but 
rather  ciiose  to  share  the  fate  of  the  honest  and  innoceDt,  were 
added  to  the  devoted  crew  of  the  boat;  and  thus  were  nine  penoMt 
assuredly  the  best  of  the  ship's  company,  including  the  intelligent 
and  honest  Henry  Hudson,  committed  in  an  open  shallop  to  the 
merciless  sea,  without  compass  to  guide,  or  food  to  sustain  their 
strength. 

The  mutineers  cut  the  fast  which  connected  the  shallop  to  the 
ship,  and  then  set  sail  from  the  devoted  victims  as  from  their  dead- 
liest enemies.  The  sufferings  of  these  wretches  were  deservedly 
great :  Green,  Wilson,  and  some  others  were  killed  by  savages  at 
an  island  where  they  had  landed.  In  the  course  of  their  borne* 
ward  voyage,  the  mutineers  suffered  the  extremes  of  famine,  and 
Juett,  the  mate,  died  of  hunger.  The  least  guilty  of  this  crew 
arrived  at  Ireland  on  the  IGth  September  IGll ;  from  whence  they 
were  forwarded  to  the  proprietors  of  the  ship,  in  Londou. 


Appendix  F. —  Vol.  1.,  p.  40-46. 

1623  I  ABSTRACT  ffom  General  Jeremiah  Johnson's  translation, 
the  conditions  entered  into  and  made,  as  I  presume  at  this  time, 
•*  between  the  lords,  the  Burgomasters,  of  the  city  of  Amsterdam, 
and  the  West  India  Company,  by  the  approbation  of  their  high 
mightinesses,  the  States  General  of  the  United  Netherlands,"'  pre- 
sented to  all  who  wish  to  go  as  colonists  to  New  Netherlands,  who 
arc  directed  to  apply  to  the  Honourable  Lord  Coctirad  Burghf 
counsellor  and  ancient  scheppen  ;  Hcnrick  Roefers,  upper  com- 
missary of  the  Kxchanc:e;  Eduart  Man,  Isaac  Van  Bccck^  Hector 
Pictcirz,  and  Joafi  Tai/sjiel;  commissioners  and  directors,  ap- 
pointed by  the  Burgomasters,  upon  the  authority  of  the  council  of 
the  city,  (Amsterdam)  who  shall  hold  their  sittings  provisionally, at 
the  West  India  house,  on  Tuesdays  and  Thursdays,  in  the  after- 
noon at  half  past  three  o'clock. 

Ist. — The  colonists,  their  families,  household  furniture  and  ne- 
eessariea  to  be  found  proper  shipping,  on  the  following  conditions* 


▲ppsNmx  p.  xnt 

dtjr  to  make  the  best  possible  conditioiis  with  die 
Comets  iiid  masters. 

M. — Tbe  city  to  [»ay  the  transport  money  as  an  ad\*ance  to  the 
caloaists.  to  be  re|>aid  as  hereafter  mentioned. 

4rii  &  Sth. — Tbe  city  shall  transport  the  colonists  to  a  fniitful 
had,  of  temperate  and  heahhful  climate*  on  a  salt  water  navigable 
Qifr;  ^For  which  an  a^rreement  has  been  made  with  the  West 
Ua  Company,  and  when?  no    other    persons  can  set  up  anjr 


ilL  The  city  ^*  shall  provide  a  suitable  piece  of*  land  on  tbe 
hak  of  a  ri^'er,  tor  a  secure  and  proi>er  dwelling  place,  provided 
villi  a  trench  and  wall  on  the  outer  side,  and  the  inner  ground  to 
khid  cot  in  streets^  a  market  and  lots  for  the  advanta^  of  mer- 
cbats«  mechanicks^  and  atrricuhurists/*  the  whole  to  be  done  at  the 
oast  of  the  citv  of  Amster^iam. 

« 

ith  &  Sth. — Said  city  shall  send  to  said  place  a  capable  school* 
■iister,  who  ^*  sliall  be  fore-reader  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  a 
badu  in  psalmody.*^     He  to  be  paid  by  said  city. 

Wl— The  colonists  are  to  be  pro vi  Jed  with  clothing  and  neces* 
wies  for  ooe  vear.  and  also  with  seed  grains,  bv  said  citv :  and 
«  city  of  Amsterdam,  shall  erect  a  lar^  warehouse  or  magaxine 
fe  the  storage  of  clothing,  and  necessaries  tor  the  colonists,  and 
bep  a  factor,  who  shall  supply  ever}*  colonist  with  clothing,  house* 
Ud  necessaries  and  instruments  of  hushandr}-,  at  the  same  price 
^  ther  bear  in  Holland ;  the  toll  of  the  company  not  to  be 
«hw5«d. 

lUth. — Concerning  the  toil  (commission)  of  tbe  company  that 
>  to  be  paid  according:  to  rates  annexed :  and  tlie  tolls  paid  in ' 
Ae  Xew  Netherlands,  shall  be  there  expended  in  the  erection,  and 
'^ipport  of  such  publick  works,  as  shall  be  authorized  by  the  citj 
tf  Amstecdam  aiui  the  West  InJia  Company. 

11th. — ^The  said  fortified  place  whether  it  be  called  a  citj  or 
tMra,  ^*  shall  he  governed  for  political  justice,  in  the  manner  of 
I,  according  to  tbe  present  practice  of  the  city  of  Am- 


liik — ^"^They  shall  first  have  a  (Scout)  sberififas  chief  of  police 
(•^amia)  installed  as  is  done  here.'' 

13th. — The  scout  shall  be  insulled  in  the  name  of  their  Hij 
Mi|fai]iiesises,  and  of  the  West  India  Company,  tor  the  deputies  oi 
Aanerdam,  who  for  that  purpose  by  procuratioo,  shall  give  autho- 
^  ID  tbe  directors* 

14th. — There  shall  also  be  three  burgomasters  chosen  by  the 
burghers,  from  the  honestest,  richest,  and  most  capable 

^Tbere  shall  be  five  or  seven  Scitppems^  (magistrates)  for 


XIT  APPENDIX  p. 

which  puqiose  the  burghers  shall  name,  a  double  number,  froin 
which  a  choice  shall  be  made  by  the  director,  upon  procoratioD, 
according  to  article  13th. 

16th. — When  the  city  or  town  shall  have  increased  to  the  num- 
ber of  two  hundred  families,  or  more,  then  the  burghers  shall  elect 
a  council  of  twenty  persons,  who  shall  assemble  in  council  with  the 
burgomasters  and  Scheppens,  and  resolve  upon  all  subjects  relating 
to  the  state  of  the  said  city.  And  this  council,  after  it  has  been 
thus  formed,  shall  have  power  to  fill  vacancies,  (arising  in  their 
number,  by  deaths  or  otherwise,)  by  ordering  the  election  of  other 
persons,  by  a  fair  majority  of  votes.  Elections  for  the  burgomas- 
ters, and  for  the  council  shall  be  held  annually.  **  The  said  body 
shall  also  have  the  nomination  of  the  double  number  of  Schepptm 
from  which  the  same  shall  be  appointed  as  aforesaid.*' 

We  have  seen,  by  Art.  14,  that  three  burgomasters  shall  be  cho- 
sen by  the  burghers ;  and  by  Art.  15,  that  the  burghers  are  also  to 
nominate  ten  or  fourteen  persons,  from  whom  the  director  is  to 
choose  five  or  seven  as  scheppens  or  magistrates.  But  (if  I  under- 
stand aright,)  when  the  city  has  increased,  then  the  burghers  are 
to  elect  this  third  estate  of  representatives — a  council  of  twenty — 
after  which,  this  council  of  twenty  (or  that  council  in /conjunction 
with  the  three  burgomasters,)  are  to  nominate  the  scheppens,  instead 
of  the  mass  of  burghers,  as  at  first. 

17th. — The  scheppens  may  give  final  judgment  upon  suits  not 
exceeding  one  hundred  guilders.  For  a  sum  above,  the  aggrieved 
party  may  appeal  to  the  director  and  council. 

18th. — The  scheppens  may  try  criminal  causes,  but  an  appeal 
'may  be  made  from  their  decision. 

19th. — The  city  of  Amsterdam  shall  send  a  smith,  a  wheelwrigbt, 
and  a  carpenter,  to  the  new  seulemenL 

20th. — The  city  of  Amsterdam  shall  cause  the  new  land  adja- 
cent to  the  new  settlement  to  be  laid  out  in  fields  for  tillage,  and 
make  roads  to  the  same. 

21st — To  every  person  who  wishes  to  pursue  the  cultivation  of 
the  earth,  (or  farming)  there  shall  be  granted  as  much  cultivable 
land  as  he  and  his  family  can  till,  from  twenty  to  thirty  morgem  or 
more,  upon  condition  that  all  such  land,  within  two  years  after  it 
is  granted,  shall  be  brought  into  cultivation,  upon  pain  of  forfeiture, 
and  of  the  same  being  granted  to  another. 

22d. — No  per  centage  is  to  be  required  on  any  land  so  granted 
for  ten  years  from  the  time  the  land  is  sowed  or  mowed  ;  nor  any 
kofTMnoney  nor  salt-money.  Neither  sh^il  the  cultivators  of  sowed 
land  be  burthened  at  the  expiration  of  the  ten  years,  more,  or  at 
higher  rates,  than  the  inhabitants  of  neighbouring  districts  which 
are  under  the  administration  of  the  West  India  Company  in  the 
New  Netherlands.     They  shall  also  be  free  from  the  teotfaa,  for 


l^MiU  Tctrs  from  tbe  dnie  of  the  sowing  or  niowinsr  as  tibresaid : 
Ml  oa  tbe  expintion  of  said  twentr  years^  a  tenth  shall  be  siveo  to 
the  citT  of  Ain$terciam«  it  bein^  utiders^ood  that  half  of  said  tenth 
sUi  be  appropriated  to  the  publick  works  and  per^soos  employed  in 
the  poblic  serrice  •for  repairinir  and  preserrin^  the  same*  And 
iIkk  wbeoerer  any  pouodaire  or  assessment  is  made,  the  same  shall 
be  employed  for  the  erection  and  maintaining  of  tlie  publiek  woffcs 
as  aforesaid. 

d3d. — The  city  of  Amsterdam  shall  send  ships  from  Holland 
far  the  prodoce  of  the  colonists  for  their  benefit,  they  consigning 
the  freieht  to  said  citv. 

d4ifa. — The  city  of  Amsterdam  shall  provide  irarehoiises  in  Hol- 
land for  the  reception  of  said  produce,  and  sell  the  same  for  the 
profit  of  the  ship}ief5,  and  invest  aixl  remit  the  proceeds  to  order, 
lor  a  conunission  of  two  per  cent.,  and  one-tenth  of  the  profit  to 
reinAnrse  said  city  for  the  money  it  has  advanced  for  the  transpor* 
tatioD  of  the  perssoas  and  goods  of  the  colonists  umtiJ  the  advance  is 
repaid  and  no  loneer. 

d5th. — The  colonists  may  be  stipplied  with  neces^saries  irom  tbe 
cary  warehouse,  at  the  set  price.  The  accounts  of  such  to  be  trana* 
mkted  to  Amsterdam. 

SGih. — The  colonists  may.  for  house  or  ship-buildiiu:,  and  abo 
far  sale,  cut  anv  umber  in  the  nearest  woods  of  their  district :  and 
rhere  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  West  India  Company  in 
Nethexlaixl.  from  land  that  has  not  been  reserved  or  granted, 
•*  sobject  to  the  further  conditions  of  the  3Sih  Article.'' 

STtfa. — *^  The  borcomasters  ol  Amsterdam,  as  founders,  patrons, 
and  having  the  jurisdiction,  shall  appcnnt  a  seciecaiy*legate  far 
ndrancing  the  subahems.*' 

SSdu — **  The  huniinc  in  the  wilderness,  as  also  the  fishinr  in 
al  waters  and  river?  which  have  not  alreadv  been  granted,  shall  ba 
fiee  lo  all  the  colonists :  subject  to  such  regulations  as  shall  ba 
made  under  the  authoritv  of  the  States  GenenU*' 

SMi. — The  city  of  Amsterdam  shall  provide  that  all  necessaij 
isaplements  shall  be  shipped  for  the  colonists,  free  of  all  charges. 

30th. — The  discoverer  of  any  mine  or  nAineral  is  to  possess  it 
free  from  any  impost  for  ten  years :  then  to  pay  to  the  company 
oaeieQCfa. 

31st. — The  city  of  Amsterdam  shall  provide  a  wareliOQse  wbern-* 
in  goods  intended  for  the  colony  may  he  inspected  by  a  person 
a|ipointed  by  the  West  India  Company,  and  anotbar  appointed  bj 
ibe  city :  which  goods,  after  inspection,  shall  be  narked  by  tba 
of  both,  aiid  the  impost  paid  by  the  companr. 

SM. — The  company  shall  oversee  the  shipment  of  the  goods  in 
provided  by  the  city. 

sad  and  SMi.-^  tlia  catf  dwaki  snd  goods  to  Acw 


dam^  they  most  be  subject  to  the  same  regulations ;  but  the  sud 
goods  may  be  sent  direct  to  any  warehouse  the  city  of  Amsterdam 
may  have  in  New  Netherlands,  and  to  the  agents  of  said  city. 

35th. — Provides  the  rates  at  which  the  produce  of  the  colooy 
'shall  be  credited  to  the  company  by  the  city,  all  the  charges  being 
covered  by  10  1-4  per  cent.  The  tools  used  by  mecbanicks  as 
well  as  the  instruments  of  agriculture,  were  free  of  duty  to  die 
colonists. 

**  All  the  productions  of  the  soil  of  New  NetherlaDd,  iocluding 
salted  and  dried  6sh,  were  exported  free.  Peltries  paid  from  8  to 
10  per  cent.  In  the  New  Netherlands,  4  per  cent,  in  light  money, 
in  addition,  was  charged  upon  all  goods  subject  to  any 


General  Johnson  made  his  translation  in  1833,  finishing  it  on 
the  4/A  Jtf/y,  that  year.  I  have  abridged  some  parts — those  marked 
with  inverted  commas,  are  literally  transcribed. 


Appendix  G. — VoL  J.,  p.  47. 

Although  the  first  settlement  on  Long  Island  was  made  at  the 
Waal  Boght,  (Walloon's  Bay,  or  Wallaboui,)  near  the  United 
States  Navy  Yard,  the  first  or  earliest  record  of  a  deed  for  land  in 
Brooklyn,  is  dated  1639,  to  Thomas  Besker,  at  Gaunnus.  But 
there  is  a  patent  from  Wouter  Van  Twiller  to  Andreis  Hedden  and 
Wolfert  Gerritson.  The  first  English  settlement  made  on  Long 
Island  was  made  by  Lyon  Gardner,  on  Gardner's  Island,  considered 
a  part  of  the  larger  island,  and  his  first  claim  was  confirmed  by  the 
agent  of  Lord  Stirling,  in  1639.  In  the  reign  of  James  L,  of 
England,  that  monarch  granted  to  Sir  William  Alexander  a  great 
part  (or  all,)  of  Nova  Scotia,  which  grant  was  confirmed  by 
Charles  I.,  in  1625.  Subsequently  Alexander  was  created  an 
Earl,  by  the  title  of  Stirling ;  and  he,  to  reward  senrices  done 
for  him  in  Nova  Scotia  to  further  the  settlement,  made  a  per- 
son of  the  name  of  Etienne,  and  his  heirs  male,  to  all  eternity  Ba- 
ronets of  New  Scotland — to  take  precedence  of  all  persons  in  said 
country — and  the  dignity  to  their  wives  and  widows— and  be  grant- 
ed them  certain  coats  of  arms,  and  the  right  to  wear  an  orange  rib- 
bon, besides  other  honours  and  privileges  equally  valuable;  but  I 
do  not  find  any  gift,  grant,  or  conveyance  of  land.  However,  in 
a  subsequent  paper  from  the  same  to  the  same,  it  is  stated,  that  his 
majesty  having  granted  all  the  country  of  New  Scotland,  **  called 
by  the  French,  Acayde,"   to  WiUiam  Alexander,  in  ICSlt  be 


APPBMDIX  H.  XTO 

grants  to  said  Etieooe  a  greii  exteot  of  teiritoiy,  (mentioning  thn 
bounds)  ipriiere  he  and  hu  heirs  may  make,  bmld,  and  erect  TiUn- 
ges,  towns,  castles,  and  fortresses,  as  they  shall  see  good.  Unibr- 
tnnately  for  the  Earl,  in  the  conflicting  claims  of  French,  English, 
and  Dutch,  the  French  first  settled  a  pan  of  Acadie,  and  the  king 
of  England  having  given  Lord  Stirling  all  Long  Island,  the  Eail 
by  his  agents  sold  part ;  and  when  Charles  II.,  without  considering 
former  grants,  gave  to  his  brother,  the  Duke  of  York,  all  New 
Netherland,  James  prudently  purchased  the  prerious  right  of  Loid 
Stirling,  for  ^300.  The  ^1  had,  besides,  the  island  cooTeyod 
to  Lyon  Gardner  which  bears  bis  name,  sold  through  his  agent  a 
tract  of  land  near  Oyster  Bay  to  some  people  residing  near  Boston, 
bat  Kieft  dispossessed  them  by  force. 


Appendix  H. — Vol.  /.,  p.  48. 

Charter  cf  Liberties  and  Krempiiaiu  of  1629. 

L  That  such  members  of  said  Dutch  West  India  Company,  na 

y  be  inclined  to  setde  any  colony  in  New  Netherland,  shaU  be  per* 
■aitted,  with  the  ships  of  this  company  going  thither,  to  send  three  or 
fbor  persons  to  inspect  into  the  situation  of  the  country,  provide^ 
that  they  with  the  officers  and  ship^s  company,  swear  to  the  instrument 
of  conditions  (articles)  so  far  as  they  relate  to  them ;  and  paying  far 
provisions,  and  for  passage,  going  and  coming,  six  stuyrers*  per 
day :  and  such  as  desire  to  eat  in  the  cabin,  twelve  stuyvers,  and 
to  be  subordinate,  and  to  give  assistance  like  others,  in  cases  offinn 
uwe  and  defensive :  and  if  any  ships  be  taken  from  the  enemy,  tbej 
shall,  pro  raiay  receive  their  proportions  with  the  ship's  company, 
cnch  according  to  lus  quality ;  that  b  to  say,  that  the  colonists  eat- 
ing out  of  the  cabin  shall  be  rated  with  the  sailors,  and  such  as  eat 
in  the  cabin  with  those  of  the  companies^  men  as  eat  at  table,  and 
receive  the  lowest  wages. 

n.  Though  in  this  respect,  shall  be  preferred  such  persons  irim 
have  first  appeared,  and  desired  the  same  from  the  company. 

UL  That  all  such  shall  be  acknowledged  patroons  of  New  Ne- 
therland who  shaU,  within  the  space  of  four  years,  next  after  tbej 
have  given  notice  to  any  of  the  chambers,  (or  colleges)  of  the  com- 
pany here,  or  to  the  conmiander  or  council  there,  undertake  to 


*  Twelve  aad  a  balfccMiL 

c 


ZVIir  APPENDIX  H. 

nbuit  a  colony  there  of  fifty  souls,  upwards  of  fifteen  yean  old, 
fourth  part  widiih  one  year,  and  within  three  years  after  the  aeod- 
ing  of  the  first,  making  together  four  years,  the  remainder  to  the 
fuU  number  of  fifty  persons,  to  be  shipped  from  hence,  on  pain,  in 
case  of  wiUul  neglect,  of  being  deprived  of  the  privileges  obtained  ; 
but  it  is  to  be  ob^rved  that  the  company  reserve  the  Island  of  the 
Ma9ihatte$  to  themselves. 

IV.  That  from  the  time  that  they  make  known  the  situation  of 
the  places,  where  they  propose  to  settle  colonies,  they  shall  have 
the  preference  to  all  others,  of  the  absolute  property  of  such  lands 
as  they  have  there  chosen ;  but  in  case  the  situation  should  after- 
wards not  please  them,  or  that  they  should  have  been  mistaken  as 
to  the  quality  of  the  land,  they  may,  after  remonstrating  the  same  to 
the  commander  and  council  there,  be  at  liberty  to  choose  another 
place. 

V.  That  the  patroons,  by  virtue  of  their  power,  shall  and  may 
be  permitted,  at  such  places  as  they  shall  settle  their  colonies,  to 
extend  their  limits  four  miles*  along  the  shore,  that  is  on  one  ude 
of  a  navigable  river,  or  two  milest  on  each  side  of  a  river,  and  so 
far  into  the  country  as  the  situation  of  the  occupiers  will  permit 
Provided  and  conditioned,  that  the  company  keep  to  themselves 
the  lands  lying  and  remaining  between  the  limits  of  colonies,  to 
dispose  thereof,  when,  and  at  such  time  as  they  shall  think  proper, 
in  such  manner  that  no  person  shall  be  allowed  to  come  within 
seven  or  eight  miles|  of  them,  without  their  consent ;  unless  the 
situation  of  the  land  thereabout  were  such,  that  the  commander 
and  council  for  good  reasons  should  order  otherwise ;  always  ob- 
serving that  the  first  occupiers  are  not  to  be  prejudiced  in  the  right 
they  have  obtained,  other,  than  unless  the  ser\*ice  of  the  company 
should  require  it  for  the  building  of  fortifications,  or  something  of 
diat  sort ;  remaining,  moreover,  the  command  of  each  bay,  river, 
or  island,  of  the  first  settled  colony,  under  the  supreme  jurisdiction 
of  their  High  Mightinesses  the  States  General  and  the  company :  but 
that  on  the  next  colony's  being  settled  on  the  same  river  or  island, 
they  may,  in  conjunction  with  the  first,  appoint  one  or  more  councfl, 
in  order  to  consider  what  may  be  necessary  for  the  prosperity  of 
the  colonies  on  the  said  river  and  island. 

VI.  That  they  shall  forever  possess  and  enjoy  all  the  lands  lying 
within  the  aforesaid  limits,  together  with  the  fiiiits,  rights,  minerals, 
rivers,  and  fountains  thereof:  as  also  the  chief  command,  and 
lower  jurisdictions,  fishing,  fowling,  and  grinding,  to  the  exclusion 
of  all  others,  to  be  holden  from  the  company  as  an  eternal  inheril- 
age,  without  its  ever  devolving  again  to  the  company,  and  in 


16  Eaftiflh  miles.        t  8  Enf  liah  miles.        ;  38  or  32  Enfiidi  biIm. 


k  thouM  deTotre>  to  be  redeemed  and  repoamaedt  vidi  tveaty 
pdMers*  per  coionr  to  be  paid  to  thu  compuiT,  it  their  ehember 
kere*  or  to  their  cx>iiim3iider  t)iefe«  within  a  rev  and  six  weeks 
after  the  seme  bstppeos :  each  at  the  chamber  where  he  origiattDj^ 
sa&Ied  from.  And  turthen  that  no  penoQ  or  pcf^ons  iibatsoerer» 
ahall  he  pnvilein^  to  £$b  and  hunt*  but  the  patroonsn  and  sttch  aa 
thev  $hiU  pre  tihert}- :  aad  ia  case  aar  one  should  ia  time  proqMT 
90  miKb«  as  to  ibuad  oce  or  more  cities*  he  shail  hare  power  and 
aiithocicv  co  estabti^a  omcer>  and  magistrates  there,  and  lo  makn 
nse  ot  ibe  title  of  his  coIoot«  according  to  hb  ple^ure>  and  to  tkm 
^oahtr  ol'  the  persor^s. 

VIL  That  there  shall  Ukewi$e  be  ^nted  lo  ail  patroons  who 
shall  desire  the  same«  FV«ia  Tesca/^JL  or  libertv  to  dispoee  of  their 
aibeesaid  heritas:e«  by  testament. 

^IlL  That  the  patroons  may«  if  they  think  proper*  make  iBe  of 
aB  Iand$«  rivers^  aind  woods.  Irinr  conti^xioud  to  them,  lor  and 
diiriBc  so  loc^  time  as  thU  company  shall  ^rant  them  to 
patrooos  or  particulir^ 

IX.  That  tiKxse  who  shall  send  persons  over  to  settk 
shall  faiaUh  them  wi:h  proper  ia>aiicaoQS>  in  order  that  they  maj 
he  ruted  anvi  ^>\~emed  confoncably  to  the  rxite  of  coremmcnt  madn» 
arn>  be  mace  by  u^e  assembly  of  nineteen*  as  well  in  the  pobical 
as  judicial  j^»vertmeQC :  which  they  shall  be  obliged  first  to  laj 

thedirec:or^  of:he  respecdve  coUea:es. 

X.  That  the  iM*jrcK>::s  aad  colortcsts  shall  be  privilej^ed  to  sand 
ir  people  anxi  eie-.ns  thlLier*  tn  shipc^  belon^n^  to  the  companj* 

provided  they  rike  the  ojth  and  pay  to  the  company  Jbr  hrinpiif 
over  the  people,  as  mcadoocd  iu  the  dr«4  article ;  and  fee  fright 
of  the  «oods  dve  per  ce:u.  reaviv  monev,  to  be  reckoned  on  die 
peixne  co«?t  of  the  oxkIs  here  :  in  which  is.  however*  not  to  be  in* 
chxded*  such  creatures  and  o:her  implements  as  are  ncceaaaiy  bt 
ctihiTiuon  and  ucprv>veme:it  of  the  lands,  which  the  compnaj 
to  carry  over  without  any  reward,  if  there  is  room  in  their  shina» 
Bat  the  patroons  shall,  at  their  own  expense,  provide  and  man 
pibces  for  them.  toi:ether  with  e\  e nr  thinj  necessary  for  the  support 
Ol  the  creatures. 

XI.  T.ri:  ia  case  it  should  roc  suit  the  company  to  send  anjr 
aoips*  or  that  in  those  roiij:  there  should  be  no  room ;  then  die 
snni  patroons^  alter  hivii!^  cvHuraunicated  their  inteQtiocfe»«  and 
hnvio;  obciined  cv>asent  f:\i»:a  the  comiviav  in  wridcu:,  mar 
their  own  shipcs  or  vessels  thither:  provided,  that  in  going  and 
coauod:  they  ^  ckh  out  oi' their  ordinary  course :  pving  aecnnty  la 

company  foe  the  same,  and  taking  on  board  an  assistant,  to  bt 


XX  APPENDIX  H. 

victualled  by  the  patroons  and  paid  hb  monthly  wages  by  die 
pany ;  on  pain  if  doing  the  contrary,  if  forfeiting  aU  the  right  al 
property  they  have  obtained  to  the  colony. 

XIL  That  as  it  is  the  intention  of  the  company  to  people  ik 
island  of  the  Manha^Us  first,  all  fruits  and  wares  shall,  fortl]e|ll^ 
sent  he  brought  there,  that  arise  upon  the  north  river,  and  hell 
laying  thereabouts,  before  they  may  be  sent  elsewhere :  excepdq 
such  as  are  from  their  nature  unnecessary  there,  or  such  as  cumoli 
without  great  loss  to  the  owner  thereof,  be  brought  there.  Id  whJEk 
case,  the  owners  thereof,  shall  be  obliged  to  give  timely  notice  ■ 
writing,  of  the  difficulty  attending  the  same  to  the  company  Im 
or  the  commander  and  council  there,  that  the  same  may  be  reni- 
died  as  the  necessity  thereof  shall  be  found  to  require. 

XIII.  That  all  the  Patroons  of  colonies  in  New  Netherland,  ni 
of  colonies  on  the  island  of  ManhatUs^  shall  be  at  liberty  to  oi 
and  traffick  all  along  the  coast,  from  Florida  to  Terra  AVi/,pi^ 
vided,  that  they  do  a<;ain  return  with  all  such  goods  as  they  shil 
get  in  trade,  to  the  island  of  ManltathSj  and  pay  fire  per  cent  far 
recognition  to  the  company,  in  order,  if  possible,  that  after  the  ne- 
cessary inventor}'  of  tiie  goods  shipped  be  taken,  the  same  mij 
he  sent  hither.  And  if  it  should  so  happen  that  they  could  not  re- 
turn, by  contrar}'  streams  or  otherwise,  they  shall  in  such  case  not 
be  permitted  to  bring  such  goods  to  any  other  place  but  to  tbae 
dominions,  in  order  that  under  iheinspection  of  the  directors  of  the 
place  where  they  may  arrive,  ihey  may  be  unladen,  an  inventon*  there- 
of made,  and  ihe  aforesaiii  recoirnition  of  five  per  cent,  paid  to  the 
company  here,  on  pain,  if  they  do  to  the  contrary,  of  the  forfeiture 
of  their  goods  so  irafricked  for,  or  the  real  value  thereof. 

XIV.  That  in  case  of  tlie  >\up<  of  the  Patroons,  in  going  to, 
coming  from,  or  ?sailinz  on  the  coa«t,  from  Florida  to  Terra  SevU 
and  no  farther,  without  our  irrant  should  overpower  any  of  the 
princes  of  the  enemy,  they  shall  be  obliged  to  bring,  or  cause  to  be 
brought,  such  prince  to  the  collcirc  of  the  place  from  whence  they 
sailed  out,  in  order  to  be  rewarded  by  them  :  the  company  shall 
keep  the  one  third  part  thereof,  and  the  remaining  two  thirds  shall 
belong  to  them,  in  consideration  of  the  cost  and  risk  they  have 
been  at,  all  accordinsr  to  the  orders  of  the  company. 

XV.  That  it  shall  also  be  free  for  the  aforesaid  Patroons,  to 
traffick  and  trade  all  along  the  coast  of  New  Netherland  and  places 
circumjacent,  with  such  goods  as  are  consumed  there,  and  receive 
in  return  for  them,  all  sorts  of  merciiandizes  that  may  be  had  there, 
except  beavers,  otters,  minks,  and  all  sorts  of  peltry,  which  trade 
the  company  reser^•e  to  themselves.  But  the  same  shall  be  per^ 
mitted  at  such  pLices  where  the  company  have  no  factories,  condi- 
tioned that  such  traders  shall  be  obliged  to  bring  all  the  peltry  they 
can  procure  to  the  island  of  Manhattrf,  in  case  it  be  at  any  rate 


APPENDIX  H.  XXI 

wacticable,  and  there  deliver  to  the  director  to  be  by  him  shipped 
hither,  with  the  ships  and  goods  ;  or  if  they  should  come  her^,  with- 
out going  there,  then  to  give  notice  thereof  to  the  company,  that  a 
proper  account  thereof  may  be  taken,  in  order  that  they  may  pay 
to  the  company,  one  guilder  for  each  merchantable  otter  and  beaver 
akio ;  the  property,  risk,  and  ail  odier  charges,  remaining  on 
tccount  of  the  Patroons  or  owners. 

XVI.  That  all  coarse  wares  that  the  colonists  of  the  Patroons 
there  shall  consume,  such  as  pitch,  tar,  weed-ashes,  wood,  grain, 
fishy  salt,  hearthstone,  and  such  like  things,  shall  be  brought  over 
in  the  company's  ships  at  the  rate  of  eighteen  guilders  per  last,* 
four  thousand  weight  to  be  accounted  a  last,  and  the  company's 
ships  crew  shall  be  obliged  to  wheel,  and  bring  the  salt  on  board, 
whereof  ten  lasts  made  a  hundred.  And  in  case  of  the  want  of 
ships,  or  room  in  the  ships,  they  may  in  ships  of  their  own  order  it 
over  at  their  own  cost,  and  enjoy  in  these  dominions,  such  liberties 
and  benefits  as  the  company  have  granted ;  but  that  in  either  case 
they  shall  be  obliged  to  pay,  over  and  above  the  recognition  of 
five  per  cent.,  eighteen  guilders  for  each  hundred  of  salt,  that  is  car- 
ried over  in  the  company's  ships. 

XV^II.  That  for  all  wares  which  are  not  mentioned  in  the  fore- 
going article,  and  which  are  not  carried  by  the  last,  there  shall  be 
paid  one  dollar  for  each  hundred  pounds  weight,  and  for  wines, 
brandy,  verjuice,  and  vinegar,  there  shall  be  paid  eighteen  guilders 
per  cask. 

XVIII.  That  the  company  promises  the  colonists  of  the  Pa- 
troons, that  they  shall  be  free  from  customs,  taxes,  excise,  imposts, 
or  any  other  contributions,  for  the  space  of  ten  years  :  and 
after  the  expiration  of  the  said  ten  years,  at  the  highest,  with  such 
customs  as  the  goods  are   taxable  with  here  for  the  present* 

XIX.  That  they  will  not  take  from  the  service  of  the  Patroons 
any  of  their  colonists,  either  man  or  woman,  son  or  daughter,  man- 
servant or  maid-servant :  and  though  any  of  them  should  desire  the 
same,  that  they  will  not  receive  them,  much  less  permit  them  to 
leave  their  Patroons,  and  enter  into  the  service  of  another,  unless 
on  consent  obtained  from  their  Patroons  in  writing.  And  this  for  and 
during  so  many  years  as  they  are  bound  to  their  Patroons ;  after  the  ex- 
piration whereof,  it  shall  be  in  the  power  of  the  Patroons,  to  send  hither 
all  such  colonists  as  will  not  continue  in  their  service,  and  unul  then 
shall  not  enjoy  their  liberty.  And  all  such  colonists  as  shall  leave  the 
service  of  his  Patroon,  and  enter  into  the  ser\'ice  of  another,  or 
shall  contrar}'  to  his  contract  leave  his  service  ;  we  promise  to  do 
every  thing  in  our  power  to  apprehend  and  deliver  the  same  into 
the  hands  of  his  Patroon,  or  attorney,  that  he  may  be  proceeded 


$7,50  for  two  toiu. 


XXn  ▲7PE2n>IX  H. 

agiiost  aceording  to  tiie  customs  of  dib  ooooiijy  wm 


That  from  all  jodzmests  girea  br  the  coorti  of  ike 
PatrooQS  ibr  o^mrds  of  fiiij  rjilders.*  there  mar  be  an  apperi 
lo  the  com:>aoT*<  losunander  a::d  couxxrC  in  New  NetberiaiML  % 
L  ThaiUHichinz  STich  i^^nicalar  persons,  wbo^  oo  ibesr 


aeeooot,  or  ozhen  in  the  §^r.  ire  of  their  master  here,  (not 
hkf  the  same  pHfiieres  as  the  Patroo::?.)  shall  be  nunded  to  fo 
timber  and  settle  ;  ther  sbalL  with  the  approbation  of  the  direaor 
and  cooDcil  there,  be  ai  Hbenr  to  take  up  as  moch  land,  and  ake 
poasessioQ  thereof,  as  ther  shall  bare  ^billrr  pioperhr  to  improve, 
and  shall  enjoj  the  same  in  full  propenr,  ehiver  for 


XXIL  Thit  ther  shall  hare  free  liherrr  of  famitziii:  and  fiowi^ 
mgf  as  well  br  vater  as  bj  kiid«  geoeraijv  and  in  poblick  and  pn- 
Tate  woods  and  rirers,  aboat  the  colonies,  according  to  the  onlen 
of  the  director  and  coonciL 

XXUL  Tb^twhosoeTer.wbedser  colonists  of  Paifoons,  ibr  their 
Patrooos,  or  free  persons  for  themselves,  or  odier  paiiicolais  far 
their  masters*  sh^il  discover  zzr  shores,  bars,  or  oiher  & 
trecdn^  fisheries,  or  re  akin?  of  sail  pozds,  thev  mar  take 
iioo  thereof,  and  bezin  to  work  on  them  in  their  own  aincdoie 
pertr,  to  the  exclusion  of  all  others.  And  it  is  consented  t&^ 
the  Pauoons  of  colonists  mar  send  ships  a]on?  the  coast  of  } 
Neiherland,  on  ibe  cod  fi-hen*.  aJii  t^  lih  the  £sh  ther  casch  i» 
trade  to  Iialr.  or  oiher  ne  jo^  couiiiries ;  p^}':3r  in  socb  case  to  the 
company  forrecorniiion.  six  ruliders  per  iasi:'^'  z^d  if  ther  shooid 
come  with  their  lading  biiher,  :bev  shall  be  at  liberrr  to 
to  Iiair,  thouzh  tjey  sball  not  uc der  pretext  of  this  consent, 
from  the  company,  carr*'  ai^y  r'XMis  tJcere.  on  pain  of 
punishment :  and  it  re.-n^ir.inr  :n  the  breast  of  the  companr  so 
ptit  a  supexcarzo  on  board  of  eich  ship  as  in  the  elercmh 
niticle. 

XXr\'.  That  in  case  ar. j  of  th?  colonists  should  br  his  indmnj 
and  diligence*  discorer  any  minerals,  precioos  stones,  crystak, 
Ues  or  such  like,  or  any  pearl  Lshery,  the  same  shall  be  and 
main  the  property  of  the  Patroon  or  Patroons  of  sach  coAony  ; 
girin^  and  ordering  the  discoverer  soch  premiam  as  the  Pattoon 
ahaU  befbfehand  lare  stipulated  with  such  colonist  by  connd. 
And  die  Patiooo  shall  be  exemnt  fro.-n  ail  recognition  to  the  com- 
panf  far  the  term  of  eight  years,  and  pay  only  for  trwixt  to  being 
r«  two  per  cent*,  and  after  the  expiration  of  the 


*  fao  ^  •  Or.  ft  SS  per 


APPENDIX  H.  XXIII 

eight  years  for  reco^ition  and  freight,  the  one  eighth  part  of  what 
the  same  may  be  worth  here. 

XXV.  That  the  company  will  take  all  the  colonists  as  well 
free^  as  those  that  are  in  service,  under  their  protection,  and 
the  same  against  all  outlandish  and  inlandish  wars  and  powers, 
with  the  forces  they  have  there,  as  much  as  in  their  power  layeth 
to  defend. 

XXVI.  That  whoever  shall  settle  any  colony  out  of  the  limits 
of  the  Manhattes  Island  shall  be  obliged  to  satisfy  the  Indians  for 
the  land  they  shall  settle  upon,  and  that  they  may  extend  or  enlarge 
the  limits  of  their  colonies  if  they  settle  a  proportionate  number  of 
colonists  thereon. 

XXVII.  That  the  Patroons  and  colonists  shall  be  particular, 
and  in  the  speediest  manner,  endeavour  to  find  out  ways  and  means 
whereby  they  may  support  a  minister  and  schoolmaster,  that  thus 
the  service  of  God  and  zeal  for  religion  may  not  grow  cool,  and 
be  neglected  among  them  ;  and  that  they  do,  for  the  first,  procure 
a  comforter  for  the  sick  there. 

XXVIII.  That  the  colonies  that  shall  happen  to  lay  on  the  re- 
spective rivers  or  islands  (that  is  to  say,  each  river  or  island  for  it- 
self,) shall  be  at  liberty  to  appoint  a  deputy,  who  shall  give  infor- 
mation to  the  commander  and  council  of  that  western  quarter,  of  all 
things  relating  to  his  colony,  and  who  are  to  further  matters  relating 
thereto,  which  deputies  there  shall  be  one  altered,  or  changed,  in 
every  two  years ;  and  all  colonies  shall  be  obliged,  at  least  once 
in  every  twelve  months,  to  make  exact  report  as  to  the  colony  and 
lands  thereabout,  to  the  commander  and  council  there,  in  order  to 
be  transmitted  hither. 

XXIX.  That  the  colonists  shall  not  be  permitted  to  make 
any  woollen,  linen,  or  cotton  cloth,  nor  weave  any  other  stufis 
there,  on  pain  of  being  banished,  and  aspeijurours  to  be  arbitrarily 
punished. 

XXX.  That  the  company  will  use  their  endeavours  to  supply 
the  colonists  with  as  many  blacks,  as  they  conveniently  can,  on  the 
conditions  hereafter  to  be  made  ;  in  such  manner,  however,  that 
they  shall  not  be  bound  to  do  it  for  a  longer  time  than  they  shall 
think  proper.  ^ 

XXXI.  The  company  promises  to  finish  the  fort  on  the  island 
of  the  ManhaXtesj  and  to  put  it  in  a  posture  of  defence  without 
delay.  And  to  get  these  privileges  and  exemptions  approved  and 
confirmed  by  their  High  Mightinesses,  the  Lords  States  General* 


XXIV  APPBNDIX  I. 


Appendix  L — Vol.  /.,  p.  109. 

The  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  was  of  the  classis  of  Amster- 
dam. The  first  minister  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  sent  to 
their  colonists,  was  Everard  Bogardus  ;  the  second  persons  who 
preached  in  the  church  at  the  fort,  were  John  and  Samuel  Mega- 
polensis — the  latter  of  whom  was  likewise  the  physician  of  the 
colony,  and  preached  in  the  church  at  tlie  time  that  NichoUs  took 
possession. 

Govemour  Stuyvesant  was  one  of  the  principal  officers  of  the 
church,  and  built  a  chapel  on  his  own  farm,  it  is  believed,  after  the 
church  in  the  fort  was  called  the  king's  chapel. 

On  the  31st  of  May,  1647,  the  director-general  of  New  Nether- 
land,  Curaooa,  etc.  etc.,  commander  of  all  vessels  in  the  company's 
service  sailing  in  the  West  Indies,  etc.,  found  it  necessary  to  issue 
the  decree  from  which  I  make  the  following  extracts  : 

*'  Whereas,  we  have  observed  the  improper  behaviour  of  some 
of  our  inhabitants,  who  even  on  the  Lord's  day,  appointed  (ot 
rest,  thankfulness,  and  prayer,  so  far  forget  their  duty  as  to  get 
drunk,  quarrel  and  fight  with  each  other ;  of  which  infamous  con- 
duct we  ourselves  on  the  last  Lord's  day  were  witnesses ;  and 
whereas,  such  painful  and  disgraceful  scenes  take  place  in  defiance 
of  the  magistrates,  in  contempt  of  our  person  and  authority,  and  the 
dishonour  of  God's  holy  laws,  which  enjoin  us  to  honour  him  and 
keep  holy  this  day  set  apart  by  him  for  devotion  and  rest,  and  has 
prohibited  those  temptations  that  lead  to  evil  doing  :  We  there- 
fore by  and  with  the  advice  of  our  council,  to  prevent  the  effects  of 
God's  anger  falling  upon  us,  do  by  these  presents  command  all 
tapsters  and  innkeepers,  that,  on  the  sabbath  of  the  Lord,  commonly 
called  Sunday,  they  shall  not  sell  or  deliver  to  any  person  what- 
ever, any  wines,  beer,  or  strong  liquours  of  any  kind,  excepting  only 
to  travellers,  or  boarders  in  their  houses,  be/ore  two  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  on  those  days  when  there  is  no  preaching ;  and  when 
there  is  preaching,  not  until  after  four  o'clock." 

This  is  enforced  by  a  penalty  of  "six  Carolus  guilders"  tor 
each  offence.  And  further,  all  tapsters  and  innkeepers  are  forbid- 
den to  keep  their  houses  open  on  any  day  whatever,  "after  the 
ringing  of  the  bells  in  the  evening,  which  shall  take  place  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  evening." 

By  the  same  decree  or  proclamation,  the  govemour,  by  the  ad- 
vice of  the  council  of  the  city  of  New  Amsterdam,  decrees,  thmt 
toy  person  who  shall  in  anger  draw  a  knife  or  dagger  against 


APPENDIX  I.  XXr 

aooifaer,  shaO  be  fined  tor  the  oSeoce  one  hundred  Ctrolus  guil- 
ders, and  in  failure  of  payment  be  subjected  to  the  most  mentil 
libour,  with  bread  and  water  for  subsistance;  and  in  case  any 
person  shall  be  woundc  J  by  another  with  ktsife  or  da^rirer  so  drawn 
«5  aforesaid,  then  ilie  oifender  shall  be  tned  three  hundred  Carolus 
euilders^  or  further  connnement  :o  labour  as  aforesaid. 

It  is  bv  the  necessiiv  of  such  enactments,  that  we  leant  the  rices 
of  one  part  of  the  inhabitants,  and  the  virtues  of  another,  with  the 
ceoeral  sinipiicitv  rei^nln^  throu^rh  tiie  villace-like  citv  of  our 
Dutch  ancestors. 

Arrain.  on  the  ISth  of  June,  the  director-srneral  and  hiscouncilv 
published  for  the  repiiation  of  trade,  and  because  certain  persout 
karin^.  license  to  trade  to  the  south,  take  the  Hbert}*  of  coins:  to  the 
Dorth  into  the  territories  of  the  Matfunf  or  Mohawks,  and  therebr 
injurini:  the  re^ilar  tramck  with  the  Indians,  to  the  lo^  and 
damaji^e  of  those  w!k>  have  rtesrular  licenses,  atid  carr^*  their  cargoes 
ID  assi^ed  places  of  deposit :  and  because  by  such  unlicensed 
traders,  the  Indians  may  be  provoked  to  acts  of  hostility — there- 
fcfe  all  persons  are  prohibited  under  severe  penalties,  from  going 
into  the  interiour.  but  all  traders  are  directed  to  camr  on  their  traf- 
fick  at  the  places  of  deposit  apT>ointed. 

On  the  1st  of  Julv,  the  covemoiu'  and  council,  issued  an  order 
forbidding  the  sale  of  stron*:  liquor  of  any  description,  on  any  pre- 
tence, to  the  Indians,  and  making  the  persons  who  abet  the  savages 
in  buying,  as  well  as  tiie  seller^  liable  to  fine  and  punishment,  for 
any  mischief  that  may  arise  therefrom.  And  all  trespassers  upon 
fields  and  orchards  that  are  fenced,  are  liable  for  damages,  while 
the  iuhabitants  are  commanded  to  erect  sufiicient  fences  about  their 
plantations,  and  the  Fiscal.  Van  Dyke,  is  to  erect  a  pound  to  detain 
cattle  until  damages  are  paid. 

I  find  at  this  council,  besides  the  former  Director,  William  Kieft, 
the  names  of  Derick  Wagen,  Monsieur  La  Montaignie,  Captain 
Newton,  Paulus  Laenders,  Jacob  Losiere,  Soloman  Tenvasaen, 
and  John  Classon  Boll. 

Besides  these  mandates,  I  find  others  in  possession  of  the  com- 
DK>n  council  of  New  York,  and  translated  bv  the  Reverend  A 
Westbrook,  bv  which  Govemour  Stuvvesant  endeavoured  to 
medy  irregularities  in  building,  and  for  the  pre^-emion  of  fires,  **aa 
ibe  greater  number  oi  the  houses  are  constructed  of  wood,  and  are 
covered  with  reeds  :'*  and  I  likewise  find  the  feet,  that  some  of  the 
boildings  had  wooden  chimnies.  The  govennour  prohibited  from 
that  time,  all  wooden  chimnies,  between  the  fort  and  Frt$k  /Toirr, 
or  Collect :  and  places  those  already  e^istini;,  under  the  protec- 
tion, and  in  the  power  of  Firt^vtirJens^  (Thomas  HaU,  Martin 
Crcaier,and  Gedncre  Woolsev.)  and  thecommissarr  Adrian  Kevser. 

o 


XXTI  APPEXBIX  J. 


AFPB3n>ix  J. — VoL  1*3  p.  116. 

SiMyvetamt^s  iMttr  to  the  Comaustuma%,^ 

**  Mt  Lords  : — ^Yoar  first  letter,  aisigned,  of  the  20-31jt  of 
Aagust,  tc^zetber  with  that  of  this  dav,  signed  according  to  fam, 
being  the  first  of  September,  bare  been  safely  delirered  imo  oar 
bands  by  jour  deputies,  unto  which  we  shall  saj,  that  the  righto  ef 
bis  majestie  of  Engbnd,  unto  any  part  of  America  here  abo«i» 
amongst  the  rest,  unto  the  colonies  of  Virginia,  MarjlaDd,  or  odm 
ID  New  Engbind,  fiiiether  disputable  or  not,  is  that  wUcb^  for  the 
present,  we  bare  no  design  to  debate  upon.     Bot  tbat  bis  iiijjfslir 
bath  an  indisputable  right  to  aU  the  lands  in  the  north  puts  of  Ame- 
rica, is  that  which  the  kings  of  France  and  Spain  will  disallow^  as 
we  absolutely  do,  by  virtue  of  a  conmusrion  giren  to  m^,  by  ajr 
lords,  the  high  and  mighty  States  General,  to  be  goFemoar-gaieral 
over  New  Holland,  the  isks  of  Curaooa,  Bonaire,  Aroba,  wUh  liidr 
appurtenances  and  dependencies,  bearing  date  the  26lb  of  Joiyt 
1646.     As  also  by  virtue  of  a  grant  and  commission,  given  by  ajr 
said  lords,  the  high  and  mighty  States  General,  to  the  West  In£a 
Company,  in  the  year  1621,  with  as  much  power  and  as  autbeotick, 
as  bis  said  majestie  of  En^nd  bath  given,  or  can  give,  to  any  co* 
k>ny  in  America,  as  more  fully  appears  by  the  patent  and  comods* 
sion  of  the  said  lords  the  States  General,  by  them  signed,  registered, 
and  sealed  with  their  creat  seal,  which  were  riiowed  to  your  dcpo- 
ties.  Colonel  George  Carteret,  Captain  Jlobert  Needbam,  Captm 
Edward  Grovest  and  Mr.  Thomas  Debvall ;  by  which  conmussioa 
and  patent  together,  (to  deal  frankly  with  you,)  and  by  divers  let- 
ters, signed  and  sealed  by  our  said  lords,  the  States  General^  direded 
to  several  persons,  both  English  and  Dutch,  inhabiting  the  towns 
and  villages  on  Long  Isbnd,  (which,  without  doubt,  have  been 
produced  before  you,  by  those  inhabitants,)  by  which  they  are 
declared  and  acknowledged  to  be  their  subjects,  with  express  coib- 
mand,  that  they  continue  faithful  unto  them,  imder  penalty  of 
incurring  their  utmost  displeasure,  which  makes  it  appear  more 
clear  than  the  sun  at  noon-day,  that  your  first  ibimdation,  (vix.  tim 
the  right  and  tide  of  his  majestie  of  Great  Britain,  to  these  parts  of 
America  is  unquestionahle,)  is  absolutely  to  be  denied.    Moreover, 
it  is  without  dispute,  and  acknowledged  by  the  world,  that  oar  pre- 
deceasors,  by  virtue  of  the  commission  and  patent  of  the  said  lonb» 
the  Stales  General,  have  without  control,  and  peaceably  (tbeoootmj 
sever  coming  to  oor  knowledge)  enjoyed  Fort  Orange  about  fiorty* 
eigNor  fify  years,  the  Manhattans  about  forty-ooeor  forty-two  years. 


*  Swth  •  Hirtofy  of  5«w  York,  Voi  1^  pp. 


APPBNDIX  J.  XXVII 

the  South  River  forty  years,  and  the  Fresh  Water  River  about 
thirty-six  years. 

**  Touching  the  second  subject  of  your  letter,  (viz.  his  majestie 
hath  commanded  me,  in  his  name,  to  require  a  surrender  of  all 
such  forts,  towns,  or  places  of  strength,  which  now  are  possessed 
by  the  Dutch  under  your  command.)  We  shall  answer,  that  we 
are  so  confident  of  the  discretion  and  equity  of  his  majestie  of  Great 
Britain,  that  in  case  his  majestie  were  informed  of  the  truth,  which 
is,  that  the  Dutch  came  not  into  these  provinces,  by  any  violence, 
but  by  virtue  of  commissions  from  my  lords,  the  States  General,  first 
of  all  in  the  years  16t4, 1615,  and  1616,  up  the  North  River,  near 
Fort  Orange,  where,  to  hinder  the  invasions  and  massacres,  com- 
monly committed  by  the  savages,  they  built  a  little  fort ;  and  after, 
in  the  year  1G22,  and  even  to  this  present  time,  by  virtue  of  com- 
mission and  grant,  to  the  govemours  of  the  West  India  Company ; 
and  moreover,  in  the  year  1656,  a  grant  to  the  honourable  the  bur- 
gomasters of  Amsterdam,  of  the  South  River ;  insomuch,  that  by 
virtue  of  the  above  said  commissions  from  the  high  and  mighty 
States  General,  given  to  the  persons  interested  as  aforesaid,  and 
others,  these  provinces  have  been  governed,  and  consequently  en- 
joyed, as  also  in  regard  of  their  first  discovery,  uninterrupted  pos- 
sessions, and  purchase  of  the  lands  of  the  princes,  natives  of  the 
country,  and  other  private  persons  (though  Gentiles,)  we  make  no 
doubt  that  if  his  said  majestie  of  Great  Britain  were  well  informed 
of  these  passages,  he  would  be  too  judicious  to  grant  such  an  order, 
principally  in  a  time  when  there  is  so  straight  a  friendship  and  con- 
federacy, between  our  said  lords  and  superiours,  to  trouble  us  in 
the  demanding  and  summons  of  the  places  and  fortresses,  which 
were  put  into  our  hands,  with  orders  to  maintain  them,  in  the  name 
of  the  said  lords,  the  States  General,  as  was  made  appear  to  your 
deputies,  under  the  names  and  seal  of  the  said  high  and  mighty 
States  General,  dated  July  28, 1646.  Besides  what  had  been  men- 
tioned, there  is  little  probability  that  his  said  majestie  of  England 
(id  regard  the  articles  of  peace  are  printed,  and  were  recommended 
to  us  to  observe  seriously  and  exactly,  by  a  letter  written  to  us  by 
our  said  lords,  the  States  General,  and  to  cause  them  to  be  observed 
religiously  in  this  country)  would  give  order  touching  so  dangerous 
t  design,  being  also  apparent,  that  none  other  than  my  said  lords, 
the  States  General,  have  any  right  to  these  provinces,  and  conse- 
quently, ought  to  command  and  maintain  their  subjects ;  and  in 
their  absence,  we,  the  governour-general,  are  obliged  to  maintain 
their  rights,  and  to  repel  and  take  revenge  of  all  threatenings,  unjust 
attempts,  or  any  force  whatsoever,  that  shall  be  committed  against 
their  faithful  subjects  and  inhabitants,  it  bemg  a  very  considerable 
thing,  to  affront  so  mighty  a  state,  although  it  were  not  against  an 
iHjr  and  confederate.    Consequently,  if  his  said  majestie  (as  it  is 


XXTUI  APPENDIX  J. 

fit)  were  well  in  formed  of  all  that  could  be  spoken  upon  this  subject, 
he  would  not  approve  of  what  expressions  were  made  io  your  let- 
ter ;  which  are,  that  you  are  commanded  by  his  majestie,  to  demand 
in  his  name,  such  places  and  fortresses  as  are  in  the  possession  of 
the  Dutch  under  my  government ;  which,  as  it  appears  by  my  com- 
mission before  mentioned,  was  given  roe  by  my  lords,  the  high  and 
mighty  States  General.  And  there  is  less  ground  in  the  express  de- 
mand of  my  government,  since  all  the  world  knows,  that  about  three 
years  agone,  some  English  frigotts  being  on  the  coast  of  Africa, 
upon  a  pretended  commission,  they  did  demand  certain  places  un- 
der the  government  of  our  said  lords,  the  States  General,  as  Cape 
Vert,  river  of  Gambo,  and  all  other  places  in  Gnyny,  to  them  be- 
longing. Upon  which,  our  said  lords,  the  States  General,  by  virtue 
of  the  articles  of  peace,  having  made  appear  the  said  attempt  to  his 
majestic  of  England,  they  received  a  favourable  answer,  his  said 
raajestie  disallowing  all  such  acts  of  hostility  as  might  have  been 
done,  and  besides,  gave  order  that  restitution  should  be  made  to 
the  East  India  Company,  of  whatsoever  had  been  pillaged  in  the 
said  river  of  Gambo ;  and  likewise  restored  to  them  their  trade, 
which  makes  us  think  it  necessar}'  that  a  more  express  order  should 
appear  unto  us,  as  a  sufficient  warrant  for  us,  towards  ray  lords, 
the  high  and  mighty  States  General,  since  by  virtue  of  our  said  com- 
mission. We  do  in  these  provinces,  represent  them,  as  belonging 
to  them,  and  not  to  the  king  of  Great  Britain,  except  his  said  majes- 
tic, upon  better  grounds,  make  it  appear  to  our  said  lords,  the  States 
General,  against  which  they  may  defend  tliemselves  as  they  shall 
think  fit. 

"  To  conclude :  we  cannot  but  declare  unto  vou,  thoush  the 
governours  and  commissioners  of  his  majestic  have  divers  times 
quarrelled  with  us  about  the  bounds  of  the  jurisdiction  of  the  high 
and  mighty  the  Stales  General,  in  these  parts,  yet  they  never  ques- 
tioned their  jurisdiction  itself;  on  the  contrary,  in  the  year  IGoO, 
at  Hartford,  and  the  last  year  at  Boston,  they  treated  with  us  upoD 
this  subject,  which  is  a  sufficient  proof  that  his  majestic  hath  never 
been  well  informed  of  the  equity  of  our  cause,  insomuch  as  we  can- 
not imagine,  in  regard  of  the  articles  of  peace  between  the  crown 
of  England  and  the  Stales  General,  (under  whom  there  are  so  many 
subjects  in  America  as  well  as  Europe,)  that  his  said  majestic  of 
Great  Britain  would  give  a  commission  to  molest  and  endamage  the 
subjects  of  my  said  lords,  the  Slates  General,  especially  such,  as 
ever  since  fifty,  forty,  and  the  latest  thirty-six  years,  have  quietlj 
enjoyed  their  lands,  countries,  forts,  and  inheritances ;  and  less, 
that  his  subjects  would  attempt  any  acts  of  hoslilit}'  or  violence 
against  them  :  and  in  case  that  you  will  act  by  force  of  arms,  we 
protest  and  declare,  in  the  name  of  our  said  lords,  the  States  Gene- 
ral, before  God  and  men,  that  you  will  act  an  unjust  violence,  and 


▲PPEXDIX  K.  XXIX 

m  hretch  of  the  articles  of  peace,  so  solemnly  sworn,  agreed  upoDt 
and  ratified  by  his  majestie  of  England,  and  my  lords,  the  States 
general,  and  the  rather,  for  that  to  prevent  the  shedding  of  blood,  in 
the  month  of  February  last,  we  treated  with  Captain  John  Scott, 
(who  reported  he  had  a  comnaission  from  his  said  majestie,)  touch- 
ing the  limits  of  Long;  Island,  and  concluded  for  the  space  of  a  year; 
that  in  the  mean  time,  the  business  might  be  treated  on  between  the 
king  of  Great  Britain  and  my  lords,  the  high  and  mighty  States 
General :  and  again,  at  present,  for  the  hindrance  and  prevention 
of  all  differences,  and  the  spilling  of  innocent  blood,  not  only  in 
these  parts,  but  also  in  Europe,  we  offer  unto  you,  a  treaty  by  our 
deputies,  Mr.  Cornelius  Van  Kuyven,  secretary  and  receiver  of 
New  Holland,  Cornelius  Steinwick,  burgomaster,  Mr.  Samuel 
Megapolensis,  doctor  of  physick,  and  Mr.  James  Cousseau,  here- 
tofore sheritF.  As  touchinjr  the  threats  in  vour  conclusion,  we  have 
nothing  to  answer,  only  that  we  fear  nothing  but  what  God  (who  is 
as  just  as  merciful,)  shall  lay  upon  us ;  all  things  being  in  his  gra* 
cious  disposal,  and  we  may  as  well  be  preserved  by  him  with  small 
forces  as  by  a  great  army,  which  makes  us  to  wish  you  all  happi- 
ness and  prosperity,  and  recommend  you  to  hb  protection.  My 
lord^  your  thrice  humble  and  affectionate  servant  and  friend, 
signed  P.  Stuyvesant. — At  the  fort  at  Amsterdam,  the  second  of 
September,  new  style,  1664." 


Appendix  K. — Vol.  L^  p.  116. 

Ix  Januar}',  1664,  the  States  General  give  notice  to  all  who, 
forgetful  of  the  treaty  of  1650,  have  put  themselves  under  the 
English  government,  that,  under  pain  of  the  high  displeasure  of  the 
states,  thev  shall  submit  and  take  the  oaths  to  the  Dutch  authoriues.* 

In  1662,  October  13th,  Governour  Stuyvesant  wrote  thus  to  the 
honourable  depuiy-governour  and  coim  of  magbtrates,  at  Hart- 
ford : — 

**  Honoured  and  worth v  sirs. — Bv  this  occasion  of  mv  brother- 
in-law's  beingr  necessitated  to  make  a  second  vovaire  for  avd  his 
distressed  sister,  Judith  Varlott,  imprisoned,  as  we  are  informed, 
upon  pretend  accusation  off  wychery,  we  realey  believe,  and  out 
her  well  known  education,  life,  conversation,  and  profession  of  faith, 
dare  assure  that  she  is  innocent  of  such  a  horrible  crimen,  and 


*  8««  muiotcnpt  in  wcretmrj  of  stmte't  office,  Haitfbrd. 


XXX  APPENDIX  K. 

wherefor  I  doubt  not  he  will  now,  as  formerly,  6nde  your  boDOur*s 
favour  and  ayde  for  the  innocent.  I  kan  not  omit  to  acquaint  yoa 
(which  should  have  been  done  sooner  if  my  absence  had  not  hin- 
dered it,)  that  one  John  Jonge,  whether  upon  your  orders,  as  he 
pretend,  I  doubt  had  undertaken,  as  by  his  seditious  letters  may 
appear,  to  divert  and  revoce  the  Eni^h'sh  towns  in  this  province 
tinder  the  protection  of  the  high  and  mighty  lords,  the  Estaats  Gene- 
ral of  the  United  Belgic  Provences,  and  in  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
right  honourable  lords  of  the  West  India  Compagnie,  settled  of  their 
oath  and  due  obedience  unto  us,  their  lawful  govemour,  which  bis 
unlawful  proceedings  amongst  the  silly  and  common  people,  with- 
out any  acknowledgment  or  addresses  unto  us,  as  govemour  of  this 
province — if  you  will  owne  as  we  do  not  hope  you  may — take  no- 
tice that  it  is  a  absolute  breatch  and  a  nullification  of  the  argreemeot 
about  the  limits,  A.  D.  16-50,  made  at  Hardfort,  between  the 
honourable  commissioners  of  New  England,  and  us,  as  govemour- 
generall  of  this  province,  and  that,  by  that  means  the  aforementioned 
high'  and  mighty  lords  Estaats  General,  and  right  honourable  lords 
of  the  West  India  Company  ware  given  just  grounds  and  reason  tP 
demand,  and  by  such  means  as  in  wisdom  shall  thinke  roeete,  to 
recover  al  that  tract  of  land  between  Greenwich  and  the  Fresh 
River,  so  longh  unjustly  as  it  now  doth  appear,  without  any  patent 
or  commission,  possessed  and  detayned  from  the  aforementioned 
first  possessors  and  owners,  as  it  appears  by  the  monuments  of  the 
howse,  the  hope  by  commission  of  the  aforesaid  lords,  built  and 
without  molestation  upon  the  Fresh  or  Connecticut  River,  possessed 
many  years  before  any  of  the  English  nations  did  come  there,  but 
confyding  and  trusting  most  for  the  words  and  promises  of  the 
honourable  Govemour  Winthrop  as  he  did  depart  from  hence,  we 
shall  with  more  discretion  expect  his  desired  arival,  and  leave  the 
matters  to  our  superiDurs  in  Europe,  and  shall  after  my  respects 
and  love  presented,  expect  with  the  bearer  your  categorical  answer, 
over  and  about  the  aforementioned  John  Jonge^s  seditious  doings 
and  writings. 

"  Remaining  in  the  mayne, 

"  Your  loving  friend  and  neighbour, 

"P.  Stuwesaxt. 
"iV.  Amsterdam  in  Sctherlandt,  the  13rA  of  Or.y  1662." 

The  joumal  of  the  Dutch  commissioners,  Comelius  Van  Ruy- 

▼en.  Burgomaster  Van  Cortlandi,  and  Mr.  John  Lawrence,  of  the 

chj^of  New  Amsterdam,  October,  1663,  to  Hartford,  having  been 

'published  in  Hazard,  and  various  other  collections,  I  will  only  give 

U  abstract  of  the  voyage  and  proceedings. 

The  first  thing  that  strikes  the  reader  of  the  present  day,  is  the 
domty  and  tedious  traveiling.    On  the  second  day  of  the  voyacet 


APPENDIX  K.  XXZI 

thej  cast  anchor  wUhin  sight  of  Stratford  Point.     By  rowing  and 
luffing,  on  the  third  day  they  landed  at  Milford,  where  they  letl 
their  yacht  under  care  of  Mr.  Treat,  in  case  any  privateers  should 
attack  her.     Here  ihcy  procured  horses,  and  arrived  that  evening 
at  New  Haven.     On  the  fourth  day,  they  reached  Hartford,  where 
the  governour  and  court  being  assembled,  to  lose  no  time,  they  that 
day  delivered  their  letter,  and  the  court  provided  a  room  for  them 
with  the  marshal.     On  the  next  dav,  October  19ih,  thev  called  on 
Mr.  John  Winthrop,  and  obtained  his  promise  that  he  would  re- 
move all  misunderstandins^s,  etc.     Thev  then  addressed  the  com- 
mittee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  of  their  business,  begging  a 
categorical  answer.     A  time  was  appointed,  and  they  were  disap- 
pointed, but  invited  to  dine  at  the  Town-hall ;  accepted  the  invita- 
tion, and  after  dinner,  pressed  their  business,  and  were  required  to 
state  briefly  the  demand — which  was  to  know  whether  the  colony 
held  to  the  limits  settled  in  16-30 ;  if  not,  that  they  would  appoint 
persons  to  treat : — finally,  if  that  matters  should  be  referred  to  their 
superiors  in  Europe,  whether  in  the  mean  time  matters  should  remain 
as  settled  in  IGoO.     The  whole  afternoon  was  spent  without  effect- 
ing any  thing.     The  New  England  gentlemen  otTered  to  refer  the 
matter  to  Europe  provided,  meantime,  the  English  towns  on  Long 
Island  and  Westchester  should  be  under  the  government  of  Connec- 
ticut.    Mr.  Allen  said  that  the  English  towns  on  Long  Island  would 
no  longer  remain  under  tlie  Dutch  government,  and  if  the  Dutch 
attempted  to  force  them,  they  were  resolved  to  defend  themselves ; 
be  therefore  advised  the  relinquishment  by  the  Dutch  until  the  mat- 
ter was  setded  in  Euro(>e.    The  Dutch  deputies  said  it  would  never 
be  allowed,  and  that  Connecticut  caused  this  disposition  in  said 
towns  by  prompting  tliem.     They  arjjued  the  matter />n>  and  com^ 
while  it  was  alreadv  determined  in  En£:land  to  seize  the  whole* 
They  parted  in  the  evening  to  resume  the  fruitless  debate  next 
morning.     Finally,  the  Connecticut  gentlemen  told  the  Dutchmen 
that  the  towns  must  remain,  as  they  had  chosen,  under  English 
jurisdicuon,  and  that  if  auacked,  Connecticut  would  defend  them. 
The  Dutch  deputies  pleaded  right  and  possession  in  vain:  they 
talked  till  dinner  time,  were  airain  invited,  and  ai^ain  dined  with  the 
governour,  to  whom  they  complained  after  dinner,  with  the  same 
efiect,  and  were  promised  a  written  answer  to  the  letter  brought. 
The  next,  21st,  being  Sunday,  is  passed  at  church,  and  in  the  eve- 
ning with  the  governour,  supping  and  talking.     The  2'2d  and  23d, 
DO  written  answer,  but  the  debate  continued  :  the  English  said  the 
towns  were  included  in  bis  majesty's  patent.     The  Dutch  deputies 
said  the  patent  spoke  of  bounds  in  New  England,  and  not  in  New 
Netheiland.     The  reply  was,  "we  know  of  no  New  Netherland." 
The  debate  continued  until  noon,  which  being  dinner  time,  it  was 
adjourned  till  that  afiair  was  over.    Finally,  say  the  Dutch  deputies. 


XXXn  APPENDIX  K. 

the  unreasonable  articies  were  delivered  to  them,  to  wh  :  that  West- 
chester and  all  lands  between  that  and  *'  Stanford'^  ahaD  beloor  to 
Connecticut,  and  she  will  forbear  exercising  anr  authoritT  orer 
HempMead,  Jamaica,  etc.,  uniil  the  case  be  further  coosideied, 
provided  the  Dutch  will  forbear  to  coerce  the  towns  of  Long  Island. 
These  articles  beinz  objected  to,  the  Dutch  deputies,  to  concede 
somethincT,  propose  that  Westchester  and  the  settlements  to  Stan- 
ford, shall  remain  under  the  dominion  of  Connecticut,  untfl  tbft 
limits  were  fixed  bj  reference ;  but  in  the  meantime,  the  Long  Island 
towns  "shall  absolutelv  abide  the  srovemmentof  New  NetberlaDd.** 
Having  delivered  this  proposal,  thev  were  answered,  that  the  Lon^ 
Island  townships  f coy  Id  not  continue  under  the  Dutch ;  that  tber 
knew  no-NewXeiherland  province  but  a  Dutch  government  over  a 
Dutch  plantation  on  the  Manhattans ;  that  Lonz  Island  was  included 
in  their  patent,  and  they  would  possess  and  maintain  it. 

After  further  useless  talk,  an  answer  was  asked  to  the  letter,  as 
the  Dutch  deputies  wished  to  depart  on  the  morrow.  The  letter 
was  brousrht  in  the  evening  with  this  superscription — **  To  the 
Honourable  Peter  Stuyvesant,  Director-General,  at  the  Manados.^ 
It  was  objected  that  the  direction  ous'Iit  to  be  to  the  Director- 
General  of  New  Nether! and.  It  was  answered,  that  it  was  at  their 
option  to  receive  it  or  not. 

On  the  24th  the  deputies  departed  from  Hartford,  and  airired 
at  Manhattan  on  the  eveninsr  of  the  26ih. 

While  Connecticut  and  New  Netherland  were  dispotin?  whidi 
should  have  Westchester  and  the  towns  on  Lon?  Island,  the  roval 
Duke  had  appropriated  all  the  territory  in  question  to  himself;  and 
his  royal  brother  was  fitting:  out  an  armament  to  dve  him  posses- 
sion of  all  the  Dutch  province,  and  the  part  Holland  had  resgned 

to  her  English  neiirhbours. 
1658         It  appears  by  the  researches  of  Silas  Wood,  Esq.,  that 

at  this  time  the  custom  of  most  towns  of  Lon?  Island, 
to  pay  for  public  services  in  produce,  and  probably  barter 
common  in  trade.     Hempstead  paid  the  herdsman  twelve  shillings 
sdrlinfiT,  in  butter,  com,  wheat  and  oats.     Six  bushels  of  com  was 

firen  for  killing  a  wolf.  East  Hampton  agreed  to  pay  Thomas 
ames,  their  minister,  sixtv*  {>ounds  a  year,  **  in  such  pay  as  men 
raise,  as  it  passes  from  man  to  man."  Jamaica  gave  Zachariafa 
Walker,  their  minister,  sixty  pounds,  in  wheat  and  com,  at  fixed 
prices.  Gravesend  gave  their  herdsman  and  assistant  600  guilders 
m  ''bacon  and  com."  Newtown  paid  her  minister  by  a  capitatioo 
of  ibrtj 'Shillings  a  head,  "  half  in  com,  and  half  in  cattle."  Tbe 
towD  court  of  Jamaica,  crave  damages  in  favour  of  a  plaintiff,  of 
twelre  and  a  half  bushels  of  wheat.  Mr.  Wood  says,  '*  the  prac- 
tice of  paying  in  produce  continued  imtil  about  1700." 


APPENDIX  K.  XSZm 

16ft9        The  chief  sachem  of  the  Monuuks  presented  to  LyoQ 

Gtrdiner,  the  proprietor  of  Gardiner^s  Island,  a  deed  for 
that  temtorr,  which  b  now  (1S39)  Smithtown ;  in  token  of  gn- 
titiide  for  having  ransomed  his  daughter  from  the  hostile  Narragan- 
aeftSL  In  1659,  and  on  to  li>61,  the  dispute  respecting  the  line 
between  the  Dutch  and  English  on  Long  Island,  though  once 

agreed  upon,  was  a  subject  of  controTersy. 
1660         Bushwick  settled.     Mr.  Wood  has  given  the  names  of 

the  tribes  of  Indians  of  Long  Island  when  first  settled. 
Their  villages  were  on  the  bays,  creeks  and  harbours,  for  the  hior 
hty  of  taking  fish,  and  large  beds  of  shells  mark  to  this  day  the 
•cites  of  their  wigwams.  In  New  Jersey  the  same  may  be  re- 
marked  ;  and  Perth  Amboy  has  many  snch  mounds  of  oyster  and 
dam  shelb  now  covered  by  the  soil  of  many  years. 

The  east  end  of  Long  Island  has  marks  of  a  greater  Indian 
population  than  any  other  part,  and  the  Montauks  have  left  their 
lame  to  posterity  at  the  extremity  of  Suflfolk  count}*,  on  the  pwit 
and  li^t*house  which  terminates  the  Island.  A  few  frmilies  of 
the  aborigines  exist  at  this  time,  (1S39)  poor,  degraded,  squalid — 
and  some  few  young  men  become  sailors,  and  mingle  with  the 
ciews  of  the  whalers  from  Sagg  Harbour. 

In  1660,  the  commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies,  ordered 
the  people  of  East  Hampton  to  protect  the  Montauks  from  the 
Nairagansetts  ;  and  in  case  the  latter  came  within  six  miles  of  the 
lowB,  to  remove  them  peaceably ;  but  if  they  pursued  the  Mon- 
tauks to  the  English  houses,  or  within  two  miles  of  any  town,  the    . 

English  were  authorized  to  attack  the  ac^ressors. 
1663  Smithtown,  Long  Island,  settled.  This  land  had  been 
presented  to  Lyon  Gardiner  by  Wyandanee,  chief  sachem  of 
the  Montauks,  in  gratitude  for  having  ransomed  his  daughter  from 
the  Narragansetts.  Lyon  Gardiner  was  a  Scotchman,  and  had  served 
es  m  lieutenant  in  the  British  army  in  the  low  countries :  he  came 
an  this  country  in  lG3o,  and  erected  a  fort  at  Saybrook,  under  Lord 
Say  and  Seal,  and  commanded  the  garrison.  In  1639,  having  pui^ 
chased  the  island  bearing  his  name  from  the  Indians,  and  had  the 
poichase  confirmed  by  the  European  proprietors,  (so  called)  he 
removed  thither.  His  son  David,  bom  at  Saybrook,  is  supposed 
an  be  the  first  white  child  bom  in  Connecticut.  Eliiabeth  the 
daughter  of  Lyon  Gardiner,  bora  on  Gard'mer^s  Island,  September 
1-ldi,  1641,  was  probably  the  first  English  child  bora  within  the 
tenitorj  of  New  York.  Gardiner's  Island  in  1663,  (when  Lyoo 
Gardiner  died)  was  appraised  at  ^700 :  and  in  1824  it  payed  one 
sixth  of  the  taxes  of  East  Hampton.  It  continues  entire  in  the 
family,  and  belonged  in  1S24  to  David  Gardiner,  the  eldest  son 


XXXIT  AFPXXDIX  K. 


^  to  ^ »  I  -  J 


erf"  the  late  John  Lvon  Gardiner.  Ev;..  the  eizfath  lineal 
from  Lyon  Gardiner.* 

Soothampton  had  been  received  inio  the  rovemment  of  New 
Haven,  September  7£h.  1643:  and  in  .September  1651,  I  find 
Southampton  complainlDz  to  Cocnecticat  against  the  Dmch  fir 
selling  GTun^y  powder,  and  lead,  to  the  Indians. 

In  1644,  the  commissioner?  for  the  United  Colonies  gsre  per- 
mission to  Connectictit  to  receive  Soutiiampton,  on  Long  Idandv 
into  its  jurisdiction. 

In  September,  1657.  New  Haven  had  permissioD  to  reeove 
Ojrster  Bar  and  Huntington,  on  Long  Island,  into  ite  jnrisdiclioik 

In  September,  1660,  *'•  liberty-  is  granted  to  the  jnrisdictiaB  of 
Connecticut  to  take  Huntington  and  Sataucket,  two  Eng}ish  pl»- 
titions  on  Long  Island,  into  their  government,*'  by  the  cominii- 
aioners  met  at  New  Haven :  and  at  the  same  time  the  Moniaid: 
Indians  having  petitioned  for  protection  from  the  NarraganseOs,  the 
commissioners  ordered,  that  if  the  Narrazansetts  came  within  si 
of  any  of  the  English  towns  under  their  jurisdictioiif  the 
might  remove  them :  and  if  the  said  Indians  inrwle  the 
Montanks,  contranr  to  the  order  of  tlie  commisaooers.  and  the 
McHittnks  retreat  to  the  English  houses  or  within  two  miles  of  anj 
English  towns,  viz ;  Easthampton  or  Southampton,  ther  maj  be  re» 
sited  bj  the  English  inhabitants  there. 

At  a  session  of  the  General  As;«embly  of  Connectictit,  at  Hart- 
fintl,  March  10, 166:3,  it  was  voted  d^at  Mr.  WvUvs  and  Mr.  Matdteir 
ADjn  go  over  to  Long  Island  to  sonle  the  government  on  the  west 
end  of  the  Island.  "  according  to  the  agreement  at  Hempstead  in 
Februarr  last."  Thev  are  desired  to  take  the  assistance  of  the 
commissioners  in  those  towns  for  reztdatin?  any  disnnb- 
1664  ances.  And  in  1661  the  frame  assembly  resolred  tfaaty 
**  whereas  his  majesty  hath  been  sraciousiy  pleased  to  coo- 
firm  unto  this  colony,  by  charier,  all  that  part  of  lus  dominion  in 
New  England,  bounded,  as  in  the  said  charter  is  expressed,  with 
the  lilandjt^^  therefore  they  claim  Lnr-z  Ifland, 

March  1st,  a  meeting  was  held  at  Hempstead,  to  settle  the  Enuls 
of  Flashing,  Jamaica*  and  Hempstead.  A  committee  was  ap- 
pointed of  1  from  East  Hampton.  4  from  Southton,  4  fit>m  Sawtft- 
cott  or  Brookhaven,  Gravesend,  We^^tchester,  Oyster  Bay,  and 
Himtuicton. 

A  mimsler  was  setded  at  Newtown  before  1 664.  his  name  Moore. 
'  John  8eatt  imposes  on  the  people  of  Sawtacoa  with  an  instre- 
caDed  a  perpefviiy— ordered  to  appear  before  the  coort  of 


*  S    Wood 


▲PPSXDIX  E.  XZXT 

mt  New  York,  by  NicoiU,  and  liU  agreemeDtft  with  the 
people  mtde  void. 

Captain  John  I'nderhill  ap|x)inted  high  constable  and  under 
tbetidr  of  the  North  Hidiiu  of  Yorkshire,  on  Long  Island,  March 
ISih,  by  Nicolls, 

First  commission  as  justice  of  (>eace«  given  by  NicoUs  to  Danid 
Dentoo,  of  Jamaica.  March  16thv  other  civil  othcers  appointed- 
John  Hicks,  of  Hempstead,  Jonas  Wood,  of  HantingtODt  and 
James  Hubbard,  of  Ciravesend,  justices.  William  Wells  appoint* 
ed  high  sheriff  of  all  the  ridings  of  Yorkshire,  on  Long  Island  ;  be 
Ihred  at  Southold,  in  the  East  liiding. 

Id  1664,  the  commissioners  adnse  that  New  Haren  and  Coo* 
aecdcot  be  united  as  one  colour  :  and  in  16t>7. 1  find  them  imited 
WB  at  the  meeting  of  commissioners  at  Hartford,  5th  September, 
1667,  **  now  appearing  for  the  colonies  of  New  Haven,  Mr.  Wil- 
Kun  Leele  and  Sir.  Samuel  Willis,  commissioners  above  said,  for 
Connecticut,  declared  tliat  the  colonies  of  Coimecticut  and  New 
Heven  were  entered  into  one.*' 

Berklev  and  Cartaret  assured  to  the  settlers  of  New  Jeisev,  that 
the  province  should  be  nileti  by  laws  enacted  by  the  representatiYea 
of  the  people  who  had  the  power  of  peace  and  war  entrusted  to 
tfaeou  No  tax«  custom,  subsidy,  tallage,  assessment  or  duty  what- 
ever  is  to  be  imiK>sed,  except  by  the  authority  and  consent  of  the 
geoeral  assembly.  No  per^>n  to  be  in  any  way  molested  for  wof 
diderence  in  opinion  or  practice  in  matters  concerning  religk»i 
unless  he  disturb  the  peace  of  the  province  :  any  law,  custom  or 
Matute  of  England  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  Thej  the 
aetxiers  had  assurance  that  they  were  exempted  from  the  jurisdic* 
tioo  of  the  English  parliament  as  to  taxation  or  religion.  The 
proprietors  reserved  the  executive  power,  and  the  right  to  affirm  or 
rgect  laws.  Land  was  allotted  according  to  the  time  of  arrival, 
end  the  number  of  ifuhntrJ  serrttnts  ami  dures  ;  the  settler  paid  m 
kalf  penny  per  acre  quit  rent,  and  was  bound  to  maintain  one  aUe 
bodied  male  ser\nint  fei  one  hundred  acres.  The  code  was  called 
••  The  Laws  of  the  Concessions/'  and  regarded  as  the  charter. 
Philip  Cartaret,  the  first  governour  added,  that  the  settlers  should 
be  obliged  to  purchase  the  land  so  alloted  to  them,  from  tiU  /a- 
diams.  And  some  years  after  the  proprietors  ordered  the  Indian 
lands  to  be  purchasetl  by  the  governour  and  council,  which  were 
le-porcbased  at  the  same  rate  by  the  settlers.* 

When  Richard  Nicolls,  the  duke*s  !:ovemour,  convened  an  le- 
•embly  from  the  towns  of  Long  Island,  and  W  estchester  to  meet 
nt  Hempstead,  March  1st,  IGt>^3,  there  appeared  the  following  de* 


*  Scott.  Swth,  ClMteMs. 


From  New  Utrecbt,  Jaqoes  ConeDeao  aad  T 
Hope.  FromGraTeseDd.Ju3es  Hubbard  and  John  BrofTDe.  Fhb 
Fbdaods,  EBxrt  Elbeitson  ud  KrAoSe  Maneitt.  Frooi  Ffaitai^ 
John  Soiker  and  liendnck  Gucksea.  FrcKo  Bosiivkk.  Jon 
Scealman  and  Gilijfen  Tunis.  Frozn  Bfookirn,  Umdnck  LA 
botien  and  JoiiD  Ereiucro.  From  Nevrunm,  Bidnnl  Bcfli 
aad  John  Coe.  From  Flosiiin;.  Elias  Dou^iirr  and  Bkkmi 
ComfailL  From  Jamaica,  Damei  Demon  and  Tfaomu  BcBaedkL 
Fioai  Hempfiead,  John  Hicks  and  Robert  Jackson.  Frooi  Opr 
ler  Bar,  Jolm  UaderiuU  and  Maizbias  Harrer.  From  HaBUar- 
loo,  Jooas  Wood  and  Jehu  Ketrham,  From  BrooUmnea,  Ihaid 
Laoe  apd  Roger  Banoo.  From  SomboJd,  William  Wefl* 
John  \oooe-  From  :>oatb  HaziptoOf  Toomas  Topping  and  J 
HowdL  From  East  Hamptoa  TixMUs  Baker  and  John  S 
From  Westciie£fer,  Edward  JesHsp  and Qidiralnr. 

At  diis  meeting,  Nicoik  promoigaied  the  lav%  called  liie  dixie's 
laws,  wfaicii  coodooed  in  iorce,  notiriiikstandiag  the  propie* 
f4P«>fym^  ontO  Doogan  was  Agreed  to  cocTeoe  a  geneni 

in  16S3,  who  br  degrees  modified  tiiem  and  pn«ed 
1665         Nicolk,  bj  ieaer  dated  April  20tik,  iaibniB  ibe 

of  Long  Island  ibat,  obliged  bj  has  nujeatr  s 
lie  was  going  lo  Boston,  and  leares  Captain  Neediam  in 
Sheriff  Wells,  Captain  Topping,  of  tiie  goTemoor  s  oooikjI, 
Matthias  Nicoll,  secretarj  of  the  eoxjixriL  appointed  to  sit  wid 
jostiees  of  the  sessions  on  Long  Isiand,  to  explain  tbe  Ixtn 
them. 

A  proclamation  is  issiKd  for  apprebesdiia;  two  persoos 
of  assaulting  tbe  constable  in  tiie  eTecction  of  i^  oQce. 

deputies  assembied  at  Hempstead,  in  24arcn  1665,  to 
an  addre»  made  to  ti>e  Duke  of  York,  br  a  narraiire 
that,  when  Nicolis  commisssoa  was  £rst  read  at  GraTesend,  Gorer- 
nonr  Wintiirop  was  present,  and  declared  that  Cocoecticist  y^'m^ 
no  jtirtidictKMi  tkjmrt  orer  Long  Island;  that  what  ti^  bad  dowe 
was  tfx  the  wel^re  of  tbe  coknsr.  etc. ;  and  Goreroocr  Nico&i 
refriied,  that  he  would  not  pot  out  anr  of  the  officers  wcocb  Cob- 
necticot  had  set  op  in  tiie  civil  stale,  bot  confirmed  tiKin.  Soae 
alterations  were  made  br  Nico:Is  in  tiie  hws  tie  presented,  and  a 
diqwition  shown  to accommoda!e  tiaem  to ti>e  peopSe.  Tbedepn- 
lies  ptoptMe  .£200  to  defraj  public  charges,  and  applied  to  NkoSs 
to  know  whether  ther  might  not,  aner  ti>e  example  of  the  omer 

their  own  magiarati&> ;  on  which,  be  showed  bis 
and  told  them,  that  if  tbej  wisi]«d  br  a  greaier  sfamn 
in  ihe  flotcuunent  than  his  instmctio&s  care  them,  ther  most  eo  to 

A  jadgment  baring  been  obtained  zzilnsi  William  Lawreoee.  of 
the  gofemoor,  on  appeal,  made  it  roid.     XieoOs  en- 


▲PPSNDIX  K.  XXZTII 

couraged  Paul  Richards  in  the  cultivation  of  the  vine  on  Long 
Island,  in  1664.     The  wine  to  be  free  of  excise  for  thirty  years. 

October  dd,  1665.  The  Indians  of  Long  Island  submit  to  the 
English  government,  requiring  protection  from  other  Indians  and 
Christians,  and  requiring  that  no  one  sachem  should  have  authori^ 
given  him  over  others,  but  each  sachem  govern  his  people  and 
family  as  formerly ;  that  they  shall  have  equal  rights  with  Christians 
in  courts  of  justice,  and  they  agree  not  to  enter  into  any  wars  with- 
out leave  from  the  English. 

February  22d,  (1665.  ?)  The  freemen  of  Southold  in  a 
meeting,  appoint  William  Wells  and  Captain  John  Youngs  to  con- 
clude any  cause  or  matter  relating  to  the  several  towns  and  to  wait 
upon  the  governour,  according  to  his  letter  of  the  8th  February. 
They  ask  that  they  may  enjoy  their  lands  in  free  sockage  and  their 
heirs  forever  ;  that  the  freemen  may  choose  yearly  their  civil  offi- 
cers ;  that  all  trained  soldiers  may  choose  their  officers  yearly ;  and 
that  the  people  may  not  pay  for  any  forti6cations,  ^'  but  what  may 
be  within"  themselves  ;  nor  be  enjoined  to  train  without  the  limits 
of  the  town ;  that  they  may  have  three  courts  in  Southold  in  a 
year,  and  choose  assistants  to  sit  with  the  magistrates,  and  that 
they  may  have  power  to  try  all  causes  except  criminal,  and  deter^ 
mine  without  appeal  all  to  £6  ;  that  no  magistrate  shall  have  yearly 
maintenance ;  that  no  tax  be  raised  ^'  without  the  consent  of  the 
major  part  of  the  deputies  in  a  general  court  or  meeting." 

A  letter  from  Nicolls  to  Messrs.  Howell  and  Youngs,  without 
date,  gives  permission  to  inform  all  persons  on  Long  Island  that 
the  commissioners  have  settled  the  boundaries  between  the  Duke 
of  York's  patent  and  Connecticut ;  and  have  agreed  with  ''  Master 
Winthrop"  that  all  Long  Island  remains  to  tlie  Duke.  That  as  it 
18  winter,  he  does  not  think  it  convenient  to  put  the  inhabitants  to 
the  trouble  of  sending  deputies  to  meet  in  relation  to  the  afiairs  of 
the  island,  but  weather  permitting,  he  will  notify  them  of  time  and 
place  of  meeting  :  in  the  mean  time,  magistrates  formerly  appointed 
shsdl  remain  under  the  Duke's  government,  and  in  his  majesty's 
name.  That  he  has  not  considered  of  any  tax,  but  they  may  assure 
themselves  of  eaual  freedom  and  immunities,  if  not  greater,  than 
his  majesty's  subjects  of  any  of  the  New  England  colonies  enjoy ; 
and  that  he  will  promote  trade,  and  encourage  all  sober  and  indus- 
trious persons  in  their  plantations.  He  further  says,  he  will  require 
no  further  service,  than  upon  due  notice  to  be  as  ready  to  defend 
his  majesty's  territorj',  as  they  were  to  reduce  it  to  obedience. 
1674  The  inhabitants  of  Southold  met  November  17th,  1674, 
and  declared  and  owned  that  they  were  under  his  majesty's 
government  of  Connecticut,  and  wish  so  to  continue.  They  una- 
nimously vote  that  speedy  application  be  made  to  the  government 
of  Connecticut  for  council  how  to  answer  the  demands  of  Andros. 


xxxrni  APPE? 

Ther  rote  that  a  ^tandioz  committee  be  appointed  to  mamse  dwir 
affairs  during' tbe&e  tr^nsicuo::-.  ei:her  in  rerard  to  Connectkniu  io 
whom  they  profes=  to  o'^e  lijeir  proy-cuon  and  dexence,  or  to  Sew 

York:  aiid  accorcl.'ijiv  tijev  c:*o-e  trieir  comrainee- 
1676  f>n  ti:e  7th  div  of  <.>ctoir?r.  the  court  of  assizes,  opoo 
the  rea«iirji'  of  c-rnsiu  lerrer*  from  .^outbamptOQ  and  Soini>- 
old,  etauns  tiif-ir  rea.son:^  for  rrit  corupiyi-j  with  the  law  ia  takins 
cot  grants,  patent?,  orronfirmationi  f-jr  thf-ir  towns  or  iaiuk— viz: 
hw  of  1604,  or  of  cojik.Ii  and  a.s.size^.  1*>>0  and  1670.  relannc 
thereunto— give  judgment  that  the  ?sid  town$  for  their  disobedience 
to  law,  have  forfeited  all  their  title?.  n_^'jLs.  and  pririleees  to  the 
lands  in  said  township?,  and  dve  them  to  Monday  fonnisfau  the 
23d  inst.  to  acknowledge  their  fault  and  obey.  This  time  is  eranied 
to  the  towns  or  individna':?. 

December  lOth.  1074 — Sali.rburv  informs  the  inhabittna  of 
Soathold  and  Sin'jieland  that  he  is  empowered  by  the  eoverofom 
to  receive  the  return  of  ihi*  place  inio  the  colony  of  New  York, 
agreeable  to  the  2Tant  to  tiie  Duke  of  York,  and  he  accordindy 
declares  that  he  doe.s  so  receive  the  return  of  said  place  or  terriiorr 
from  the  colony  of  Connecticut,  by  whose  help  and  protectioB 
they  have  been  secured  from  the  Dutch  invasion,  unto  the  obedi- 
ence of  his  Koval  Hi_:hness. 

In  16-57  is  thetirM  notice  of  Quakers  in  New  Netherland ;  when 
Robert  Hodishone.  Chris  to  i/uer  Hol-i'in.  Humph  rev  Norton.  Marr 
Wetherhead  and  Doroiiiy  Wauzh.  arrived  at  New  Amsterdam  : 
and  the  two  women  were  cor.rlnfni  or  p«ii  into  a  diinreon  for  preach- 
inir  in  the  streets.  Hod-hon-v  v.en*  to  Hempstead  on  Lon?  Island, 
where  he  preached,  an*l  was  i-iken  u:>,  ?..■•  uerc  two  women  for 
entertaining  him.*  Other  (Quakers  coining  from  New  England, 
were  treated  with  severitv  bv  Stuvv.??int :  liieir  number  was  small, 
and  thev  met  in  the  wrK»ds  for  worriiin  al'^out  Fiushinz,  Jamaica 
and  Newtown. 

John  Bowne  of  Flush! nz  was  a  hrinti.st.  hut  his  wife  was  a  Qua- 
ker  minister ;  and  John  went  to  tinj  i.iee:I::.'s  of  the  (Quakers,  and 
was  so  touched  that  he  joineii  the  ?ect  and  offered  his  house  for 
their  meetiniis  ;  in  consequence  of  which  he  was  forciblv 
1662  carrie<l  to  New  Ani^terdnm.  and  as  ne  would  not  a^ree  to 
discontinue  the  use  ot  IjIs  house  for  the  Quaker  meetinsrs 
he  was  in  1062  sent  prisoner  on  hoard  a  ship  of  war  to  Holland : 
but  was  landed  in  con^eoueriC:,*  of  -tress  of  weather  in  Holland, 
mnd  suffered  to  -jo  at  lar^'c  on  hi-  promise  to  appear,  which  he 
did,  and  was  heard  before  the  Wo-^t  l.idia  Company ;  who  tindinx 
bim  sledfast,  set  him  at  lih»jrty.  W.^-^n  he  returned  home  be 
found  the  ^uremmei'tt  with  tiie  Kn.'Ii<>h :  and  Stu^-^esani  "*•  made 


*  S«c3ewcVtUUiu>n.V-'2j6. 


AFPEHDIX  L.  XXUX 

an  ackoowledginent  to  him  for  the  cruel  treatment  inflicted  on  him 

bv  his  order." 
1671  The  Quaker^  encroai5e<l  much  in  the  two  western  coun- 

ties of  Loni^  Lsland.  (Quarterly  ineetinirs  were  held,  and 
1692  in  l()9:i  a  yearly  meetin'j:  was  held  at  Flushin<i:.  In  1696 
a  meeting  house  was  built  in  New  York.  From  this  time 
1696  the  society  has  encreased,  and  their  history  is  well  known. 
There  is  an  embaying  from  a  picture  of  George  FoXt 
painted  in  1()24,  aged  30,  in  the  Historical  Society's  Librarj.  The 
first  meeting  house  for  (Quakers  that  1  remember  in  New  York,  was 
in  Crown  street,  (now  I^iberty  street,)  it  was  afterwards  Grant 
Thorbum's  seed-store,  and  now  (1839)  a  number  of  houses  oc- 
cupy this  ground.  The  second  meeting  house  was  in  Queen 
street,  (chanired  to  Pearl  street,)  and  now  the  place  built  up  with 
houses  near  Madison  street ;  while  many  places  have  been  pur- 
chased in  more  priyate  and  less  costly  situations,  and  houses  of 
worship  built,  at  tiie  same  time  that  the  sect  has  divided  into  Uni- 
tarians and  Trinitarians  ;  but  both  have  adhered  to  many  of  the 
admirable  moral  and  political  re;Lrulations  and  customs  which  dis- 
tinguish them  from  other  nominal  Christians. 


Appendix  L. —  J'oL  /.,  jk  US. 
Memoranda  of  the  Geiualngy  of  the  Stuyvesant  Family. 

GovERNouR  l*ETRUs  Stuyvesant,  camc  from  Amsterdam* 
Arrived  here  the  27th  of  May,  1G47.  He  was  married  to  Judith 
Bayard,  (a  fugitive  from  France)  who  died  in  1 6S6.  They  had 
two  sons — Balthaza  Lazar,  born  1047,  and  Nicholas  WilUam,  bom 
1648. 

Balthaza,  after  the  surrcn<ler  of  the  Province  to  the  Englisby 
removed  (in  disgust)  to  St.  Thomas  in  the  West  Indies,  He  died 
at  Nevis,  1675.  He  married  in  the  West  Indies,  and  had  two 
daughters  born  at  St.  Ktistace ;  viz.,  Judith,  bom  in  167 4,  mar- 
ried to  Edsall ;  and  Katharine,  bom  1675,  married  to 

Abraham  Tassamaker. 

Nicholas  William,  (the  son  of  the  <royernour)  married  to  Maria 
Beelunan,  of  New  Amsterdam,  who  died  witliout  issue.  He  then 
mairied  Elizabeth  iSleghtenhorst,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and 
one  daughter ;  viz.,  Petrusy  bom  March  16S4— drowned  in  1706, 
having  never  been  married,  ^bma^  who  married  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Pritchardf  of  New  York,  a  clergyman  of  the  church  of  England^ 
and  died  without  issue ;  and 


Xlf  APPENDIX  M. 

Gerardutf  who  married  Judith  Bayard,  who  bad  four  aonsy  oolj 
two  of  whom  survived  their  iather ;  viz.,  Nicholas  William^  who 
sobaequently  died  without  issue,  having  never  been  married  ;  and 

Petfiuf  bom  1727,  died  September  7th,  1705.  He  married 
Margaret  Livingston,  (daughter  of  Gilbert  Livingston)  who  died 
January  8,  1818.  They  had  several  children,  six  of  whom  sor- 
vived  their  parents ;  viz.,  Judith  j  (the  wife  of  Benjamin  Winthiop) 
Cameliaj  (thewifeof  Dirck  Ten  Broeck)  died  February  24, 1825; 
Nichoku  WUlianiy  died  March  1833,  leaving  several  children; 
Margaret^  died  unmarried,  October  29,  1824  ;*  Elizabeth^  the 
widow  of  Colonel  Nicholas  Fish,  and 

Peter  Gerard  Stuyvesant^  Esq.y  the  present  representative  and 
bead  of  the  family,  and  President  of  the  New  York  Historical 
Society. 

Of  the  children  of  Petrus  Stuyvesant,  there  are  now  liringt 
Peter  Gerard  Stuyvesant,  Esq.,  Mrs.  Winthrop,  and  Mrs.  Fiab  ; 
also  a  large  number  of  grand  children,  and  great-grand 


Appendix  M. —  Vol.  J.,  p.  139. 

It  has  often  been  insisted  on,  that  this  conquest  did  noC  extend 
to  the  whole  province  of  New  Jersey,  but  upon  what  foundatioo 
I  cannot  discover.  From  tlie  Dutch  records,  it  appears  that  de- 
puties were  sent  by  the  people  inhabiting  the  country,  even  so  £ir 
westward  as  Delaware  river,  who  in  the  name  of  their  principals, 
made  a  declaration  of  their  submission ;  in  return  for  which, 
certain  privileges  were  granted  to  them,  and  three  judicatories 
erected  at  Niewer  Amstel,  Upland,  and  Hoer  Kill.  Colve's  com- 
mission to  be  govemour  of  this  countr)'  is  worth  printing,  because 
it  shows  the  extent  of  the  Dutch  claims.  The  translation  mns 
thus: 

**  The  honourable  and  awful  council  of  war  for  their  High  Might- 
loesses  the  States  General  of  the  United  Netherlands,  and  his 
rene  Highness  the  Prince  of  Orange,  over  a  squadron  of  ships, 
at  anchor  in  Hudson^s  river.  In  New  Netherlands :  To  all  tboae 
who  shall  see  or  hear  these,  greeting :  As  it  is  necessary  to  ap- 
point a  fit  and  able  person  to  cany  the  chief  command  over  tUs 
oooqiMst  of  New  Netherlands,  with  all  its  appendencies  and  depen- 
dencies, finm  Cape  Hinlopen,  on  the  south  side  of  the  South  or 
Delaware  bay,  and  fifteen  miles  more  southerly,  and  the  said  bay 
and  South  river  included :  so  as  they  were  formerly  poasesMd  by 
the  directors  of  the  city  of  Amsterdam,  and  after  by  the  Eagfiah 


▲PPSNDIX  If.  XU 

nmenuneDt,  m  the  name  and  right  of  the  Duke  of  Yoi)c ;  and  fur* 
uier,  from  the  said  Cape  Hinlopen^  along  the  Great  Ocean,  to  the 
east  end  of  Long  Island,  and  Shelter  Island ;  from  thence  vftstr 
ward  to  the  middle  of  the  Sound,  to  a  town  called  Greenwich,  on 
the  main,  and  to  run  landward  in  northerly ;  provided  that  such 
line  shall  not  come  witliin  ten  miles  of  North  river,  conformable- 
to  a  provincial  treaty  made  in  1650,  and  rati6ed  by  the  States  Ge* 
neral,  February  22d,  1656,  and  January  23rd,  1664;  with  all 
lands,  islands,  rivers,  lakes,  kills,  creeks,  fresh  and  salt  waters, 
fimresses,  cities,  towns,  and  plantations  therein  comprehended*  So 
it  is,  that  we  being  sufficiendy  assured  of  the  capacity  of  Anthony 
Colve,  captain  of  a  company  of  foot,  in  the  service  of  their  High 
Mightinesses,  the  States  General  of  the  United  Netherlands,  and 
his  Serene  Highness  the  Prince  of  Orange,  etc.,  by  virtue  of  our 
commission,  granted  by  their  before  mentioned  High  Mightinesses 
and  His  Highness,  have  appointed  and  qualified,  as  we  do  by  these 
presents  appoint  and  qualify,  the  said  Captain  Anthony  Colve,  to 
govern  and  rule  these  lands,  with  the  appendencies  and  dependencies 
thereof,  as  governour-general ;  to  protect  them  from  all  invasions 
of  enemies,  as  he  shall  judge  most  necessary  ;  hereby  charging  all 
high  and  low  officers,  justices,  and  magistrates,  and  others  in  au- 
thority, soldiers,  burghers,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  land,  to 
acknowledge,  honour,  respect,  and  obey  the  said  Anthony  Colve, 
as  governour-general ;  for  such  we  judge  necessaiy,  for  the  ser- 
vice of  the  country,  waiting  the  approbation  of  our  principals* 
Thus  done  at  Fort  William  Henderick,  the  12th  day  of  August* 
1673- 


"  Signed  by  > 


"  Cornelius  EverUe^  Jun^ 
"  Jacob  Bailees:' 


The  Dutch  govemour  enjoyed  his  office  but  a  very  short  seasooi 
for  on  the  9th  of  February,  1674,  the  treaty  of  peace  between  Eng* 
land  and  the  States  General  was  signed  at  Westminster ;  the  sixth 
article  of  which  restored  this  country  to  the  English.  The  terms 
of  it  were  generally  :  **  That  whatsoever  countries,  islands,  towns, 
posts,  casdes,  and  forts  have  or  shall  be  taken  on  both  sides,  since 
the  time  that  the  late  unhappy  war  broke  out,  either  in  Europe  or 
elsewhere,  shall  be  restored  to  the  former  lord  and  proprietor,  in 
the  same  condition  they  shall  be  in,  wherr  the  peace  itself  shall  be 
proclaimed  ;  after  which  time  there  shall  be  no  spoil  nor  plunder 
of  the  inhabitants,  no  demolition  of  fortifications^nor  carrying  away 
of  guns,  powder,  or  other  military  stores,  which  belonged  to  any 
castle  or  fort,  at  the  time  when  it  was  taken."* 


«  Smith'!  history  of  N«w  York,  Vol.  1.,  pp.  43-40. 


lUI  AFPBXDIX  X. 


Affesbix  N* — Vol,  LjP*  135. 

16S3  At  a  general  aasemblj,  held  in  New  York«  17th  October, 
35th  of  Charies  XL,  and  continaed  bj  adjomniiieitt  mriil 
3d  November  following,  it  was  enacted,  that  the  supreme  authoriq^ 
under  the  king  and  duke  **  shall  forever  reside  in  a  goremoar, 
council,  and  the  people  met  in  general  assembly." 

2.  The  exercise  of  the  chief  magistracy  shall  be  vested  ia  a 
govemour,  assisted  by  a  council,  who  is  to  govern  according  to  kw. 

3.  In  the  govemour's  absence,  the  oldest  of  the  coimcil  to  take 
his  place. 

4.  Asaemblies  to  be  held  at  least  triennially. 

6.  Voters  for  assembly  to  be  freeholders  or  freemen* 

6.  The  number  of  representatives  for  the  city  and  county  of  New 
York,  four;  Suffolk, two;  Kings, two;  Queens, two;  Richroondt 
two;  Westchester,  two;  Albany,  two;  Schenectady,  (in  Albaiiy 
Cotmty,)  one ;  Duke's  County,  two ;  Cornwall,  two:  and  as  many 
more  as  his  R.  H.  shall  think  fit  to  establish. 

7.  These  delegates,  with  the  govemour  and  council,  to  have  the 
sole  legislative  power. 

8.  The  said  representatives  to  appoint  their  times  of  "*^fT^g 
during  the  session,  and  to  adjourn  from  time  to  time  at  their  wilL 

9.  Sole  judges  of  the  qualificatioos  of  their  own  members. 

10.  Free  from  arrest  while  sitting  and  going  and  coming — also* 
three  servants. 

11.  Bills  passed,  to  be  presented  to  the  govemour  for  coocnr- 
rence,  and  laws  repealed  by  the  authority  that  made  them,  with 
currence  of  the  Duke, 

12.  In  case  of  vacancy  in  the  assembly,  the  govemour  i 
summons  for  a  new  election. 

13.  Freemen  exempt  from  imprisonment,  etc.,  but  by  judgmmt 
of  peers,  according  to  law. 

14«  No  tax  but  by  consent  of  the  three  powers — govemour, 
council,  and  representatives. 

15.  Trials  by  jury  of  twelve.     16.  Grand  jury. 

17.  Bail  allowed,  except  for  treason  and  felony. 

18.  No  fi^eeman  compelled  to  receive  soldiers  into  his  house  bat 
in  time  of  war. 

19.  *'  From  henceforward,  no  land  in  the  province  to  be  ao- 
cotmtcd  a  chattel  or  permanent  estate,  but  an  estate  of  inheritanoe, 
as  in  Enghnd." 

20.  No  court  to  have  power  to  issue  execution  against  any 


APPBNMX  If.  XUn 

I's  knd,  to  be  sold  or  otherwise  dis{io3ed  of,  without  the  owner's 
coaaeM ;  but  the  profits  and  issues  of  his  lind  to  be  liable  §ot 
debts,  etc. 

21.  No  estate  of  a  jcmmc  covert  to  be  sold  without  her  conaenC 
— she  to  be  secredy  examined. 

22.  All  wills  attested  by  two  cretiible  witnesses,  and  r^;istered 
iofty  days  after  the  testator's  death,  as  valid  to  convey  real  property, 
as  a  deed. 

2d.  Widows  to  have  the  thirds,  and  to  have  the  privilege  of 
Ihring  in  the  chief  house  of  the  deceased  husband  lof^  days  after 
Us  death. 

24.  All  persons  professing  faith  in  God  by  Jesus  Christ,  to  have 
and  full  liberty  unmolested  to  exercise  the  mode  of  worship 

agreeable  to  them,  provided  they  do  not  disturb  the  good  people. 
BGnisters  can  recover  money  engaged  to  be  paid  to  them  **  by  law 
— by  sale  and  distress/'  and  a  mode  pointed  out  by  a  justice  and 
ooDstable,  "  provided  the  subscripdon  do  not  exceed  Ms ;  if  it  do, 
to  be  recovered  as  the  law  directs.*' 

25.  All  the  Christian  churches  in  the  province  to  have  the  same 
privileges  as  heretofore. 

26.  Duties  imposed  to  defray  the  charges  of  government— 408 
upon  a  pipe  of  wine,  20s  per  hogshead  of  Rhenish  wine,  2  per 
cent,  on  merchandize,  (the  cost)  etc.,  10  per  cent  ad  volorem 
upon  India  goods  and  some  enumerated  articles,  12  upon  a  barrel 
of  powder,  and  6s  on  a  cwt.  of  lead,  etc.  etc.  An  excise  was  laid 
CO  liquors,  beer  and  cider  excepted,  of  1 2d  per  gallon  on  sales  leas 
than  five  gallons,  and  the  same  on  that  carried  up  the  Hudaoo. 
Beaver  skins,  9d,  and  others  in  proportion. 

In  16S3,  the  province  was  divided  into  shires  and  counties. 

1.  The  city  of  New  York  included  Manhattoes,  Manning's,  and 
Bam  Island. 

2.  Westchester  contained  East  and  West  Chester,  Bronxland, 
Fordham  ,  and  all  as  far  eastward  as  the  province  extends,  and  as 
&r  north  as  the  Highlands. 

5.  Ulster  had  the  towns  of  Kingston,  Hurly,  Marbletown,  New 
Pahs,  and  all  the  villages  and  Christian  habitadons  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Hudson  fiom  Mindane's  Creek  near  the  Highlands,  to  Saw- 
yer's Creek. 

4.  Albany  extended  beyond  Renssellaerwyck,  and  Schenectadyy 
iBcloding  as  above  from  Saw}'er's  Creek  to  Saratoga. 

6.  Duchess,  from  the  bounds  of  Westchester  on  the  sootht 
along  the  Hudson  to  Jamson's  Creek,  and  east,  into  the  woods 
twenty  miles. 

6.  Orange,  as  now,  except  on  the  west  it  ran  to  Delaware  River. 

7.  Richmond,  as  now. 


XLXT  APPBNDIX  O. 

8.  Kings,  to  contain  Brooklyn,  Bedford,  Bushwick,  Fhtlandit 
New  Utrecht,  and  Gravesend.       ' 

9.  Queen's — Newtown,  Jamaica,  Flushing,  Hempsteadf  tod 
Oyster  Bay. 

10.  Suffolk — ^Huntington,  Smithfield,  Brookhaven,  Southamp* 
ton,  Southold,  Easthampton  to  Montauk  Point,  with  Shelter  Isliiid, 
Isle  of  Wight,  Fisher's  Island,  and  Plumb  Island. 

11.  Duke's  County,  to  contain  the  islands  of  Nantucket,  llai^ 
tha's  Vineyard,  Elizabeth  Island,  and  No-man's-land. 

12.  Cornwall  to  contain  Pemaquid,  and  all  his  R.  H.'i  dominioDi 
in  those  parts,  and  the  islands  adjacent,  ^tc.  A  high  sneriff  to  \m 
appointed  for  each  county,  who  was  allowed  his  deputy. 

An  act  was  also  passed  which  naturalized  all  persons  residing  io 
the  province,  professing  Christianity,  and  taking  the  oaths. 

Another  repealed  former  laws  respecting  county  rates,  and  allowed 
justices  j£20  per  annum,  on  Long  Island. 

Other  laws  were  passed  this  year,  establishing  county  courts,  etc 
and  presenting  Dongan  with  Id  on  the  pound,  on  all  estates  real 

and  personal  in  the  province. 
1684  Another  assembly  in  the  city  of  New  York,  the  same 
delegates  appearing.  They  settled  and  explained  former 
acta — passed  one  concerning  Surgeons  and  medicines^^-conceni* 
ing  marriages ;  none  valid  unless  the  banns  are  published  thrat 
Lord's  days  ;  a  justice  might  marry ;  marriages  contrary  to  this  act 
considered  fornication,  and  proceeded  against  as  in  such  cases ;  a 
married  person  being  absent  unheard  of  for  five  years,  justifies 
partner's  marrying  again. 


Appendix  O. —  Vol.  J.,  p.  136. 

1683  On  the  38th  of  November,  Dongan  agreed  with  Robt  Trett, 
governour  of  Connecticut,  and  certain  other  commissionen 
joined  with  him,  that  the  bounds  between  the  Duke  of  York's  te^ 
ritory  and  Connecticut,  should  begin  at  Byram  river,  between  Rja 
and  Greenwich,  where  it  falls  into  the  sound  at  Lyon's  Point,  die 
east  point  of  said  river,  from  thence  run  with  the  river  to  the  plaee 
where  the  common  road  or  wading  place  is  over  the  river,  from 
thence,  N.  N.  W.  into  the  country,  eight  miles  from  Lyon's  Pointf 
and  a  line  of  twelve  miles  being  measured  from  Lyon's  Poiotf  a^ 


*  Sm  Duke'i  Lawi. 


APPKHDIX  P.  XLT 

cording  to  the  course  of  the  sound  east,  from  the  tad  of  said  twelre 
miles  another  line  shall  run  from  the  sound  ei^ht  miles  N.  N.  W., 
and  a  ibuith  line  be  run  from  the  northwest  of  the  line  first  men* 
tioiiedt  and  unto  the  northmost  end  of  the  eight  mile  line,  being  the 
tkird  mentioned  line,  which  fourth  line,  with  the  first  mentioned, 
shall  be  the  bound  where  they  shall  fall  to  nm.  And  that  fitmi 
die  eastward  end  of  the  fourth  mentioned  line,  (which  is  to  be 
C«<elTe  miles  in  length,)  a  line  parallel  to  Hudson^s  river,  in  eveij 
place  twen^  miles  distant,  shall  be  the  botmds  of -Connecticut,  so 
inr  as  Connecticut  doth  extend  northward,  that  is  the  &  line  of 


There  are  some  provisos  that  the  first  mentioned  line,  shall  noC 
take  from  the  twenty  miles  aforesaid,  and  the  surveyor  to  run  the. 
lines  in  October  nexu     They,  accordingly  met  at  Stamford,  and 
concluded  the  business. 

In  1664,  commissioners  bad  represented  the  claims  of  Connee* 
cicnt,and  to  show  that  Long  Island,  sliould  be  under  Connecticat: 
bot  the  S.  bounds  of  Connecticut,  were  increased  to  the  sea,  and 
LfOog  Island  belonged  to  the  Duke  of  York.  The  creek  of  Mama* 
rooeck,  thirteen  miles  east  of  Westchester,  and  a  line  drawn  from 
the  E.  point  or  side,  where  the  fresh  water  falk  into  the  salt  at  high 
water  nnrk,  N.  N.  W.,  to  the  line  of  Massachusetts,  to  he  the  western 
bounds  of  the  colony  of  Connecticut.  Agreement  dated,  1st  of  Do* 
cenber,  1664,  between  Richard  NicoUs,  George  Cartwright,  and 
Samuel  Maverick ;  and  John  Winthrop,  Alleys,  Sen.,  Ricbuda, 
Gold,  and  John  Winthrop,  Jun. 


Appendix  P. — Vol.  I^  p.  212. 

€9labli$hed  in  New  Tort,  16M,  by  Jame$  IhAe  of  Tart,  p^ 
Hakei  m  tkis  year,  March  Ist.,  ^*  ai  Hewtpiead  tipom  Lomg  IdcmJL** 

XMcr. — ^Actions  under  £5,  shall  be  referred  to  two  arbitratoii 
dioeen  by  the  constable  :  if  a  paity  refuse  such  arbitration,  then 
die  next  justice  of  the  peace,  shall  appoint  three  arbitrators,  and 
die  party  refusing,  shall  pay  the  additional  cost.  In  the  first  case, 
die  constable  is  to  have  one  shilling  and  the  arbitrators  two  shil- 
fings  and  sixpence  each  :  in  the  second  case,  the  justice  to  baTO 
aeren  shillings  and  sixpence,  the  arbitrators  five  shillings  each, 
mmd  the  constoble  two  shillings  and  sixpence,  to  be  paid  by  ibo 
party  cast.    AdioM  above  £20,  to  be  tried  at  the 


XLTI  AFPE!n>IX  S. 

ArraU, — ^No  airen  to  be  made  oo  the  sabbith  dar,  Uk  dsr  of 
bmiiiliaiioD  for  t]>e  death  oTCharies  L,  tbe  daj  c^  tfaanksehm^  ibr 
the  resloffatioo  of  Charles  IL,  or  upon  the  -Stfa  of  Noreniber: 
the  sheriff  mar  seize  any  rioters,  feions,  or  jaii  breakets. 

Slavery^ — ^No  Chrutian  shall  be  held  in  slarerT  txotpl 
thereto  br  ambonrr  ;  or  sach  as  wilijndr  seU  themselres. 

Capital  pmrnuJistumf^f  Ihxiih^ — ^For  denying  the  tree  God  aad 
hif  attributes :  for  premediiated  murder :  for  slayinz  with  wtiyna 
one  who  has  no  weapon  :  fi>r  poboninz  :  for  he^ssHj  copabooa  : 
for  sodomjr :  for  kidnapping :  for  felie  witness  in  trial  for  hie :  fm 
deojing  his  Majesty's  rizht,  or  resisting  his  acthorinr  far  wxmm :  fm 
tieasoo  to  surprize  town  or  fort.  For  sirikin?  a  parent  the  child  if 
adjudged  to  death  if  abore  sixteen  and  not  an  idioc 

Ckmrckos — EreiT  parish  to  build  a  church.  Ei^  hooseboidcs 
m  each  parish  to  be  chosen  by  the  majority  to  be  orerseeis.  of 
whom  two  to  be  church  wardens,  and  assessments  for  baljdiar« 
mpportinc  ministers,  etc.,  to  be  made  by  the  orefseers.  Erery 
muwum$0>r  gfaail  prodoce  testimonial  to  the  roremour  of  offdinafiwu 
bj  a  bishop  or  minister  of  the  reformed  reUzion.  and  be  elected  hw 
a  HHyority  of  the  hoiiseho]ders.  Church-wardens  are  to  preMSt 
ooce  a  Tear  aU  misdemeanours  and  sins. 

Goarrtfw — To  be  held  in  each  n.iir.v  three  times  a  vear.  Slanr 
neoeBBanr  rerulations  are  made  re!atire  to  the  admimstiaiioa  of 
jtntice.  Ererj  town  to  provide  a  *'  pair  of  sUMrks  for  otteiMfeiSy*^ 
and  a  pound  for  cattle.  Prisons  and  pillories  are  likewise  lo  be 
prorided  where  couns  are  held. 

PMic  cluir^u. — •*  Ererv  iahabiiant  is  to  contribute  to  all 
churclies,  both  in  church  and  colosv.'* 

Itxrjrdt  to  be  kept  at  New  York  chy. 

Voi^rt  are  freeholders  and  householders. 

WUret* — Wolres  hea^is  paid  for  to  Christian  or  Indian  to  the 
Talue  of  an  '*  Indian  ci>at.*' 

Richard  NicolLs  added  expSa nations  and  amerdments :  aixl  ia 
16G6,  Mattiiias  NicoCs,  secretary  to  the  Coun  of  Assizes  pub- 
lished further  amendments :  and  azain  in  1072,  and  in  167->. 


Afpexduc  S* — Fo/.  /.,  p.  246. 

Copy  of  a  iMUrjrom  Earl  BcUf/mof-t  to  OA.  Abraham  Df  P^ytttr. 

*•  BosTox,  4ih  Sepc 

^  Sn, — ^I  cannot  perform  mj  promise  of  looking  over 

cooBl,  as  jet,  for  I  am  engaged  at  present,  and  hnre  bet 


▲PPBXDIX  S*  ZLTn 

riiis  bst  week*  in  writin!:  packets  or  Toluioes  of  letters  to  Enjbnd 
br  a  ship  ihat  sap  6x  ine« 

^  I  writ  to  mv  cousin  Nan&n  hst  post,  to  let  the  citr  of  Neir- 
TcmI:  kare  the  siones  of  the  old  bastions  or  btneries*  to  build  their 
Town-bouse.  I  am  not  di$sati$6ed  with  the  sheride«  since  mj 
cottsan  Nan&n  and  vou  \xiuch  so  much  for  his  honesty ;  but  bo 
sbooM  have  taken  more  care  of  Brickmaster. 

**  I  hare  writ  lo  ray  cous,  Nanbn,  this  post,  my  reasons  why  k 
wriD  DOC  be  fit  to  continue  the  same  maixir  and  sheride  another  T«ar 
far  tbe  citv  of  New  York.  As  soon  as  rou  receive  the  original  or 
a  copy  of  tbe  lenor  to  Dellius  tn>m  the  French  woman  ai  Canada,  I 
desire  you  wiU  not  £ul  to  send  it  to 

**  Your  adfectioDate  serrant, 

^Bkulomokt. 

**  Our  service,  I  pray,  to  Madame  De  Peysier, 

*•  Mr,  Leisler  tells  me  an  udy  story  of  Mr.  Graham^s  design  of 
cheating  him  of  a  house  and  lot  at  New  York.  I  desire  yon  wiH 
send  ior  Mr.  Wahers  pri^^tely,  and  advise  him  to  caution  old  Mrs. 
Leisler  (with  whom  her  son  has  Ion  a  c^neral  letter  of  attonicy)  not 
ao  part  with  that  piece  of  pxHind  lo  Gnbam.  nor  any  tiung  ebe* 
That  roan  will  iindo  himselle  with  his  knax-ish  tricks,  l^ne  wooU 
tiunke  he  has  piilt  enou^rh  on  his  bead  for  beinc  tbe  principal  an* 
tbor  of  the  munher  of  Leisler  and  Milbourne :  but  it  seems  ^-**>^ 
bis  bands  in  the  bKxxl  of  the  tather  is  not  enou^,  but  be  will  abo 
cheat  tbe  son.  I  am  content  that  vou  show  this  letter  to  Mr.  Wal- 
tet^  anvi  pray  pet  him  to  send  me  his  adidavit  of  Mr.  Graham^s 
insinuations  to  his  bthor,  Loislor«  and  himselfe«  to  pnicure  their 
iateretst  to  be  chosen  a  member  of  the  assombiv  ;  which  thev  were 
prevailed  with  to  do.  and  ancrrraixis  he  became  Leisler^s  and  3iCl- 
boomers  moitall  enemy.     This  account  Mr.  Walters  told  me 


^  Dn  Staats  also  told  nie  how  he  was  affronted  and  threatened 
by  a  papist,  in  the  field,  when  the  election  was  of  membet^  to  serm 
fcr  New  York  in  that  ver\'  assembly  that  worrioil  Mr.  Leislex  and 
Milboume  to  death,  uniior  the  conduct  of  Mr.  iiraham.  Lei  me 
also  have  Dr.  Staats's  amdavj:  of  thai,  and  s<v.:ie  pnxfcf  of  Major 
Tredweir*  imprisonment,  to  hinder  ei:ih?r  his  beini:  chose  or  bis 
satzinf  in  assembly  after  bo  was  chose.  If  ii  be  possible,  let  me 
have  these  evidences  next  jvisu'' 

fVpy  of'<2  LmfrfrvjM  E»;r/  K^V.^vv^;  ;,^  ^^V.  Ahr,rhtim  Der€yMtr, 

*•  Sin. — I  have  received  your?  of  the  4ih  inst.,  and  will  not  63 
m  write  to  Kn^land  about  vour  anair  with  \'an  Sweeten,  with  ibb 
pocket,  which  1  am  to  send  away  within  four  or  6ve  days.  I  am 
-- — ^  1  bate  not  tbe  letter  10  Dellius  to  send  home.'    I' 


XLTin  APPENDIX  T. 

you  will  speak  to  Mr.  Walters  to  deliver  you  upon  oath  wktf  «■ 
transacted  between  Mr.  Graham  and  him  at  the  time  Grabimpi^ 
▼ailed  with  Captain  Leisler  and  him  to  make  an  interest  fivGn- 
ham*s  being  chose  of  the  assembly,  that  press'd  ColL  SlongfaieriB 
take  away  the  lives  of  Capt.  Leisler  and  Mr.  Milboumey  is  I  writ 
to  you  in  my  last  letter.     And' pray  get  Dr.  Staats's  affidavit,  as  I 
desired  in  that  letter.     'Tis  wonderful  to  me  that  Dr.  Staats  aai 
the  rest  of  Leisler's  party  have  not  in  all  this  time  got  counter-fill^ 
Bcriptions  signed  by  their  party  at  Albany,  against  Delliu8--M  Al 
other  party  got  subscriptions  in  favour  of  Dellius.     Thej  are  JMI 
the  people  that  wilL     Nichols  paints  Staats  to  be,  in  his  p-^^H 
Impenetrable  B. 

*'  When  you  hear  any  news  from  Schermerhom  about  the  tnm 
for  masts,  pray  let  me  know  it.  My  wife's  and  my  service  to  Ma- 
dame De  Peyster. 

"  1  am  your  affectionate  friend,  and  servant, 

**  Bellomoht. 

*'  I  have  writ  to  Coll.  Courtland  to  pay  you  my  arrear  of  sahij, 
and  for  the  time  to  come  to  pay  it  to  you  monthly,  as  it  grows  dosw 

"  Coll.  DTeyster." 


Appendix  T. —  Vol.  I.,  p.  247. 
''Abitract  from  the  Records  of  the  Corporation  of  New  YaHL 

1701  September  29th. — The  usual  return  of  aldermen  and 
assistants  for  next  year,  is :  Dock  Ward — Philip  French 
and  Robert  Livingston.  South  Ward — Nicholas  Rosevelt  and 
Hendrick  Jellison.  West  Ward — David  Provoost,  Jun.t  and 
Peter  Williamse  Roome.  East  Ward — Johannes  De  Peystet  and 
Abraham  Brazier.  North  Ward — ^Jacob  Barker  and  Garret  Ode* 
berg.  Out  Ward — Martin  Clock  and  Abraham  Mesier.  A  wai^ 
rant  under  the  hand  and  seal  of  the  honourable  lieutenant-eove^ 
nourread,  etc.,  appointing  persons  to  examine  into  the  election  of 
aldermen.  Whereupon,  ordered,  that  the  recorder  and  Aldermaa 
De  Peyster  be  a  committee  forthwith  to  acquaint  his  exceUencj 
that  the  common  council  of  this  city  are  the  solejuigeM  of  their  im 
elections^  and  returns  of  the  magistrates  and  officers  for  tbeif  corpo* 
ration.  The  committee  report  that  Govemour  Nanfan  is  cods 
abroad,  and  it  is  adjourned  to  to-morrow.  Lawrence  Van  Hook 
is  appointed  high  constable  by  the  mayor. 
October— The  lieutenant-govemour  and  council  appoint 


AFPKXDIX  T.  XUX 

Xoel.  Esq.,  mayor  for  next  year.  The  coinmiltee  apjioiuted  to 
infanu  Goveruour  Naiiian  tiia:  tiie  cominon  council  are  the  sole 
lydpgJs  etc.y  report.  **  that  iliey  aoqiiaiiited  him  with  the  opmioo  of 
court,  and  ^ve  iiim  the  warrant  which  he  had  directed  to  WiK 
Sharpe  and  IWne  Co<<e:i<,  who  put  the  warrant  into  his 
pocket  and  told  them  he  would  consider  the  maiter,  and  pve  an 
«Biwer  in  a  dav  or  two.'* 

October  4ili. — iV^mplaints  made  of  uiidise  rviuras  by  Alderman 
De  Peyster.     A  committee  appointed  to  examine. 

10ih.^The  comniliiee  r?jH>rt  that  the  returns  are  rurbt.  and  the 
court  approve.  Tiie  mayor.  Dr.  Kl;oii:er.  produces  six  writs  of 
■oodamu:^.  r\H{uirin^  the  i:v.)yor.  alJeRn-^n.  and  rvconler  to  swear 
John  Hutchins  aidt  ruuu  of  t::e  West  \Vard«  Brandt  Schuyler  of 
the  Souiht  and  Wiiliam  Morris  of  the  F.ast :  and  Jeremiah  Totiiel 
osststant  of  trie  East  Ward  :  Johaitiu^  Johnson*  of  the  South  :  and 
Robert  Whhe.  of  lise  West,  v^niered.  thai  tiie  common  council 
nake  return  of  the  said  writs  cum  pa):t*siando  of  misnomer,  and  all 
the  defects  o\  ihe  same.  a:id  ih.a  liie  mayor  uo  council  for  the 
city.* 

14th.^The  ih^v  Mavor.  N\>el.  sworn  before  iio^emourXantaii. 

No^'ember  II th. — Thomas  Noel.  Esq..  mayor,  aoquainieil  the 

coun  that  from  tiie  dav  he  was  swora  in.  **  for  want  of  a  settled 

icistracy.  he  had  kept  a  memorandum  or  journal  of  several  mat* 

that  had  been  iransacieii  within  tiiis  citv  which  related  to  the 

publick.'*     This  is  read  and  entered  on  the  records. 

Abtrntc:  y'  :Ae  ■i^js:c^r»i/:«?\-*i. — That  he  was  swx>m  the  I4th  of 
October,  before  Nanfan.  lieutenani-i^>vernour.  at  Fort  Willianit 
due  solemaity,  and  went  through  tiie  usual  fornudities  which 
eoiunerated. 
That  upon  his  ordering  the  reconier  to  swear  the  new  alder- 
he  said  tbev  were  alreadv  sworn  bv  the  old  mavor.  except 
llr^FhiUip  French  and  Mr.  Lurtin*:.  wiiereuiH>n  they  were  sworn; 
then  there  were  delivered  to  Noel  six  of  her  maiestA-*s  writs  of 
HIS  directed  to  the  mavor  and  recorder  lor  the  time  beine* 
t  of  which  was  for  swearing  Brandt  Sciuiy ler  alderman  of  the 
ith  wardt  and  namin-;  the  persons  ap^xMuted  as  above:  these 
bein^  openly  read  by  many  (>eop!o  in  the  room,  several  dis- 
thereupon  arose,  so veril  atr.riuir.^  \V.a:  :ho  aldermen  and  assis- 
sworn  bv  the  old  mavor  were  no;  lerallv  sworn,  it  beiuf 
to  the  ancient  rights,  privileges  ar.ii  oiisioras  cranied  by  the 
and  con:ni«.:ic:ii^c  the  usajc  in  such  ca<es ;  it  being  tlie 
tliit  the  new  mavor  ^wear  the  new  a.viermen  and  assistants; 


like  hmHUnMnr.  so^<tv.:'.\T  j.-r.*.  :hf  l.c;*»--*.-i::  paiM 


G 


L  APPK3n>IX  T. 

and  that  those  sworn  bj  the  old  major  had  illegally  retamed  tboa- 
selves,  and  the  persons  named  in  the  mandamus  were  legaDf  ded- 
ed ;  and  great  beats  arose,  "  and  F'  said  Noel,  **  tbooglit  it  Goove- 
nient  to  leave  the  chair  and  dissolve  that  assembly  to  prevent  the 
danger  that  seemed  to  threaten."  **  Upon  which  the  mnhitiide 
dispersed."  He  savs,  that  the  aldermen  and  assistants  were  ahrm 
sworn  by  the  new  maipfr^  and  by  the  books  *'  there  is  ooC  one  pie- 
cedent  that  the  old  mayor  took  that  authority  npon  him."  Tkat  he 
(Noel)  called  the  common  councfl  **  on  Monday  the  20ih  October,'* 
in  order  to  swear  the  aldermen  mentioned  dbove  as  opposed  lo 
Dr.  Rbeiner's  party  ;  that  he  went  into  die  court  room  and  toU  Ae 
gendemen  what  he  intended  to  do ;  they  answered,  tbej  woe 
already  sworn ;  **  I  answered,  not  by  me  or  my  cooseoC,  and  I 
conld  not  consent  to  set  with  them."  Noel  offered  the  oaths  and 
they  refiised  them :  he  desired  them  not  to  come  npon  the  bench ; 
they  said  they  were  duly  sworn  and  had  a  right  to  sit  there.  Nod 
left  the  room  telling  them  he  could  not  act  with  them.  **  Mr. 
David  Provoost  answered,  that  he  would  not  be  sworn  by  me, 
and  thereupon  I  went  home." 

On  the  21st  he  says,  that  he  and  Alderman  French  went  la  die 
City  Hall,  in  order  to  adjourn  the  Mayor^s  Court,  **  when  I  femd 
Messrs.  Depeyster,  Provoost  and  Roosevelt,  who  followed  me  vp 
into  the  court-room,  and  there  stood  until  I  and  Alderman  French 
opened  and  adjourned  the  court,  and  then  went  away.*' 

That  he  told  the  recorder  that  he  would  swear  die  aldunna 
and  assistants  that  were  returned  without  dispute  if  they  wnold 
admit  of  it ;  which  done,  there  would  be  a  suflkient  number  to  bold 
a  common  council  for  the  renewal  of  the  city  laws,  and  he  proposed 
to  the  recorder  to  join  him  in  this  business. 

On  the  22d  the  recorder  told  Noel,  at  his  house,  that  he  eenld 
not  assist  him  in  this  plan.  Noel  proceeded  on  the  scnuiny,  and 
appointed  Rip  Van  Dam  and  others  to  scrutinise,  and  woooiSaijtf 
issued  a  warrant  for  the  said  persons  to  act  The  persons  ao  call- 
ed on  by  Noel's  warrant  would  not  serve  or  obey,  except  Rip  Van 
Dam  and  Matthew  Long ;  and  before  them  certain  persons  swore 
they  were  not  of  lawful  age  when  they  voted,  and  others  did  not 
reside  in  the  wards  where  their  votes  were  taken. 


AFPBXDIX  17.  U 


Appexdtx  l\ — IVL  L.  p.  554* 

LoMD  Conibiinr^s  fiidier,  ihe  Earl  of  Clirendoo,  adhered  la 
a«9e  of  the  hiie  abdicated  kins,  and  aliraTs  refiised  the 
ta  Kkig  William  aad Queen Ame:  bnttheson 

ai  the  revolution  by  appearing  Teiy  earir  fer  the  Prince  of 
ChoBge,  bein|:  one  of  the  int  officers  that  desened  King  Ji 
King  Wilham^  in  gratitude  for  his  Mtrices,  gare 

for  this  goremment,  which,  upon  the  death  of  the  kii^, 

br  Queen  Anne,  who  at  the  same  time  appointed  him 

dm  chief  command  of  New  Jerser,  the  gorenmient  of  which  the 

had  laiehr  surrendered  into  her  hands.     As  Loid  Con* 

came  lo  diis  piorince  in  very  indigent  ciirumsiances,  hunted 

of  England  bj  a  host  of  hungnr  mdiums  he  was  bent  upon 

as  much  raooev  as  he  could  squeeie  out  of  the  pumes  of 

ilifwfiiilwd  people.     His  talents  wmv  perhaps  not  supeiiow 

the  most  inconsiderable  of  his  predecessors ;  but  in  his  seal  for 

ehnrdi  he  was  soipassed  br  none. 
^  His  lordship,  without  the  least  dij^ise,  espousing  the  ami- 
IiHiiVrisn  foction,  Aiwood,  the  chie^^ustice,*  and  Wearer,  who 
in  quaUiy  of  solicitor-generaK  thought  premier  to  retire  fipom 
frowns  to  ^l^ciDia«  whence  thev  sailed  to  Enirland :  the  former 
himsielf  under  the  name  of  Jones,  while  the  laner  called 
JacksMu    Colonel  Heathcoie  and  Doctor  Bridges 
in  their  places  at  the  council  boani. 
Tlie  following  summer  was  remarkable  for  the  imcommoo 
wksdi  prevailed  in  the  dir  of  New  York,  and  makes  a  grand 
among  ow  inhabitants,  disdnguisbedbT  the  ^  time  of  the  great 
7t    On  this  occasion.  Lord  Coraburr  had  his 
at  Jamaica,  a  {feasant  village  on  Long  Island, 
nrelve  miles  from  the  citr. 
**■  The  inhabitants  of  Jamaica  consisted,  at  that  time,  paitlr  of 
Dutch  planters,  but  mostly  of  New  England  emigrants,  en- 
*  10  aetde  there,  after  the  surra>der,  bv  the  Duke  of  York^a 
for  pbntitions,  one  of  which  was  in  these  words : 


Mibr  MOM  umt  j»d^  of  ibr  Vice  AAbMit.  ami  fhlwit  i  I 
•f  vinrk  ibr  aMmaihK.  JB  Mar.  170S. 


kiDnd  aIbmi  ^rrtr  patitt  m«bh 


UI  APPEXJMX  r. 

erenr  lovnship  should  be  obliged  to  par  ihpir  ovn 

eordm^  to  sncfa  agreemeots  2«  ther  should  make  nth  himz  ihe 

miniffier  beiiif  ekcied  bv  ii)e  caa^or  imt  of  the  boaachoidgrg  and 

infaabhast*  of  the  tows.'     These  people  bad  erected  aa  etBfee  far 

the  worship  of  God.  and  eo^ed  a  haadsome  doaitinn  of  a 

aee  hotee  aiid  s>ebe.  for  the  use  of  tbeir  mioisser.     Afier  the 

Ktrr  act  was  pesed  br  Cokioe]  Fknchcr,  in  16d^  a 

pafians  crept  imo  the  tows,  and  riewed  die  pieabneriaa  tiiMch 

a  jeakNB  ere.     The  lows  role,  in  Tirtoeof  wfakhthe 

been  erected,  contained  no  cbine  to  pieteul  its  beiaip 

eneroand  br  anr  other  sect.     The  episeopa]  paiijr  wko 

formed  the  desi^  of  seizisr  the  edi6ce  ibr  theoBKkes, 

ahorlhr  after  earned  into  execodon.  bj  entering  the  chovck 

the  morning  and  ereninr  serrice.  while  the  preabvleriaa 

and  his  consresatjon  were  in  periect  secnritr.  imiii!|iieiaBt  af  ihr 

aeal  of  their  adTenaries.  and  a  frandoient  cjtULimcaa  om  a  dar 

■ecjjtfd  to  rest. 

^GttM  ontrajpe  ensoed  aroone  the  people,  ibr  the 
ioff  pro  Arts  <fi  Fm$.  was  animatinr  and  inaponanc. 
proprietors  of  the  boose  tore  up  their  seats,  and  afiervafdr  eot  the 
ker  and  the  possession  of  liie  cfaoTxrh.  which  were  shofllr  i 
taken  finom  tbeni  bv  foire  ^nd  riokuce.  In  tiiese 
gorenxrar  abetted  the  episcopal  zeajols.  and  harassed  the  <Nhcci  bf 
ntmsbetiess  pro«ec-Titios5.  beaiy  £ses.  and  long  im] 
throDZf}  fear  of  wbicb  isisr  wLo  had  been  actire  in  the 
oot  of  the  TJiorisce.  Lord  CorEbyrr's  noble  descent 
tioo  sbouid  bare  rirerented  L:n:  frois  rskjnr  tnr!  in  so 
a  qaarrel :  but  his  lordfhip's  ^zir^  c:  hoDour  and  jiBtke 
wcsik  and  isce'ik-s:?  ?•  Lis  tirotnr  was  ra!ijp2nt  and 
and  hence  we  find  Lim  r^irr  of  ss  ac;  cons^licated  of  a  bi 
vices,  which  no  n^cs  coJd  hire  perpeiraied  without 
the  rerr  siirbtesi  remsliis  of  geneToshr  and  jostioe.  Whea  hm 
exeeliencT  retiree  to  JamaS^-a.  ose  Hubbard,  the  pieati^miaa  man- 
irter,  lived  In  the  best  b^«T2se  is  the  tows.  His  lordship  Imji^d  tbr 
loan  of  it  for  the  t;^  of  Lif  ott  {unVlj.  aisd  tJie  clergy  man  pot  hmo- 
self  to  no  smaJl  incorrreiDeiice  to  fstvocsr  the  got ei bouts  lequest : 
hot  in  retnm  for  the  renenrDS  beneiactioo.  his  lordsh^  perftfioaiiv 
deO'cied  the  perFonare-bo:3<eir.iothe  hands  of  the  epiicopal  panr. 
and  encouraged  one  Card  we }.  the  sberiC  a  mean  fellow,  who  afar- 
wards  pot  as  end  lo  h.l«  ottl  :je.  :o  ?€ize  upos  thezjebe,  winch  be 
turrered  ic*j>  ]oi«,  s-d  :iT:i:^fi  for  ihe  b^sefit  of  the  epnoopi] 
chiiich.  These  ivrannira:  n>e£5i3re$  iusslr  iriflamed  the  ■■^fa-*- 
lioaof  the  infSTed  r^Serer*.  asd  i.'iat  srais  the  more  emhinered  kis 
lordship  agaiii?'t  Vj^zn.  Tr^ej  T^i^rr.fci.  snd  be  proEerated:  we 
dU  be  coafine  his  pious  raee  to  tiie  people  of  Jaokaica :  he 
ed  aD  who  were  of  the  same  denomination  :  nar. 


APPENDIX  V.  Un 

sect  except  his  own,  he  insisted  that  neither  the  ministers  nor 
aehoolmasters  of  the  Dutch,  the  most  numerous  persuasion  in  the 
proYince*  had  a  right  to  preach  or  instruct  without  his  gubernato- 
rial license ;  and  some  of  them  tamely  submitted  to  his  unauthori- 
tatire  rule.* 

*^  The  royal  instructions  required  the  govemours  of  the  plants 
tions  to  give  all  countenance  and  encouragement  to  the  exercise  of 
the  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  of  the  Bishop  of  London,  as  far  aa 
conveniendy,  might  be  in  their  respective  provinces,  and  partieiH 
kriy  directed,  *  That  no  schoolmaster  be  henceforward  pemitted 
to  come  from  this  kingdom,  and  to  keep  school  in  that  oor  said 
province,  without  the  license  of  the  said  lord  bishop  of  Londoo, 
and  that  no  other  person  now  there,  or  that  shall  come  from  other 
parts,  shall  be  admitted  to  keep  school  in  your  provmce  without 
your  license  first  obtained.*  There  is  reason  to  think  this  instrue* 
tion  has  been  continued  from  the  revolution  to  the  present  time,  to 
the  govemours  of  all  the  royal  provinces. 

**  A  general  account  of  his  lordship^s  singular  xeal  is  preserved, 
under  the  title  of  the  Watch  Tower,  in  a  number  of  papers  pab-> 
lisbed  in  the  New  York  Weekly  Mercury  for  the  year  1765. 

**  While  his  excellency  was  exerdng  his  bigotry  during  the  sum* 
mer  season  at  Jamaica,  the  elections  were  carrying  on  with  grsit 
heat  for  an  assembly,  which  met  him  at  that  village  in  the  frll.  It 
consisted  principally  of  the  party  which  had  been  home  down  1^ 
the  eari  ol  Bellomont  and  his  kinsman  ;  and  hence  we  find  Philip 
French,  who  had  lately  been  outlawed,  was  returned  a  representa* 
tive  for  New  York,  and  William  NicoU  elected  into  the  speaker*8 
chair. 

**  Several  extracts  fit>m  his  lordship's  speech  are  proper  to  be 
hid  before  the  reader,  as  a  specimen  of  his  temper  and  designs* 
*  It  was  an  extreme  surprixe  to  me  (says  his  lordship)  to  find  this 

Erovince  at  my  landing  at  New  York,  in  such  a  convulsion  as  must 
ave  unavoidably  occasioned  its  ruin  if  it  had  been  sufiered  to  go 
on  a  litde  longer.  The  many  complaints  that  were  brought  to  me 
against  persons  I  found  here  in  power,  sufficiently  proved  against 


*  **  It  had  been  made  a  <petlion  in  King  WiOiun'i^  reign,  whether  the  keepiaf  sf 
■Ghook  WM  not  by  the  ancient  laws  of  Ei^iand,  prior  to  the  reformation,  or  ocdt- 
■aitieal  eognixance.  It  vras  thoucfat  bj  nome  that  a  achoolmaater  might  be  proao- 
CQled  in  the  ecclemastical  courts,  for  not  briuging  hit  tcbolart  to  chnrdi,  accoiJi^g 
to  the  79th  canon  in  16U3.  Treby.  ehier-jufltice,  and  Powell,  jsatice,  were  of  opni- 
ion.  that  being  a  lavman.  he  was  not  bound  by  the  canons. 

''In  1700.  one  Case  was  libelled  for  teaching  school  at  Exeter  without  thehishop'a 
irenae,  and  though  it  was  admitted  that  the  canons  did  not  bind  the  laity,  yet  it  was 
eoweaved  that  the  crown,  since  the  reformation,  had  authority  to  Test  the  auperis- 
tendency  of  schools  in  the  ordinary,  but  a  distinction  was  taken  between  giamninr 
■thauli  and  schools  for  infi^riour  instniction.  A  nrohihition  iasned  as  to  the '  *^ 
oTal  adwolt  except  frmsMr  sdUslf.— Vol.  I.,  P.  WiUiuna'  Rep.  99-33.*' 


UV  APPBKDIZ  C. 

tbem  ;  and  the  miserable  accounts  I  bad  cT  the  condmoa  of  o« 
fruntieni,  uiude  iik>  think  it  convenient  to  dehv  mr  meeiineyoaw 
general  asHenibly,  till  1  could  infonn  mv&elf  in  joroe  meimieof  ^ 
condition  oftliis  piovinre,  that  I  miirbt  be  able  to  offer  to  fovcoo- 
Hideration  Boim*  fi*w  of  those  ibinfr!:  vbicb  irill  be  necesaiytdbe 
done  forthwith,  for  tiie  defence  of  tbe  country/ 

"  He  then  recommend?  the  fortifvinf  the  port  of  New  Yoitiid 
tlie  frontiers ;  addiiis:,  that  he  found  tbe  soldiers  naked  aad  a- 
anned  ;  after  which,  he  proposes  a  militia  bill,  tbe  erectMs  d 
publick  iK'booIs,  and  an  examination  of  tbe  prcmncial  debe  ui 
accounie ;  and  not  only  promises  to  make  a  iaitbfid  applicuioB  if 
the  uionevs  to  be  raised,  but  tliat  he  would  render  them  an  accoa* 
'J'lie  wiiole  s(ieecli  is  sweetened  with  this  gracious  cooclosioa^-' 

*  Now,  |2:entlenien,  I  have  no  more  to  trouble  vou  with,  bat  toaaiHt 
you  in  (lie  name  of  tlie  <:reat  queen  of  En^rland,  mj  mi&ire9S.te 
you  may  «afely  depend  u^Km  all  the  protection  that  good  and  &ii^ 
ful  MubjcTU  can  desire  or  expect  from  a  sovereiin)  whose  srcaH 
df*lijicla  ill  the  welfare  of  lier  people,  under  whose  auspicious  reia 
\ii>  an*  mire  to  enjoy  wliat  no  nation  in  die  world  dares  claiiD  btf 
die*  itiibjcvts  of  Ki);:laiul :  I  mean  tbe  free  enjoyment  of  tfaebetf 
•rU^itMi  III  ihr  world,  the  full  possession  of  all  lawtul  Ubertr.  ml 
iiii>  iindiMiirlM'd  enjoy  inent  of  our  freeholds  and  properties*    TheM 
ai«>  Kiuiii*  ol'iho  iiKinv  benefits  which  I  take  tiie  inhabitants  of  te 
pnt\iiii  c;  III  (h'  Will  (MiiitUd  to  by  die  laws  of  Encrland ;  and  I  tm 

lu<l  of  ilii4  ii|)|)iMtiiniiv  tti  assure  vou,  that  as  lonir  as  I  have  tlK 
ii'iiiMd  III  M^iMiir  (|iii'«  ti  iri  the  ;r<)vernment  of  this  province,  tbme 
l.tii^  >l)<(||  |i,i  |Mii  III  I  \irj!ti«in.  acciirdinLT  to  the  intent  with  wbicfc 
lilt  \  wtix-  ini.lr.  ili:)[  li,  tor  liio  preservation  and  protection  of  the 
!»•  ••(»li .  A\u\  it,»(  i,i|  ilii  ir  iippri-^sion.  I  heartily  rejoice  to  see  liat 
lid  i\^  I  ,  li.Mi  I'  i»i  ilu*  propir  Iki?  fallen  ujHin  :reiulenien  whose  co«>- 
«.i.M«i  «t,i,  i,n  I.*  itti-  I  ii»ut^  and  iniw o-a ried  application  to  the  zoodcf 
ilw  I,  I  .'ihuo  I".  ■.!»  miiM'pi.\ii\  known.' 

■ 

\  i\,  tii'.»-.i-  ••,  lio«',l  l«A*k  an  address  of  biLrh  compliment  to  iu* 

l.i.i.;;.'    .iii'm-t,;.    '  W\M  U'iiij  deeply  sensible  of  the  niisery 

.*.'.*  ,aU.i^^,i  <:\,i  ,,i,iuu^  \a\  luuler  at  his  arrival,  thev  were  cot 

■  •v,..t,'.,   ^;.:,    i.«  ,  \pvv*  i:w^  Mtistdction  they  had  toili  :::  "iieir 

^^  .»»  ^'1.  *-,■*!  \\^\\\  A  o^\rrno;ir  who  heaJeii  their  fvirty.  'sx 

•  ■  "» »»  r,*  A.'tv^.^  i,i  \',.:^  ^\  i\x*:  i-o  de^iired  :  £!•>•»«>  were  nised 
«'"^  •*  •  .  i*,'.',<  ,M  ,•••,■  :•.  '.\.\\\  A.'..:  i—'r.iy  ivx:\  :o  d-ftV~'i  Lie  fn?a- 
*'■ '  *  •  '"*'  *  »  ■  *'•'»'  ■■■••'.••■  '-"  X  ,-.v-i,  r;  :.^wjrJ.*  liernvicr  :h.e  ex- 
^"      '■  '■'   •■-*•■*  '.-.v       v.-  .;    .:■■.•.  ;•.   -'.tr   le::er  of  the"  :?>±  of 

\^'\'.i  w  ,. ,  , .  \,  ».  ,  .M-;.:/.-  ;.  ^  ^„.-;-  *:.»r.ii\-5  :V<  -he  f-t.ije. 
^1  \-  .'i-..,*  ^,  ,  ,   I.  ,  ....^     .  ..  .-V.  ■:v  .  :'  P;x-h^ss  :-jo  oo  :^-?fe- 


f. 


▲PrKXDIX  V.  M 


of  that  now  iv>pulous  ami  flourishing  comitj,  ifatt  but  JC18 
ipportioDed  tor  iheir  qiH>ti  of  these  levies*^** 


Appkxdix  W — VtJ^  T*yp*  89S» 

Ox  the  9Ui  of  June«  1754,  Messrs  Smith  ind  Mnirtir  appetied 
wm  mjuired  boforv  the  isseniblv,  to  argue  the  subject  of  the  eMt* 
Uishroent  of  a  court  of  equity  (or  chancerr)  in  thts  oolooy  widioat 
eoiiskent  of  the  lepslatuie.  Smith  adrocaied  the  popahr  aide, 
insisted  that  as  in  En^rland*  stich  a  cotut  ooaM  not  be  fitabKihad 
T  to  the  will  of  the  people  as  rppresented  in  paffliunent,  so 
the  ccJinisis  having  the  rights  of  Engtishmen,  ibaj  mmt 
'nt  by  their  lepresentatives  to  said  establtshmenL  In  aboitt 
not  being  lepiesented  in  pariiament,  tber  urere  not  to  be  boud 
kf  its  decisions.  Murray^  on  the  contmr*  UMUted  that  what  wis 
Ihw  in  England,  was  law  here^-or,  the  cokmisls,  as  RagHshmea, 
w<fTe  bouxiid  by  all  law^  of  England.  He  shows  that  a  eovt  of 
equity  existed  in  170^.  William  Atwood^  Abiaham  De  P^jsler,  aad 
Robnt  Waherss  being  the  judges,  and  abo  adduces  decisitMB  of 
Lewis  Morns,  James  De  Laincey,  and  Fredctkk  PhilKpse,  jtidgea 
inequity. 


*  $«utii*»  Uhcknt;  ciTN^w  Y«tk.  T«L  L  ff.  MS  ITS. 


I.T1  Arrsxpou 


fDix  referred  to. — VoL  L,  p.  319. 

Copf  ^  a  Lour  frr/m  the  H<m.  Cadwallader  Coldem  to  WHUam 
SmiiJk^  Esq.,  aMhor  fjf  the  History  €4  Aear  TorL,  rdaim  C9  tr- 
fxnrs  amd  mitrtprtiKfdaiif/ns  cytUamtd  thfreuu  Origimal  n  ik 
Libnuy  of' the  Sew  York  Historical  SocUfy, 

**  Flushjex,  Janovj  15cky  175SL 

**  To  William  Smithy  Jun.,  Es<]. 

^  Sir, — ^I  did  not  see  your  History  of  New  York  till  laA  wmL 
The  account  too  give  (pa^  179)  of  the  transactioiis  benreeo  tke 
gpfwenuaaeat  of  New  York  and  Captain  Langhiin  Campbel  ii  m 
ererj  circumstance  a  misrepresentation  of  (acts.  It  is  io  tbe 
dpal  part  absoluteij  fake,  and  an  ezregioiu  calumny  of  the 
who  at  tbat  time  bad  the  administration  of  gOFetmneflt  in 
hands. 

"  It  is  now  about  twenty  years  siiice  tbata&ir  ha{qKoe«L  Maif 
of  the  circiim^ances  I  cannot  with  sufficient  certainty  recoDect,  and 
it  is  probable,  that  none  who  were  not  immediately  ooooetned  in 
that  affiur  can  at  this  time  remember  them.  I  shaD  cooient  iBVKlf 
therefore  with  givin?  you  a  summary  accoimt  of  that  affiur,  ao  iir 
ast  I  doubt  not.  can  be  proved  by  IWinz  erideoce. 

^*  It  is  true  that  Captain  Campbel  imported  a  number  of  fe—3S^ 
from  Scotland,  a  great  part  of  which  (I  beliere  the  greatest)  had 
paid  their  own  passage,  and  were  at  liberty  to  dispose  oftbemsdies 
afier  they  arrired  in  America  as  they  thought  fit.  Tbe  others 
bound  by  indenture  to  Captain  Campbel  to  serre  him  or 
some  certain  number  of  years,  in  consideration  of  the  expense  of 
transporting  them  to  America,  or  under  some  other  obligatioo  lo 
repay  that  expense  with  a  profit  to  him. 

*^  Soon  after  their  arriTal,  Captain  Campbel  presented  a 
to  Lieutenant-eoreraour  Clark  in  council,  setting  forth  in 
(so  &r  as  I  can  remember)  that  he  had  imported  some  certain 
her  (which  I  hare  forgot)  of  (amilies  or  persons,  in  onfer  to  cuhi- 
▼ate  or  improTe  some  part  of  the  vacant  lands  of  this  proriiioe,  and 
prayed  the  grant  of  a  large  tract  of  land  (probably  30,000  acres,  as 
you  remember)  to  ciim,  his  heirs,  and  assigns,  in  order  to  Kitle 
thereon  those  families  and  persons  which  he  had  imported  for  in 
cohiTation  and  improTemeiit.  This  petition,  and  the  import  of  it, 
became  immediately  the  subject  of  common  discourse  in  the  ton* 
Wbereopon  the  persons  who  came  with  Captain  Campbel  and  lad 
paid  dieir  own  par«age<,  met  together  in  companies Jn  the  streets 


LETTER  OF  CADWALLADBR  COLDBW.  hVU 

and  where  they  loudly  exclaimed  against  it,  saying,  they  bad  le6 
Scotland  to  free  themselves  from  the  vassalage  they  were  under  to 
their  lords  there,  and  they  would  not  become  vassals  to  Laughlin 
Campbel  in  America.  The  govemour  being  informed  of  this, 
ordered  the  persons  to  be  called  together  and  to  be  interrogated  on 
this  head.  They  jointly  and  severally  to  a  man  declared  they 
would  not  became  tenants  to  Laughlin  Campbel.  It  being  like- 
wise doubted  whether  Captain  Campbel  was-m  capacity  to  setde  a 
sufficient  number  of  persons  to  have  so  large  a  tract  cultivated  pur- 
suant to  the  directions  in  the  king's  instructions.  He  said,  that  as 
hia  settling  on  the  frontiers  towards  Canada  would  be  a  considera- 
ble additional  defence  of  the  province,  he  expected  that  the  asseiD- 
biy  would  bear  the  charge  of  supporting  the  families  that  were  to 
aettle  upon  it,  till  they  could  support  themselves  by  their  own 
labour,  and  that  he  had  or  would  present  a  pedtion  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  assembly  knowing  the  aversion  which  the  people  who 
came  over  widi  Captain  Campbel  had  to  him,  for  it  was  notorious, 
did  not  enter  on  the  consideration  of  his  petidon  ;  and  I  firmly  be- 
lieve that  he  gave  in  no  other  pcduon  to  Uie  assembly. 

**  These  transactions  were  publick,  and  the  subject  of  common 
discourse,  yet  I  never  heard  Mr.  Clark  or  any  other  person  in  the 
administration  blamed  at  tliat  time  by  any  indiflerent  person  of 
Captain  Campbel's  petition,  that  it  was  not  granted. 

**  This  being  the  state  of  die  case,  I  leave  it  to  you  to  say  whether 
Lieutenant-govemour  Clark  could,  consistendy  with  the  trust  re- 
posed in  him,  grant  30,000  acres  of  land  to  Laugldin  Campbel ; 
or  whether  it  would  not  have  been  a  lasting  obstnicuon  to  die  set- 
tlement of  die  frontiers,  to  grant  30,000  acres  of  land  there,  to  any 
person  who  was  in  no  capacity  to  setde  and  improve  so  great  a 
tract  I  likewise  leave  it  to  others  who  are  better  acquainted  with 
Captain  Campbel's  character  than  you  are,  to  say  whether  it  be  in 
the  least  probable  that  Captain  Campbel  would  have  refused  a 
share  in  that  grant  to  any  person  who  had  influence  to  procure  it 
for  him  under  colour  of  the  pretences  which  he  made. 

•*  Captain  Campbel  iniKhi  have  had  2,000  acres  of  land  for  him- 
self on  the  frontiers,  and  tlie  others  quantities  in  proporuon  to  their 
abilities ;  but  they  chose  to  settle  on  the  inhabited  parts  of  die  coun- 
tr)'.  In  short,  Captain  Campbel  had  conceived  hopes  of  erecting 
a  lordship  for  himself  in  America.  He  inin^incd  that  die  people 
whom  he  had  enticed  over  with  him,  would  have  become  his  ten- 
ants on  condition  of  beint;  supported  till  they  could  maintain  them- 
selves, and  an  easy  rent  afterwards.  His  disappointment  come 
from  these  people  absolutely  refusing  to  become  his  tenants  on  any 
terms,  and  from  the  a^jsembly's  being  unwilling  to  support  tJiem  at 
the  expense  of  the  people  and  the  province,  and  not  from  Mr. 

H 


LTIII  AFFBJIIMX. 

Claik't  ntamg  Afem  hud,  16r  ibej  wi^t  hare  faid  k  ai  bcfae 
iDCotioocdy  but  Done  were  wiDiiig. 

**  So  &r  18  I  know,  this  story  which  joo  teD  was  boc  prnptiptdi 
tiD  SDoe  Caplaio  Campbers  death,  at  a  dwianrp  oftiiDe  wfaen&eK 
tiansactioos  are  (orgot  bj  people  who  had  ix>  concern  ia  tbem;  and 
were  propagated  bj  his  iamflj  after  thej  were  reduced  to 
by  his  miacoodiict,  io  order  to  more  the  compaasioa  of; 
sons  who  bad  it  in  their  power  to  advance  them,  and  they  have  i 
eeeded.  As  these  stories  were  only  propagated  in  prirale,  k 
BOC  easy  to  take  public  notice  of  them ;  but  now  that  yoa 
DobCahed  this  calimmy  in  Eorc^  and  America,  a  pobfic 


"  This  pnblic  defrmadon  bdng  an  egreg^oos  mjmy  to  die 
fiudi  and  honour  ot  the  goremment  erf*  New  York,  yoo  know 
proper  method  for  redress  that  may  be  taken.  Bat  as  I  think 
your  writing  crf'dus,  and  pnblishmg  it,  has  only  arisen  from 
credidity  in  some  who  do  not  desenre  the  confidence  yoo  plarrd 
in  their  veracity,  and  fixMn  a  generous  indignation  at  wiat  yon 
thought  m  base  breach  of  trust  in  the  lientenant  gofeiouor 
others,  IshaD  at  present  leave  it  to  yon  to  propose  wiat  yoo 
naj  be  an  adequate  redress  of  so  pdilick  an  injory. 

No  doubt  several  of  the  persons  who  came  over  widi 


Caiiq>bel,  and  were  not  servants,  are  stiU  alive;  from  them  yoo 
may  learn  the  truth  of  the  principal  feds  which  I  now  afinn.  Per- 
haps some  of  them  may  now  live  in  the  dty.  I  have  forgot  afl 
names  except  one  Montgomerie,  brother-in-law  to  Captain  O 
bel,  who  lately  lived  at  Cackeyat.  I  dnJl  expect  yoor 
without  delay,  and  that  therriiy  the  ofimon  wiQ  be  confirmed  of 
your  sinoerity  and  integrity  wluch  has  been  hitherto  entertained  by 
*'  Sir,  your  most  homble  servant, 

^'  Cadwaxxjldbb  Coumdu" 


APPENDIX.  LIZ 


Appendix  referred  to. — Vol  Ji,  p.  369. 
Account  of  the  circumstances  attending  the  death  of  Sir  Dancers  Osbom. 

"  Mr.  Clinton  was  at  Flushing,  in  Queens  county,  where  be  bad 
lesided  the  whole  summer,  when  Sir  Danvers  Osbom*  arriired  to 
succeed  him  in  command,  which  was  on  Sunday,  the  7th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1753.  He  was  met  at  Whitehall  by  the  council,  mayor, 
and  corporation,  and  chief  citizens,  and  attended  to  the  council 
chamber ;  and,  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Clinton,  took  up  his  lodging 
at  Mr.  Murray's,  whose  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Govemour  Cosby, 
and  a  distant  relation  of  Sir  Danvers'  deceased  lady,  a  sister  to  the 
Earl  of  Halifax.  Mr.  Clinton  waited  upon  him  the  next  day,  and 
tbey  both  dined  at  an  entertainment  provided  by  the  council.  On 
Wednesday  morning  they  assembled  the  council  at  the  fort,  for 
administering  the  oaths,  and  then  began  the  usual  procession  for 
reading  the  commission  at  the  town-ball.  The  indecent  acclama- 
.tions  of  the  populace,  stimulated  by  the  partizans  of  the  late  troubles, 
induced  the  old  govemour  to  take  leave  of  his  successor  at  a  short 
distance  from  the  fort,  while  Sir  Danvers  stalked  along  with  the 
council  and  magistrates,  rather  serious  than  cheerful,  amidst  the 
noisy  shouts  of  a  crowded  throng. 

''After  his  return  to  the  council  chamber,  he  received  the  address 
of  the  city  corporation,  of  which  he  had  a  copy,  and  with  difficulty 
restrained  his  intention  of  begging  the  alteration  of  a  passage  in 
it,  which  he  thought  expressive  of  jealousy.  The  words  were  : 
*  We  are  sufficiently  assured  that  your  excellency  will  be  as 
averse  from  countenancing,  as  we  from  brooking,  any  infringements 
of  our  inestimable  liberties,  civil  and  religious.' 

**  These  particulars  are  mentioned  with  the  more  minuteness, 
on  account  of  the  tragical  end  to  which  this  unfortunate  gendeman 
was  approaching. 

*'  He  told  Mr.  Clinton,  with  disapprobation  of  the  party  exulta- 
tions in  his  progress  to,  and  return  from  the  town-hall,  'that  he  ex- 
pected the  like  treatment  before  he  left  the  government' 

''  While  at  a  splendid  dinner  given  to  the  two  govemours  and 
the  council  by  the  corporation,  there  was  every  demonstration  of 
joy.  The  city  was  illuminated,  cannon  were  discharged,  and  two 
bonfires  lighted  up  on  the  common,  in  the  evening.  Sir  Danvers 
took  no  part  in  the  general  joy.     He  retired  early  in  the  afternoon. 


"  Mr.  Charles,  in  his  letter  of  the  11th  of  Jane,  1753,  infonned  the  speaker  that 
Sir  DaoTers  was  a  centleman  of  great  worth,  a  member  of  parliameat  for  Bad* 
iw.^l;^  and  brotbtr-ui>law  to  the  Earl  of  Haliftz." 


tnd  continued  at  his  lodgings,  while  the  whole  town  seenved  aban- 
doned to  every  excess  of  riot.  The  last  act -of  Mr.  Clinton's  ad- 
ministration was  the  deliver)'  to  Mr.  Delancey  of  a  corainission  to 
be  lieutenant'govemonr.  This  had  been  done  in  the  presence  of 
the  council,  immediately  after  he  gave  the  seals  to  Sir  Danvers, 
and  it  contributed  much,  with  the  discovery  now  made  of  Mr.  Clin- 
ton's letter  to  the  lords  of  trade  respecting  the  Jersey  claim,  to 
the  mad  transports  of  the  populace  in  the  streets  and  commons. 

"  Sir  Danvers  rose  early  on  Thursday  morning,  and  before  the 
family  were  about,  had,  alone,  patrolled  the  markets  and  a  great  put 
'  of  the  townu  He  complained  of  being  somewhat  indisposed ;  and 
at  dinner,  said,  with  a  smile,  to  Mr.  Delancey,  '  I  believe  I  shall 
soon  leave  you  the  govemmcnL  I  find  myself  unable  to  support 
the  burden  of  it.'  He  had  convened  the  council  in  the  afiemooOf 
and  appeared  in  some  perturbation  at  their  first  assembly, 
cially  when  he  found  that  M.  Pownal,  who  had  the  key  of  the 
binet,  was  not  within.  He  was  desirous  to  show  them  his  instroo- 
tions.  He  informed  them,  that  he  was  strictly  enjoined  to  iosiit 
upon  the  permanent  indefinite  support  of  government,  and  desired 
their  opinions  on  the  proispect  of  success.  There  was  a  general 
declaration,  that  die  assembly  could  not  be  brought  to  adopt  that 
scheme.  With  a  distressed  countenance,  and  in  a  plaintive  voic8| 
he  addressed  Mr.  Smitli,  who  had  not  yet  spoke  a  word  : — *  What, 
sir,  is  your  opinion  f' — and  when  he  heard  a  similar  answer,  he 
sighed,  turned  about,  reclined  against  the  window-frame,  and  ex- 
claimed, '  then  what  am  I  come  here  for  ?' 

*'In  the  evening  he  had  a  physician  with  him,  talked  of  ill  health, 
was  disconsolate,  and  retired  to  his  chamber,  and  at  midnight  dis- 
missed his  servant.  While  the  house  was  preserved  the  next  morn- 
ing in  the  utmost  silence,  upon  an  apprehension  that  he  was  still 
asleep,  an  account  was  brought  that  he  was  hanging  dead  against 
the  fence  at  the  lower  end  of  the  garden.  A  vein  was  opened,  but 
to  no  purpose. 

*'  The  malevolence  of  party  rage  would  not  at  first  ascribe  this 
event  to  the  insanity  of  the  deceased  ;  but  threw  out  insinuatioDS, 
that  he  had  been  brought  to  his  end  by  foul  means,  and  that  the 
criminals  were  some  of  tliose  who  could  not  suppress  their  joy  to 
see  Mr.  Clinton  a  private  character,  and  Mr.  Delancey  at  the  helm; 
nor  did  these  unjust  suspicions  soon  subside. 

**  The  council  was  immediately  summoned  to  Mr.  Murray '• 
liouse,  where  the  tragedy  was  acted,  and  ever>'  circumstance  in- 
quired into,  for  the  satisfaction  both  of  his  relations  and  the  crown, 
and  the  vindication  of  the  party  led  by  the  new  lieutenant-govemour 
Jto  such  lengths  against  Mr.  Clinton,  who  was  then  preparing  for 

im  Toyage. 


DEATH  OF  SIR  DANTER3  OSBORN.  LXI 

I 

'•  On  the  top  of  the  fence  was  a  row  of  larr^  nails  inverted,  to 
exclude  thieves  from  tlie  irarden,  over  which  he  had  casta  silk  hand- 
kerchief tied  at  the  op|H>site  ends,  and  had  elevated  his  neck  to  it 
by  1  small  board,  which  was  found  near  him  over  his  hat  iii>on  the 
ground. 

**  After  his  servant  left  him,  he  had  consumed  a  Anst  number  of 
private,  but  no  publick  pa|H?rs,  endorsed  others,  which  he  pre- 
served ;  wrapped  up  a  sum  of  money,  borrowed  since  his  arriralf 
and  directed  it  to  the  lender.  There  was  ly'inz  on  the  table  a 
paper,  written  in  his  own  hand,  (ytemd^us  ndt- iKnltrcy  prins  demcn^ 
ktiy  and  the  coroner's  inquest  believed  his  testimony,  for  they  found 
hifn  a  lunatick. 

•*  A  man  who,  before  the  liirht  of  that  day,  passed  the  river  io 
a  boat  under  the  fence,  heard  the  noise  of  his  heels  against  it  in 
his  last  struirirles.  l>ui  Mr.  PownaFs  testimony  surmounted  every 
obstacle  in  the  minds  of  all  persons  of  candour.  This  gentleman 
(since  so  well  known  in  the  characters  of  lieutenant-governour  of 
New  Jersey,  assistant  to  the  Earl  of  Loudoun,  in  the  war  of  IToG, 
govemour  of  .Nfassachusetts  Bay,  commissary  in  Germany,  and  a 
member  of  the  British  parKament)  came  out  as  a  guide  and  assis- 
tant to  Sir  Danvers  i>sborn,  and  revealed  the  secret,  that  the  ba- 
ronet had  been  melancholv  ever  since  the  loss  of  his  ladv,  whom 
he  most  passionately  ailmired,  and  that  he  had  before  attempted 
his  own  life  with  a  razor ;  adding,  that  Lord  Halifax,  by  whose 
interest  he  obtained  the  government,  had  hopes  that  an  honourable 
and  active  station  abroad  mi:iht  have  detached  him  from  the  cod- 
atant  object  of  his  anxious  attention.  As  it  may  be  interesting  to 
know  ever^'  thinir  relatinsr  to  this  unfortunate  sreutleman,  and  as 
Ifr*  Smith  was  at  that  time  one  of  the  council,  and  under  no  bias 
to  the  party  calumniated  at  his  death,  and  his  diar\-  kept  with  such 
seerecy  that  none  of  his  children  ever  knew  in  his  life  time  that  he 
had  one,  for  the  sake  of  truth  these  passages  are  inserted,  that  the 
most  scrupulous  may  be  satisfied. 

"  IVidhisdiVh  10*/*  Oct'^htr^  1753 — Sir  Danvers  Osbom  pub- 
lished his  commission,  took  the  usual  state  oaths  and  that  relating 
to  trade,  and  received  the  seals  from  the  hands  of  Governour  Clin- 
ton, who  tlien  (pursuant  to  an  order  from  the  Duke  of  Newcastle 
to  deliver  the  commission  of  lieutenanl-ffovernour  before  his  excel- 
lency left  the  government,  to  James  Delancey,  Esq.,)  delivered 
tiie  same  in  council  accordiuirlv,  and  Sir  Danvers  took  the  oath 
of  govemour  and  chancellor,  or  keeper  of  the  great  seal.  The 
commission  was  aiten\*ards  published  at  the  Ciiy  Hall.  The  cor- 
poration treated  the  new  govemour  and  council  at  Bunis^s  ;  and 
the  whole  was  conducted,  and  the  day  and  evening  spent,  with 
excessive  shoutings,  two  bonfires,  illuminations,  ringing  of  the 


LXII  APPENDIX. 

church  bells  in  die  city,  druDkenness,  and  other  excessive  demon- 
strations of  joy. 

"  Thursday^  11th  October* — Sir  Danvers  appeared  very  un- 
easy in  council. 

"  Friday^  12th  October — Alarmed  by  the  door-keeper  of  the 
council,  about  eight  o'clock,  desiring  me  to  come  to  Mr.  Murray^ 
saying,  *  the  govemour  had  hanged  himsel/J  Went  and  found  it 
awfully  true.  He  had  been  found  in  Mr.  Murray's  garden  hang- 
ing in  his  handkerchief,  fastened  to  the  nails  at  the  top  of  the  fence. 
On  the  first  discovery,  his  body  was  found  quite  cold,  and  upoo 
two  incisions  no  blood  issued.  He  was  brought  into  the  house 
and  l^id  on  the  bedstead,  where  I  saw  him,  a  woeful  spectacle  of 
human  frailty  and  of  the  wretchedness  of  man,  when  left  to  him- 
self. The  council  went  from  Mr.  Murray's  to  the  fort,  where 
Chief  Justice  Delancey  published  his  commission,  and  took  the 
oaths  in  our  presence,  and  received  the  commission  of  Sir  Dan- 
vers and  seals  and  instructions,  by  order  of  council,  from  TboroiB 
Fownal,  Esq. ;  but  took  not  the  oath  of  chancellor,  lest  it  migbt 
supersede  his  commission  of  chief  justice,  till  this  point  be  con- 
sidered. His  commission,  after  it  was  read  in  council,  was  pulh 
lished  only  before  the  fort  gate,  without  any  parade  or  sliow, 
because  of  the  melancholy  event  of  this  day. 

«*  The  character  of  Sir  Danvers  Osbom,  baronet  of  ChichsandSy 
in  the  county  of  Bedford,  as  far  as  I  could  observe,  having  been 
every  day  since  his  arrival  with  him,  was  this  : — he  was  a  man  of 
good  sense,  great  modesty,  and  of  a  genteel  and  courteous  beha- 
viour. He  appeared  very  cautious  in  the  wording  of  the'oathst 
particularly  for  observing  the  laws  of  trade  enjoined  by  the  statute 
of  7th  and  8th  William  III.  He  appeared  a  very  conscientious 
man  to  all  the  council  in  that  particular.  A  point  of  honour  and 
duty,  in  2i  foreseen  difficulty  to  reconcile  his  conduct  with  his  ma- 
jesty's instructions,  very  probably  gave  his  heart  a  fatal  stab,  and 
produced  that  terrible  disorder  in  his  mind  which  occasioned  his 
layihg  violent  hands  on  himself. 

"  He  was  found  between  seven  and  eight  in  the  morning,  hang- 
ing about  eighteen  inches  from  the  ground,  and  had  been  probably 
some  hours  dead.  His  secretary  told  me,  this  morning,  he  had 
often  said  to  him,  lie  xrisked  lie  was  govemour  in  his  stead.  He  or 
somebody  else  desired  me  to  observe  the  ashes  in  the  chimney  of 
his  bed-room,  as  being  necessary  to  be  observed  to  excuse  his 
producing  of  any  papers  that  might  be  expected  to  be  produced 
by  him,  and  he  showed  me  two  pocket-books  in  which  there  was 
nothing  remaining.  He  said,  that  when  the  copy  of  the  episcopal 
church  address  was  shown  yesterday,  he  observed  to  Sir  Danvers, 
that  he  would  have  an  opportunity  here,  by  going  to  church,  to  act 
according  to  his  own  mind,  and  that  he  (the  secretary)  with  the 


DBATH  OF   SIR  DANTBRS  OSBORN.  LXTII 

gentlemen  should  wait  on  him.  To, which  (says  Mr.  Pownal)  he 
gave  me  this  shocking,  answer,  '  you  ilhay,  but  I  shall  go  to  my 
grave.' 

"  A  committee  of  Mr.  Alexander,  Mr.  Chambers,  and  the  mayor, 
are  appointed  to  take  depositions  concerning  the  facts  and  circum- 
stances attending  his  death.  The  jury  have  found  Sir  Danvers 
(as  is  said)  non  compos  mentis.  Mr.  Barclay*  was  sent  for  into 
council  to  desire  him  to  read  the  burial  service.  He  objected,  as 
the  letter  of  the  rubric  forbids  the  reading  it  over  any  that  lay  vio- 
lent hands  on  themselves.  Agreed  in  council,  that  the  meaning 
ought  to  be  regarded  more  than  the  words.  I  said,  qui  haret  in 
literaj  haret  in  corticej  and  if  the  jury  on  inquest  found  Sir  Danvers 
non  compos^  his  corpse  had  as  much  right  to  christian  burial  as  the 
corpse  of  a  man  who  had  died  in  a  high  fever.  This  seemed  to 
satisfy  Mr.  Barclay,  coming  from  me,  seeming  worth  more  of  his 
regard,  than  if  it  had  come  from  another.t  He  said  he  had  not 
any  scruples  of  conscience,  but  he  desired  to  avoid  censure,  as  we 
have  people  of  different  opinions  amongst  us. 

"  Saibathj  lUh  October^  1753. — Last  evening  attended  the  fu- 
neral of  Sir  Danvers  Osborn,  as  a  bearer,  with  five  others  of  the 
council,  and  Mr.  Justice  Horsmanden,  and  Mr.  Attorney-General ; 
and  this  day,  in  the  old  English  church,  heard  a  sermon  from 
Hebr.  10th  chap.  24th  verse — '  And  let  us  consider  one  another j  to 
,  provoke  unto  lave  and  to  good  toorks,^  "f 


*  "  This  gentleman,  who  served  as  a  missionary  to  the  Mohawks,  was.  on  the 
death  of  Mr.  Vesey,  in  1746,  called  to  be  rector  of  Trinity  church  in  the  metro- 
polis. His  arrears  of  twenty  pounds  were  provided  for  in  the  support  bill  of  that 
year,  and  there  has  been  no  provincial  allowance  since  that  time  towards  the 
propajntion^f  Christianity  among  the  Indians." 

t  "Mr.  Smith  was  a  member  of  the  preabyterian  congregation  in  communion 
with  the  church  of  Scotland." 

X  Smith's  History  of  New  York,  Vol.  U,  p.  182-190. 


UUI  APPENDIX. 

church  belld  in  the  city,  dniokeDneds,  and  other  excessiTe 
strations  of  joy. 

"  Thursday^  11/A    October. — Sir  Danvers  appeared  Tery 
easy  in  council. 

"  Friday^  12/A  October — Alarmed  by  the  door-keeper  of  die 
council,  about  eight  o^clock,  desiring  me  to  come  to  Mr.  Murrays, 
saying,  *  tke  goremour  had  hanged  hinueljV  Went  and  ibimd  it 
awfully  true.  He  had  been  fouDd  in  Mr.  Murray^s  garden  bang- 
ing in  hi^  handkerchief,  fastened  to  the  nails  at  the  top  of  the  fence. 
On  the  first  discovery,  his  body  was  found  quite  cold,  and  opon 
two  incisions  no  blood  issued.  He  was  brought  into  the  boaw 
and  laid  on  the  bedstead,  where  I  saw  him,  a  woeful  spectacle  of 
human  frailty  and  of  the  wretchedness  of  man,  when  left  to  him- 
self. The  council  went  from  Mr.  Murray's  to  the  Ibrt,  where 
Chief  Justice  Delancey  published  his  commission,  and  took  the 
oaths  in  our  presence,  and  received  the  commission  of  Sir  Dan- 
vers and  seals  and  instructions,  by  order  of  council,  from  Tbomat 
Pownal,  Esq. ;  but  took  not  the  oath  of  chancellor,  lest  it  migkl 
supersede  his  commission  of  chief  justice,  till  this  point  be 
sidered.  His  commission,  after  it  was  read  in  council,  was 
lished  only  before  the  fort  gate,  without  any  parade  or 
because  of  the  melancholy  e%'ent  of  this  day. 

**  The  character  of  Sir  Dan%'ers  Qsbom,  baronet  of  Chichsands, 
in  the  count}'  of  Bedford,  as  iar  as  I  could  obserre,  having  been 
evenr  dav  since  his  arrival  with  him,  was  this  : — he  was  a  man  of 
good  sense,  great  modesty,  and  of  a  genteel  and  courteous  beba- 
nour.  He  appeared  ver}'  cautious  in  the  wording  of  the'oaxfas, 
particularly  for  observing  the  laws  of  trade  enjoined  by  the  staune 
of  7th  and  Sth  William  UI.  He  appeared  a  %'ery  conscientioos 
man  to  all  the  council  in  that  particular.  A  point  of  honour  and 
dutv,  in  a  forerun  difficulty  to  reconcile  his  conduct  with  his  ma- 
jesty^s  instructions,  very  probably  gave  his  heart  a  fatal  stab,  and 
produced  that  terrible  disorder  in  his  mind  which  occasioned  his 
layihc:  violent  hands  on  himself. 

**  He  was  found  between  seven  and  eizht  in  the  momine«  banr- 
ing  about  eighteen  inches  from  the  ground,  and  had  been  probably 
some  hours  dead.  His  secretary'  told  me,  this  morning,  be  had 
often  said  to  him,  he  trished  he  utu  goremoar  in  his  stead.  He  or 
somebody  else  desired  me  to  obsene  the  ashes  in  the  chimney  of 
his  bed-room,  as  being  necessary'  to  be  observed  to  excuse  his 
piodiicing  of  any  papers  that  micrht  be  expected  to  be  produced 
hj  bim,  and  he  showed  me  two  pocket-books  in  which  there  was 
Mothing  remaining.  He  said,  that  when  the  copy  of  the  episcopal 
dmrch  address  was  shown  yesterday,  he  observed  to  Sir  Danvefs, 
Atf  he  would  have  an  opportunity  here,  by  eoing  to  church,  to  act 
>PCOwBng  to  his  own  mind,  and  that  he  (the  secrecaiy)  whfa  the 


DBATH  OF   SIR  DANTBRS  OSBORN.  LXTU 

geodemen  should  wait  on  him.  To  which  (says  Mr.  Pownal)  he 
gave  me  diis  shocking  answer,  '  you  ilhay,  but  I  shall  go  to  my 
grave.' 

**  A  committee  ofMr.  Alexander,  Mr.  Chambers,  and  the  mayor, 
are  appointed  to  take  deposidoos  concerning  the  facts  and  circum- 
stances attending  his  death.  The  jury  have  found  Sir  Danvers 
(as  is  said)  non  compos  mentis.  Mr.  Barclay*  was  sent  for  into 
council  to  desire  him  to  read  the  burial  service.  He  objected,  as 
the  letter  of  the  rubric  forbids  the  reading  it  over  any  that  lay  vio- 
lent hands  on  themselves.  Agreed  in  council,  that  the  meaning 
ought  to  be  regarded  more  than  the  words.  I  said,  qui  fusret  in 
iiieroj  htret  in  cortice^  and  if  the  jury  on  inquest  found  Sir  Danvers 
7um  composy  his  corpse  had  as  much  right  to  christian  burial  as  the 
corpse  of  a  man  who  had  died  in  a  high  fever.  This  seemed  to 
satisfy  Mr.  Barclay,  coming  from  me,  seeming  worth  more  of  his 
regard,  than  if  it  had  come  from  another.t  He  said  he  had  not 
any  scruples  of  conscience,  but  he  desired  to  avoid  censure,  as  we 
have  people  of  different  opinions  amongst  us. 

^«  Sabbath^  14^A  October^  1753. — Last  evening  attended  the  fu- 
neral of  Sir  Danvers  Osbom,  as  a  bearer,  with  five  others  of  the 
council,  and  Mr.  Justice  Horsmanden,  and  Mr.  Attorney-General ; 
and  this  day,  in  the  old  English  church,  heard  a  sermon  firora 
Hebr.  10th  chap.  24th  verse — '  And  let  us  consider  one  (mother^  to 
^  provoke  unto  love  and  to  good  ux>rksJ*  "| 


*  **  This  gentleman,  who  senred  ts  a  miMionarj  to  the  Mohawks,  was.  on  tbt 
death  of  Mr.  Vesey,  in  1746,  called  to  be  rector  of  Trinity  church  in  the  metro- 
polis. Hu  arrears  of  twenty  pounds  were  provided  for  in  the  support  bill  of  that 
year,  and  there  has  been  no  provincial  allowance  since  that  tmie  towards  the 
propagation  ^f  Christianity  among  the  Indians." 

t  "Mr.  Smith  was  a  member  of  the  preabyterian  congregation  in  communion 
with  the  church  of  Scotland." 

t  Smith's  History  of  New  York,  Vol.  U,  p.  182-190. 


unri  APPBXDix  w. 

lOf  a  dav  for  wz^zon^j  and  bor«es^  for  the  senice  of  tbe  ..»*» 
10s  for cverv  twenri'-five  mile*,  in  cominz  to  or  zoidz  from  ASmbi. 

A  writer  in  the  American  Mazazine  for  April  sajsy  **the 
croachin?  French,  hare  exter,ded  their  new  usurped  dile' 
tbe  Lakes  to  the  mouth  of  the  Mi.rsL?iippi.  and  baih  m  ^ 
city  naaied  New  Orleans/'  Thri5  by  seizing  the  Missiappi  the 
French  are  joixiing^  their  Canada  to  what  they  call  LdisiaM; 
**  thereby  to  fforroand  all  the  En^li^h  co!onie«f  and  (if  their  as* 
pirinz  attempt  be  not  prevented)  to  marder  the  inhabitant  or  drive 
tbem  into  the  sea  :  or  what  L*  a  thou^nd  times  worse,  to 
tbetn  to  French  tjTanny  and  Popish  saperstition.*^ 

••  The  province  ship  of  war  Kins:  George"  returiH  to 
from  a  cruise.     We  read  aUo  of  the   Pennsylvania  frigate  goine 
from  the  Delaware  on  a  cruise. 

••  The  \ew  Jersev  forces,  of  between  eleven  and  twelve  faoDdred 
of  the  likeliest  well-set  men  for  the  purpose,  as  has  perfaaps  tnroed 
out  on  any  camp3i;ni.  passed  by  this  place  for  Albany.  They 
were  under  Colonel  Johnson,  their  uniform  blue  deed  with  red^ 
grey  stockings  and  buckskin  breeches.'' 

3/#iy  IS/A- — Lieutecant-rovemocr  Delancey  pyreseoted  to  the 
mayor  a  letter  statinc:  that  General  Abercrombie  represeoied  to  him 
tbe  difficulty  in  supniyisz  the  provincial  troops  with  zuds — thoK 
ordered  by  the  crown  not  having  arrived,  be  tbereibre  reqoests  the 
loan  of  the  LOt"^"^  stand  beIor,iiri;r  to  the  common  cooncil  far  the 
New  York  re:nment  ccder  Colonel  Delancev.  To  this  the 
roon  council  answer,  shat  as  tho*e  arnas  were  bonzht  for  the 
of  the  city  in  ca?e  of  in^isio!!.  :hey  rezr^t  that  they  caosoc  cocspij 
with  the  rwjuest.  kaf  Ir.r  no  power  so  to  do- 

M^\  1(*;A. — FnncL*  B^msid.  Goverrour  of  New  Jensev.  a*- 
rived  at  the  Hook,  and  Colonel  Peter  Schuy'ier  happeriar  »  he 
there  with  his  sloop,  took  tbe  roverzx>ar  and  hiclW  to  Pcrh 
Ambov.* 

The  LieuteDaa*-rovenv*:>u:  r-ersrir.iT'v  ara'ies  to  ihe 
cooocil  for  tbe  cirv  arms^  asd  pr'>d3ce<  AberrrocibSe"* 
pffomisuif  to  leplice  ibem.  and  hintlnr  thti  be  woiJd 
MfTOW  ih«D  than  "  impress"  iheiru  Tbe  coshko  cocdci:  ibere^ 
fai«  o&r  (a*  there  is  do  certiiary  of  ir..e  c:n-  wuDdnr  ibec^  lo  «eS 
far  cash,  at  tbe  rase  of  £'Z  -Ss  for  each  cosset.  izkcfaifiBr 

cartridre?^  aiid  hiyo^et- 
2WL-^nfermaiicwi  is'r:ven'of  curder?  of  rnc^  woax>eB  nd 
•■  the  froatien  of  New  JfT«<ev.  ai  Miznsnk  fcod  odier 


At  dK  Geiiiiaa  Flats  the*saiDe  sioesef  of  is  order  are  t&klnr'pbre. 


FiwiA  md  laid  oapper 


APPENDIX   W.  ULYU 

The  details  are  too  similar  to  be  given.  In  one  instance,  the  suc- 
cessTul  resistance  of  some  waggoners  deserves  notice.  A  large 
party  of  Indians  attacked  a  house  in  which  six  waggoners  lodged 
up  stairs.  The  Indians  rushed  into  the  house,  murdered  and 
scalped  the  family  who  were  below ;  they  then  attempted  the  stairs* 
but  the  waggoners  knocked  the  foremost  down.  The  Indians  fired 
up  the  loft  without  effect,  and  the  defenders  kept  off  the  assailants 
(killing  one)  until  a  party  of  rangers  arrived  and  relieved  them. 
The  rangers  took  possession  of  an  adjoining  log  fence,  from  whence 
they  fired ;  and  killing  several  of  the  Indians,  the  others  fled.  At 
chis  time,  thirty-three  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Flats  were  killed 
aod  many  who  escaped  with  life  were  shockingly  mutilated. 

June  15/A. — Ordered,  to  purchase  500  of  the  tubscrijuion  anns 
lately  imported  into  this  city ;  and  to  pay  for  the  same  out  of  the 
money  arising  from  the  sale  of  die  arms  to  Gen.  Abercrombie,  and  the 
remainder  to  be  sent  to  England  to  purchase  one  large  fire-engine, 
one  small  do.,  two  hand  do.,  with  some  buckets  and  fifty  small  arms* 
Paid  for  billeting  officers :  for  captains,  lOs  per  week ;  for  lieuten- 
ants, ensigns,  or  surgeons,  6s.  ISIajor  Kutherford^s  account  for  his 
billet,  not  allowed. 

July  3d. — Sir  William  Johnson  and  ''  his  Indians"  are  on  the 
way  to  Canada.  The  French  send  to  demand  "  the  brave  Old 
Peter  Schuyler  of  New  Jersey,  as  no  person  had  been  exchanged 
for  him,  and  he  prepares  to  return  to  Canada." 

It  is  stated  that  Lord  Howe  had  advanced  to  Lake  George 
with  3000  men.  His  spirit  and  military  accomplishments  are 
praised.  His  soldiers  are  trained  to  bush  fighting,  and  their  coats 
and  their  hair  are  cut  short ;  his  lordship,  as  an  example,  sacrificing 
a  fine  head  of  hair  and  submitting  to  all  fatigues  and  privauons* 
He  allows  his  officers  no  supernumerary  baggage. 

Fort  Frontignac  is  a  regular  square,  built  of  stone  and  lime — the 
wall  ten  feet  high — one  hundred  pieces  of  cannon  (not  all  mount- 
ed)— the  provisions  and  stores  which  could  not  be  removed  were 
burned,  as  well  as  several  vessels,  and  Colonel  Bradstreet  demol- 
ished the  fort. 

September  lith. — One  of  the  fruits  of  the  attack  upon  Ticonde- 
roga  by  Abercrombie,  is  the  advertisement  stating,  "  a  great  quan- 
Uty  of  old  linen  wanted  for  the  wounded  now  in  his  majesty's  hos- 
pitals at  Albany  and  Fort  Edward."  Ladies  are  requested  to 
forward  such  as  they  can  dispense  with. 

September  ISM. — When  Colonel  Bradstreet  destroyed  Fort 
Frontignac  or  Cadaraqui,  he  carried  off  two  sloops  taken  from  the 
enemy  loaded  with  plunder,  besides  loading  his  own  whaleboats 
and  batteaux.  He  proceeded  to  Oiwe^o  and  divided  the  plunder. 
The  laced  coats  were  reserved  for  the  Indians  accompanying  the 
expedition. 


LXVIII  APPENDIX  W.  ^ 

The  Legislature  of  New  Jersey  reward  John  Van  Tile,  a 
sergeant  in  the  colony's  pay,  for  his  bravery  and  conduct  in  an  at- 
tack on  the  Indians,  and  give  thirty  dollars  to  a  lad  of  seventeen, 
his  name  Titfort^  for  having  shot  an  Indian  and  thereby  rescued 
himself  from  capdvity. 

September  26th. — ^Captain  Isaac  Sears  arrives  in  the  privateer 
sloop  Catharine,  and  brings  with  him  a  prize  French  ship,  laden 
with  provisions  and  dry  goods,  that  was  bound  for  Quebec.  She 
mounted  ten  carriage  guns  and  carried  forty-four  men.  The  Cath- 
arine had  one  man  killed  and  three  wounded  in  the  engagement, 
before  the  French  Letter  of  Marque  struck. 

December  2Sd.— In  a  communication  addressed  to  the  Printer, 
Dr.  George  Muirson  gives  notice  to  the  public  of  the  benefit  de- 
rived from  Mercuriah  and  Antimony  in  the  small-pox — that  disease 
still  continuing  in  the  city  of  New  York.  He  says,  "  in  the  year 
thirty-one  the  small-pox  proved  very  mortal  in  the  city  and  many 
parts  of  the  province  of  New  York :  I  began  the  methoii  with 
myself,  have  continued  and  pursued  it  ever  since  with  remarkable 
success  ;  tliat  of  many  hundreds  that  I  have  inoculated,  prepared 
the  above  way,  not  one  died,  not  even  the  least  accident  happened.** 
He  recommends  bleeding,  "  in  the  eruptive  fever,"  and  gives  his 
reasons — he  recommends  keeping  tlie  body  open  by  clysters  of 
new  milk  and  sugar,  and  says  it  is  the  method  taught  by  **  the  im- 
mortal Boerhaave,"  to  whom  he  says,  he  is  indebted  for  his  know- 
ledge "  of  this  so  fatal  a  distemper  to  the  people  of  this  countiy, 
(otherwise  than  by  inoculation.)" 

Oliver  De  Lancey,  John  Cruger,  Philip  Livingston  and  Leonard 
Lispenard,  offer  themselves  as  candidates  by  advertisement,  for 
the  assembly. 


INDIAN  HOSTILITIES  AFTER  PEACE.  LXIX 


TREATY  OF  PEACE  OF  1763— INDIAN  HOSTILITIES 

AFTER  THE  PEACE. 

1763  During  the  negotiations  for  peace,  it  was  urged  in  the 
English  parliament  to  restore  Canada  to  the  French,  for 
the  purpose  of  preventing  the  growth  of  the  colonies.*  The  dis- 
contents in  the  colonies,  occasioned  by  the  English  taxes  on  com- 
merce, and  the  insolence  of  her  custom-house  officers,  and  officers 
generally,  made  many  men  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantick  think  of 
the  independence  of  America. 

By  the  peace  of  1763,  it  was  stipulated  that  the  line  between 
the  territories  of  England  and  France  in  America,  should  be  drawn 
through  the  centre  of  the  Mississippi,  from  its  source  to  the  river 
of  Iberville,  and  through  the  middle  of  that  river  and  the  Lakes 
Maurepas  and  Pontchartrain  to  the  sea.  By  this  was  added  to 
Great  Britain,  the  river  and  port  of  Mobile,  and  all  French  posses- 
sions on  the  left  side  of  the  Mississippi,  except  the  town  of  New 
Orleans,  and  island  on  which  it  stands.  Great  Britain  on  her  part, 
restored  islands  in  the  West  Indies.  To  Spain  was  added  the 
British  conquests  in  the  West  Indies,  made  from  her,  and  in 
return  she  gave  Florida,  Fort  St.  Augustine,  the  Bay  of  Pensacola, 
and  all  tlie  Spanish  possessions  to  tlie  east  or  to  the  south-east  of 
the  river  Mississippi. 

Notwithstanding  the  cessation  of  hostilities  between  England, 
France,  and  Spain,  peace  was  not  restored  to  America.  The  In- 
dians generally,  sensible  of  the  encroachments  of  the  whites,  and 
impressed  with  the  idea,  that  the  English  intended  their  utter  ex- 
termination, formed  an  extensive  combination,  for  what  they  consi- 
dered self  defence,  and  the  tribes  on  the  Ohio,  with  those  about 
Detroit,  and  one  tribe  of  Iroquois,  (the  Senecas)  prepared  for  a 
simultaneous  attack  upon  the  English  frontiers. 

The  influence  of  Sir  William  Johnson,  kept  the  remainder  of 
the  Six  Nations  quiet,  or  apparently  so.  At  the  appointed  Ume, 
the  frontiers  of  Virginia,  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  were  attack- 
ed. Great  numbers  of  settlers  were  massacred  with  all  the  barbarity 
attendant  upon  savage  warfare.  The  inhabitants  fled,  and  flou- 
rishing villages  were  abandoned  to  spoil  and  conflagration.  The 
traders  were  particularly  marked  as  victims  to  ferocity  and  revenge. 


*  See  Walsh'i  U.  8.  &  G.  B.,  p.  134.    RuBsel's  Modern  Europe,  part  2d,  letter  35. 


LXX  APPENDIX. 

The  Indians  thirsting  for  rum,  and  never  abstaining  from  it,  (ex- 
cept, as  in  the  recent  case  of  the  Onondagas,  when  influenced  bjr 
the  prohibilory  decree  of  their  prophet,)  yet  despise,  and  hate  the 
traders,  who,  for  their  selfish  purposes,  present  the  poisoned 
draught  to  their  lips.  All  such  were  sacrificed  without  sparing ; 
and  their  merchandize,  but  added  fuel  to  the  flame  of  deadly  ven- 
geance, only  to  be  satiated  with  blood. 

The  fortresses  of  Le  Boeuf,  Venango,  and  Presque  Isle,  were 
captured  in  succession  by  the  Indians ;  who  made  use,  of  what 
amongcivilized  cliristains,  is  mildly  called  statagem,  ntse  de  guerre^ 
ordiplomatick skill, to  accomplish  their  purposes;  but  in  their  case 
was  branded  with  the  terms  "  perfidy,  want  of  faith,"  or  any  other 
appellation  that  might  convey  disapprobation.  The  diflereuce  be- 
tween meum  and  tunm  is  always  immense. 

In  several  instances,  the  allied  Indians,  when  they  invested  one 
fort,  assured  the  garrison  that  they  had  already  taken  all  the  others, 
and  set  forth  the  advantages  of  surrender,  contrasted  with  the  punish- 
ment they  would  inflict  upon  resistance.  Thus  fell  the  posts  above 
enumerated  and  the  more  important  fort  of  Michilimackinack. 
Still  the  forts  of  Detroit,  Niagara,  and  Pitt,  tlie  most  important  in 
that  chain,  once  intended  by  the  French  to  bind  the  English  colo- 
nies, and  now  viewed  by  the  Indians  as  the  badges  of  their  sub- 
jection, remained  in  the  hands  of  the  whites.  The  first,  com- 
manded the  reurion  between  Lakes  Huron  and  Erie  :  Niagara  had 
the  same  eflect  between  Erie  and  Ontario ;  and  Fort  Pitt  overawed 
the  tribes  of  Oliio.  Against  these,  distant  as  they  were  from  each 
other,  the  allied  tribes,  made  simultaneous  movements,  and  Forts 
Pitt  and  Detroit,  were  invested  at  the  same  time.  Address,  cour- 
age, and  perseverance,  were  displayed  by  the  race  of  Red-men  at 
this  period,  which  entitle  them  to  the  admiration  of  all  who  applaud 
the  exertions  of  those  who  fight  for  their  country,  and  their 
libertv. 

General  Amherst,  took  measures  to  preserve  these  posts,  so  re- 
cently obtained  from  the  French.  To  Detroit  he  sent  a  detach- 
ment under  Captain  Dalzel,  who,  after  performing  the  service 
for  which  he  was  intended,  marched  out  of  the  fort  to  inflict  punish- 
ment upon  the  beleaguers,  but  fell  into  a  well-concerted  ambus- 
cade, with  the  loss  of  his  Hfe,  and  upwards  of  100  men,  killed 
and  wounded. 

The  garrison  was  however  strengthened,  and  remaining  on  the 
defensive,  the  enemy  gave  up  tlie  siege  and  retired. 

At  Fort  Pitt,  in  the  meantime,  the  eflTorts  of  the  besiegers  were 
incessant,  and  made  with  wonderful  ingenuity,  as  well  as  courage 
jtnd  perseverance.  They  cut  ofl*  all  communication  between  the 
felt  and  the  countr}*.  They  advanced  close  to  the  place,  covering 
AenuelTes  from  the  fire  of  the  besieged  by  digging  holes  in  the 


INDIAN  UOSTILITIBS  AFTBR  PEACB.  LXXI 

earth,  from  which  they  poured  their  shot  and  anrows,  tipped  with 
fire,  upon  the  scanty  irarrison.  To  the  relief  of  Captain  Ecuyer, 
who  commanded,  iienoral  Amherst  sent  Colonel  Bouquet*  who 
advanced  to  the  utmost  limits  of  civilization*  utterly  without  infer- 
mation  of  the  state  of  friends  or  enemy  at  the  place  of  contest* 
He  left  the  most  cumbrous  part  of  his  convoy,  and  cautiously 
proceeded  toward  the  defile  at  Turtle  Creek.  The  Indians  bad 
intelligence  of  his  approach,  and  determined  to  anticipate  him.  Se- 
cn?ily  leavinir  the  vicinity  of  the  fort,  they  advanced,  and  surround- 
iDg  Boui|uei*s  tnx>ps,  awaited  their  preparation  for  dinner,  on 
the  oth  of  Auirust,  and  when  the  soldiers  were  busied  in  their 
culinary  arrangements,  a  destructive  fire  was  opened  upon  them 
from  the  trees  and  bushes  adjoiiiin::.  Order  was  restored  bv  the 
effect  of  military  discipline,  and  the  troops  charired  and  drove  their 
foes  from  their  cover :  but  the  moment  pursuit  ceased,  the  attack 
re-commenced.  Throui:h  the  whole  day,  this  contest  between 
trained  European  soldiers,  and  an  increasin^r  force  of  enemies, 
•rithout  oriler.  but  systematically  retreatins:  or  pressin^r  for\i'ard,  as 
directed  by  individual  impulse,  guided  by  one  common  desire  for 
ricton-,  was  continued.  The  Enjclish  retreated  to  their  convoy, 
and  ni^ht  sus^KMided  in  some  measure,  die  toils  and  dangers  of  the 
day.  At  the  dawn  of  the  next  morninir*  the  natives  of  the  soil  pre* 
tented  themselves  simultaneouslv  on  ever^^  side,  raisins:  the  war- 
whoop,  as  a  signal  of  battle.  The  enfeebled  En^rlish,  had  to  re* 
fume  the  conflict  under  more  discourairin^  circumstances,  suit 
fering  under  thirst  from  the  heat,  and  a  want  of  water,  for  the  place 
of  their  encampment,  not  beiuir  deliberately  chosen,  was  void  of 
this  vital  necessar}*.  Their  wag^rons  and  ba^rirage  formed  a  ram- 
part, and  they  repulsed  ever}'  attack    of  their  enemy :  but  there 

they  were  confined — thev  must  detend  the  convov,  and  their  nu- 

•  •  • 

merous  wounded  men.  Bouquet,  at  len^h,  adopted  a  ntsfj  which 
gained  him  victor}*  and  satety.  By  a  pretended  fiight  and  abon- 
donment  of  the  convov.  he  induced  the  Indians  to  rush  on  to  the 
supposed  prey,  and  expose  themselves  to  the  fire  of  the  troopa, 
adTantageously  posted  tor  their  destruction.  The  slaughter  was 
great.  The  chief  and  most  of  the  Indians  fell,  and  the  rest  dis- 
heartened at  being  beaten  in  their  own  mode  of  warfare,  fled  routed 
and  gave  up  the  contest.  Although  some  slight  skirmishing  oc- 
cnrred  on  the  after  march  of  the  suffering,  thouirh  victorious  troopst 
diis  action  of  the  6th  of  August,  saved  Fort  Pitt,  and  seems  to 
hare  discouraged  the  hostile  tribes  from  any  other  effective  efibrts 
in  this  quarter. 

But  as^ainst  Niasrara,  they  now  concentrated  their  force,  without 
approaching  the  fort,  but  surrounded  it  at  a  distance  and  watched 
erery  opportunity  to  destroy  those,  who  %'entured  beyond  safe 
laiice,  or  anj  cooroy  thai  might  approach. 


ULXa  APPBMDIX* 


On  the  14ib  of  September,  wbeD  a  detachment  iritfa  stores,  haA 
nearly  reached  the  fort,  they  were  attacked,  seventy  men  instuidly 
slain,  and  the  convoy  carried  off.  The  three  principal  Ibrto  weie, 
however,  so  well  reinforced  and  supplied,  that  they  w&e  pot  om 
of  danger :  but  still  the  desultory,  and  •destructive  soccessioQ  of 
attacks  on  the  frontiers,  continued  through  the  year. 


REVIEW  OF  VANDERDOXCK'S  ACCOUNT  OF  NEW 

NETHERLANDS. 

Adrian  Vanderdonxk,  L.L.D.,  published  in  Amsterdam  fak 
book  on  the  New  Netherlands,  written  when  he  was  in  the  coontrr: 
and  it  was  by  the  government  of  Holland  authorized  to  be  printed 
and  sold  for  his  sole  emolument,  (for  15  years)  in  the  year  1653. 

The  author  gives  the  boundaries  of  New  Netherlands  as  begin- 
ning north  of  the  equinoctial  line  38  degrees  and  53  minutes,  ex- 
tending north-easterly  along  the  sea-coast  to  the  42d  degree.  He 
resided  in  New  Netherlands  nine  years ;  from  which  we  gather  tKff 
be  went  thither  as  early,  at  least,  as  the  year  1644.  He  tells  %b 
that  the  Indians  about  New  Amsterdam  said  there  were  many  me- 
dicinal springs  10  the  interiour,  some  of  which  answer  to  our  &moiis 
Ballston  and  Saratov  waters. 

In  the  time  of  the  good  Doctor,  the  Dutch  women  had  duly  ap- 
preciated the  value  of  nut  wood  or  hickor}*,  both  for  fire  on  their 
hearths  and  coals  for  their  foot-stoves,  "  because  they  last  longer 
than  others,  and  are  not  buried  in  ashes." 

The  bush-burnings  or  periodical  clearing  of  the  land  by  fire,  is 
mentioned  by  Vanderdonck  as  practised  by  the  Indians  of  New 
Netherlands  for  (aciliutiog  the  chase.  He  speaks  likewise  of  the 
conflagrations  of  pine  forests,  in  consequence  of  this  practioe* 
Vineyards  were  already  cultivated  by  the  Dutch,  and  he  says, 
**  they  have  introduced  foreign  stocks,  and  they  have  induced  men 
to  come  over  from  Heidelberg,  who  are  vine-dressers,  that  the 
defects  in  managing  their  vines  may  be  remedied."  Vaodcr- 
doDck  speaks  of  this  practice  as  very  popular.  The  Nether- 
landers,  ever  fond  of  flowers,  introduced  from  Holland  a  variety  of 
and  carried  many  of  our  native  flowering  plants  and  trees  to 


Dr.  Vanderdonck  tells  us  that  at  the  time  in  which  be  wrote, 
m  had  already  been  formed  in  the  New  Netherlands  a  bocanick 
■idea,  where  a  great  variety  of  the  wild  plants  of  the  country  ImkI 


KBTIBW  OP  YAKDMMDOiHCJL.  UCZin 

laen  collected  by  the  proprielorf  a  surgeon,  whose  name  he  does 
lol  cire ;  but  this  surgeon  hid  removed,  and  abeady  the  garden 
ras  in  a  state  of  decay.     He  mentions  agricultural  experiments 
Bide  with  wild  indigo  seed  by  Gulian  Van  Rensselaer,  in  the 
ColoMMc  of  Rensselaerwyck,  and  likewise  by  Augustus  Heerman, 
near  New  Amsterdam.     He  says,  *^  Mr.  Minuits  writes  that  he  has 
sown  Canary  seed«  and  that  it  erew  and  yielded  well,'^  but  recom- 
onends  the  cultivation  of  provisions,  for  which  the  country  is  so  well 
idapced  that  already  the  New  Nethertands  exported  to  the  West 
Indies.     In  speaking  of  the  agriculture  of  New  Netherlands,  he 
nentions  his  having  resided  there  nine  years,  from  which  we  may 
oooclude  that  (as  his  book  was  authorized  and  ready  for  publica- 
tioQ  in  Holland  in  1653)  he  went  to  America  in  1644  or  before. 
During  nine  years*  residence,  he  had  **  never  seen  land  manured," 
such  was  its  strength.     It  appears  that  Indian  com«  or  maize,  was 
cultivated  then  as  now,  and  planted  six  grains  to  the  hilK  on  ground 
from  which  the  woods  had  been  newh'  removed.    When  the  maize 
was  caihered,  and  the  hills  levelled,  they  then  sowed  winter  sprain. 

The  Reverend  Johannes  Megapolensis,  minister  of  the  Colome 
of  Rens$eiaencycl\  is  mentioned  bv  Vanderdonck  as  a  man  of  truth 
and  learning,  and  his  letters  respecting  the  country  are  quoted.  Bar- 
kj,  as  well  as  maize,  wheat*  and  rye,  were  successfully  raised ;  and 
tobacco  only  inferiour  to  that  of  Virginia.  Flax  and  hemp  grow 
well,  but  are  not  in  demand*  as  the  women  do  not  spin  much  flax* 
and  the  Indians  use  the  wild  hemp  of  the  forests* 

Cieneral  Jeremiah  Johnson,  the  translator  of  Vanderdonck,  him- 
self an  experienced  agriculturalbt,  gives  full  credit  to  the  author*s 
representation  of  the  strength  of  the  land  at  the  time,  which  is  said 
to  produce  twelve  crops  of  wheat  in  tweh~e  successive  yeai^ ;  seven 
crops  of  wheat  have  been  gathered  in  Yates  County  in  seven  suc- 
cessive years. 

The  wild  animals,  which  Vanderdonck  enumerates  are  lions!  pan* 
then,  (or  catamounts  or  wild  cats)  wolves,  bears*  deer,  rackoons*  fox- 
aisaquirrels,  rabbits*  beavers*  skunks*  minks*  and  muskrats:  many  of 
them  were  pests  to  the  agriculturalist,  and  some  were  valued  for  their 
akio  or  flesh-— others  as  subjects  for  the  sportsman^s  amusemenu 
He  savs  the  flesh  of  the  rackoon  is  delicious,  and  describes  the  mode 
of  taking  them  in  his  time.  He  tells  us  that  they  ^*  usually  shelter 
ki  hoUow  trees,  wherein  they  lay  up  food  for  the  winter,  and  which 
tbey  seldom  leave  during  that  season  except  for  drink.  It  is  a 
pleasure,**  he  says,  *Mo  taike  rackoons ;  the  trees  wherein  they  shel- 
ter, are  discovered  by  the  scratching  of  the  bark*  which  is  done  bj 
the  rackoons  in  climbing  up  and  descending.  When  their  haunts 
are  discovered,  the  trees  are  cut  down,  and  by  the  fall  of  the  tree 
die  rackooD  is  sttmned ;  be  reels  from  his  invaded  dcmiicile  and 
Uk  an  eaqr  prey  to  the  himter." 

J 


LlliV  APPENDIX. 

Of  the  birds  I  shall  say  notlnng.  Our  authors  have  been  libenly 
and  on  that,  as  well  as  otlier  zoological  subjects,  given  us  ample 
information.  What  I  have  sTiid,  is  rather  to  give  a  view  of  the  times, 
tiian  of  the  animals  of  our  countr}'.  The  mistaken  surmises  of  the 
learned  Doctor  likewise  mark  the  period  in  which  be  observed  tod 
wrote  ;  as  bis  supposition  that  quails  are  accustomed  (for  such  is 
his  inference  though  not  his  assertion)  to  aUght  and  sit  in  trees. 
The  bird  we  of  New  York  call  quaiU  and  our  neighbours  of 
Pennsylvania  more  justly  partridge y  never  does  so  except  when 
demented  by  terrour :  in  excessive  fright,  they  betake  tbemsehres 
to  a  tree,  or  even  dash  themselves  against  a  house  or  bam.  Of  the 
bumming-bird  he  says,  ^^  There  is  also  another  small  curious  bird* 
concerning  which  there  are  disputations  whether  it  is  a  bird  (h*  a 
large  West  India  bee."  After  a  tolerably  accurate  descriptioii,  be 
adds,  ^^  I  have  not  observed  that  it  pecks  and  eats  with  its  beak, 
but  sucks  its  nourishment  from  flowers,  like  the  bees,  for  which  it 
has  members  in  its  beak  like  the  bees.  It  is  every  where  seen  oa 
the  flowers  regaling  itself ;  hence  it  has  obtained  the  name  of  the 
W^est  India  bee.  In  flying  they  also  make  a  bumming  noise  like 
the  bee.  They  are  very  tender,  and  cannot  well  be  kept  alive;  we 
however  prepare  and  preserve  them  between  paper,  and  dry  them 
in  the  sun  and  send  them  as  presents  to  our  friends."  Of  fish, 
reptiles,  insects,  and  plants,  I  omit  his  account,  as  obsolete. 

Vanderdonck,  speaking  of  the  climate,  says,  *^  below  the  Higb- 
lands,  towards  the  sea-coast,  the  winter  does  not  set  in  or  firecxe 
much  before  Christmas;  above  tiie  Highlands,  the  weather  is  colder, 
etc."  General  Woolsey,  at  Cumberland  Head,  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  told  me  tliat  he  did  not  look  for  the  freezing  of  the  lake  or 
the  commencement  *of  hard  weather,  until  about  Christmas.  I 
write  this  at  New  York,  Januar}'  Gth,  1S3S,  and  the  temperature 
is  that  of  May.  We  had  frost  and  a  little  snow  in  December ;  and 
in  the  year  1S35,  tlie  middle  of  December  was  severely  cold^ 
thermometer  from  4  to  6- 

Of  the  Indian  hunting  season,  ^'anderdonck  says  it  is  about 
Christmas  :  the  deer  arc  then  '*  at  their  best ;  they  are  easily  ob- 
tained, as  the  woods  are  burnt  over  and  the  brush-wood  and  herb- 
age out  of  the  way." 

The  Indians  say,  that  ^^  before  the  arrival  of  the  ChristknSy 
and  before  the  small  pox  broke  out,  tliey  were  ten  times  as  oume- 
rous  as  diey  now  are.'*  And  thousrh  deer  were  kiUed  in  propor- 
tion to  the  numbers  of  the  natives,  no  diminution  was  obserreaUe. 
He  says,  "  At  Kensselaerwyck,  in  the  year  1645,  the  North  Rira 
dosed  OB  the  25th  of  November,  and  remained  frozen  very  late. 
Bdoir  the  circle  of  the  Highlands,"  he  says,  ^*  tlie  south  wiiid  pie- 
tbe  continued  severity  of  winter ;  the  river  freezes  and  is 


REVIEW  OP  VANDERDONCK.  LXXV 

broken  up  two  or  three  times ;  the  snow  cannot  lie  long  ;"  and  in 
short,  he  describes  the  climate  as  we  now  find  it. 

Vanderdonck  leaves  a  memorial  of  the  natives  as  they  were  in 
his  time,  foreseeing,  as  he  says,  tlrnt  as  the  Ckristians  multiply,  the 
Indians  will  "  disappear  and  melt  away."  He  says,  the  men  and 
women  are  well  proportioned,  and  *'  equal  in  height  to  the  Nether- 
landers.  Their  limbs  are  formed  for  activity  ;  they  can  run  very 
fast  and  for  a  long  time  ;  they  can  carry  heavy  packs,  but  to  all 
bodily  labour  the  men  have  a  particular  aversion.  During  his  long 
residence  he  saw  but  one  who  was  deformed.  If  a  cripple  or  lame 
person  is  seen,  it  is  found  to  have  proceeded  from  accident  or 
war."  He  does  not  think  that  they  have  "abundant  wisdom  from 
nature ;  but  there  are  no  lunaticks  or  fools  amongst  them.  Both 
men  and  women  have  broad  shoulders  and  slender  waists ;  their 
hair  (before  old  age)  is  jet  black,  sleek  and  uncurled,  and  nearly 
as  coarse  as  a  hoi'se's  tail."  Their  practice  of  eradicating  the 
beard  and  hair  on  the  body  he  mentions.  Their  dark  eyes  and 
white  teeth  are  not  forgotten,  and  "  purblind  or  cross-eyed  persons 
are  rare  objects."  He  never  heard  of  an  Indian  bom  blind,  but 
•*  saw  one  who  had  lost  his  sight  by  the  small-pox."  He  describes 
their  colour  as  yellow,  bordering  on  olive,  which  he  attributes  to 
exposure  for  successive  generations;  "their  women  are  well  fa- 
voured and  fascinating,  though  with  various  features — seldom  very 
handsome,  and  rarely  unhandsome."  Some  of  the  Netherlanders 
bad  chosen  companions  from  among  them,  and  their  attachment 
continued  firm.  The  Dutch  called  the  natives  savages  or  toUd 
men  :  the  male  is  in  the  Dutch  language  wilty  and  the  female  vjU" 
den — the  t  pronounced  long  in  both. 

We  know  that  at  present  the  wild  tribes  are  at  times  without 
food  for  many  days ;  and  when  the  chase  gives  them  plenty,  they 
gorge  themselves  in  a  manner  that  appears  to  us  monstrous.  But 
when  the  Dutch  first  had  intercourse  with  the  savages  of  New 
Netherland,  food  was  uniformly  abundant,  and  the  Indians  ate  uni- 
formly and  in  moderation.  Fish  and  the  flesh  of  wild  animals  they 
boiled,  generally,  and  ate  without  salt  or  accompaniments,  except 
when  they  had  beans ;  and  their  maize  (or  bread  from  it)  appears 
to  have  been  eaten  separately.  Both  flesh  and  maize  were  occa- 
sionally broiled  or  roasted.  The  women  pounded  the  maize  when 
ripe  and  hard  into  meal  or  samj).  Of  the  meal  he  says  they  make 
"  pap,  which  in  the  New  Nethei  lands  is  named  sapaen :  we  seldom 
go  into  an  Indian  lodge  at  any  time  of  the  day  without  seeing  the 
sapaen  preparing,  or  the  inmates  eating  it.  Their  dried  fish  and 
meat  they  sometimes  pound  and  mix  with  the  sapaen :  this  is  usu- 
ally done  towards  spring,  when  their  stock  of  provision  is  low. 
They  have  no  stated  time  for  eating ;  hunger  is  the  prompter." 


Thoocfa  Vandefdoock  tesdSes  to  the  genenl 

derate  eatinz  of  tbe  natiTes,  be  obserres  tint  tbej  caa  go  far  dro 

without  food,  and  make  op  for  tbe  bst  br  plentifid 

wheo  in  their  power,  **  bat  without  oTeicbaipiic  their 

beconuDff  sick :  and  ahhooeh  ther  eat  freehr.  ther  faaiTe  ao 

STe  eaters  or  elattons  amone  them.     Ererr  one  is  ai  JStitnw 

partake  of  their  food  and  ho«pitalitT,  but  tbcj  do  not  iaviie 

to  eat :  aU  is  without  cereuKMiT,  and  it  is  not  cttaonnnr 

to  receire  eompeiisatioo.     Od  extiaordinaij  oocasiont 

wish  to  emotain  aur  peisoo,  ther  prepare  beaver  s 

heads,  with  parched  com  meal,  or  Terr  fat  meat  tfewed 

chestnuu  bruised.^     Their  prorisioo  for  a  kme  jotuiiey  <v  a  «i 

expediiioo,  is  a  smaD  bae  of  com  meal,  a  baadlnJ  of  wlach  nh 

drmk  of  water,  suffices  for  a  dar.     Wheo  ther  obtain  in 

fish  or  meat,  the  com  meal  serves  for  bread,  or  is  saved. 

He  obserres  of  clothins,  that  the  males  ontil  twelve  or 
mo  oearlr  naked  in  sooimer,  the  pih  somewhat  covered, 
in  sonuner  wear  a  piece  of  doffles,  if  thej  can  porcfaase  it,  balf  aa 
eD  wide  and  nine  qoaiters  fong,  which  ther  gird  around  their 
and  draw  op  a  foid  to  cover  their  nakedness,  with  a  flap  id 
end  hanzinz  down  in  front  and  rear.  This  is  called  the 
ckxb.  Before  titer  knew  Europeans,  ther  wore  a  skia  far  riha 
porpoise.  The  women  wear  a  cloth  snspeiided  from  a  girdle  aad 
hanzin;  below  their  knees,  and  imder  it  a  deer-skin  coot  pn 
around  the  waist,  ornamented  with  creat  art,  and  tastefallv 
rated  vitb  waropaoi  worth  one  hundred  or  three  hundred 
Bdb  «exe§  wear  occa^onaliv  a  plaid  of  duffles  cloth,  foli 
tiiree  el^  !on^*  worn  over  tiie  ri^t  shoulder,  drawn  in  the  fom  «f 
a  kziot  round  the  bodr  wiui  tbe  ends  extendinj:  below  the 
this  serves  &5  a  coverinz  bv  dav  and  blanket  bv  nijrbt.  The 
ci&«  ^nc  iDock35:as.  with  or  without  wampum,  complete  the 
the5€  are  ofceer  or  bui^lo  skin.  Even  the  husks  of  com  or 
sozTi^thnes  are  lorroed  into  cxxrkasiiis.  **  The  men  usuallv  eo 
keade  i  ;  the  ^omen  with  their  Lair  boaod  behind  in  a  club 
a  hand  ior,^.  in  the  form  of  a  beaver's  tail,  over  wiiich  tbev  draw  a 
square  cap,  which  is  frequently  ornamented  with  wampDm.**  As 
a  par:c(;'.ar  d^cor^iics,  they  wear  a  band  bound  around  the  head, 
enriched  ^  iih  wampcm  ;  tiiis  confines  tbe  hair,  keepine  it 
and  Ls  ded  in  a  knot  to  fall  over  the  club  or  braid  behind, 
bands  have  he^ra  likened  to  the  bead  dresses  of  the  Grecian  a 
old  :  round  th^ir  neck.«  they  wear  stnncs  of  wampum,  or  other 
mental  necklaces,  and  bracelets  of  wampum  adorn  their 
^  Their  persons  appear  about  balf  covered  with  an  ele«anily  viaight 
drcH;  they  wear  beautiful  girdles  ornamented  with  their 
vampom;'*  (the  Doctor  of  Laws  is  evidently  descnbiag 


REVIEW  OF  VANDERDONCK.  LXXVII 

the  forest) — "  and  costly  ornaments  in  their  ears."  He  says  in  ad- 
dition to  all  this,  when  particularly  desirous  to  please,  they  paint 
their  faces  "  with  a  few  black  stripes,"  as  we  may  presume  the 
beauties  among  us  formerly  put  black  patches  on  their  cheeks  and 
foreheads,  to  give  by  contrast  greater  brilliancy  to  their  complex- 
ions. The  Doctor  says  that  these  Indian  beauties  ''  usually  appear 
sedate,"  but  he  says  this  is  merely  to  disguise  what  he  gives  us  to 
understand  is  a  very  opposite  disposition. 

"  The  men  uniformly  paint  themselves,  particularly  their  faces, 
with  various  colours."  We  see  by  this  description  of  the  Indians 
of  Manhattoes  in  1660,  that  they  resembled  in  dress  ^nd  manners, 
those  who  are  yet  free  and  live  in  abundance,  where  game  abounds ; 
except  in  that  ferocity  and  warlike  equipment,  which  the  latter  have 
borrowed  from  European  neighbours  or  visiters.  In  their  friendly, 
disposition,  they  resemble  the  kind,  hospitable,  and  amiable  peo- 
ple, beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains,  as  described  by  Mr.  Irving,  in 
the  words  of  Captain  Bonneville :  those  people  who  were  mur- 
dered for  sport,  by  the  civilized  hunters  and  trappers,  sent  by 
Christain  traders  into  their  country,  to  destoy  the  game  on  which 
they  subsist.* 

Vanderdonck  describes  the  men  of  the  country,  as  disguising  both 
their  faces  by  painting,  and  their  emotions  by  an  assumed  indiffe- 
rence :  "  they  scarcely  turn  their  heads  to  notice  an  object"  This 
was  not  so  when  Verazzanno  first  had  intercourse  with  them,  or 
even  when  Hudson  explored  our  bay  and  great  river.  Describing 
their  dress,  the  Doctor  says,  '^  Some  of  them  wear  a  band  about 
their  heads ;"  this  he  describes,  as  manufactured  from  the  hair  of 
deer,  stained  of  scarlet  colour,  and  interwoven  with  soft  shining 
hair  of  another  tint  of  red,  and  says,  that  this  brilliant  crown,  is 
like  the  rays  of  glory,  with  which  painters  represent  saints  and 
apostles  for  the  Romish  Churches.  When  thus  arrayed,  a  young 
Indian  is  too  stately  to  speak  to  ordinary  persons,  or  on  a  vulgar 
subject.  But  this  is  only  a  gala  or  a  courting  dress.  In  general, 
he  says,  they  are  filthy'  and  negligent  in  their  appearance.  In 
winter,  the  women  and  children  do  not  go  abroad  much :  when 
they  do,  they  are  covered  "  with  duffles  and  other  articles."  The 
men  grease  themselves  with  bear  and  rackoon  fat,  and  wrap  them- 
selves in  the  skins  of  the  wild  animals  ;  and  thus  easily  withstand 
the  cold.  The  Doctor,  sums  up  his  chapter  of  the  dress  of  the 
wild  men,  by  saying,  that  when  dressed  they  are  very  great  fops : 
and  that  now,  '<  many  of  them  begin  to  wear  shirts,  which  they 
buy  from  our^  people,"  and  this  article  of  finery,  is  woni  without 
washing,  as  long  as  it  will  hang  together. 


See  Irvinf 'a  Bonneyille. 


LXXYUI  AFPBXDIX. 

The  Indian  houses  (wigwams  or  weekwams)  of  Uiis  period,  were 
built,  by  placing  two  rows  of  slender  saplins,  with  the  bark  peeled 
off,  opposite  each  other,  at  about  twenty  feet  distance,  to  idt  length 
they  desire :  the  tops  of  these  poles  are  bent  and  joined,  so  as  to 
form  an  arch.  Split  saplins  like  lath,  are  then  interwoven  with  the 
6rst,  leaving  an  aperture  above.  This  frame  woric,  is  covered 
with  oak  and  chestnut,  or  other  bark,  in  pieces  as  broad  as  they  can 
procure  it,  laying  the  smooth  side  inwards,  and  preserving  the 
opening  above  to  let  out  the  smoke.  The  bark  is  lapped  over  to 
anticipate  its  shrinking,  and  secured  by  withes  to  the  franie-work. 
Thus  the  building  is  tolerably  proof  against  wind  and  rain.  One 
door  in  the  centre  serves  for  every  house,  and  the  interiour  is  in 
common.  Be  the  house  ever  so  long,  the  fires  are  made  in  the 
centre  that  the  smoke  may  issue  at  the  hole  above,  and  thus  seve- 
ral families  live  in  one  wigwam,  each  ha\ing  its  own  place,  and  aD 
sleeping  by  the  side  of  the  fires  by  night,  or  assembled  about  the 
kettle  by  day.  A  hundred  or  more  live  in  one  building,  and  such 
is  the  picture  of  Indian  life,  except  when  out  on  fishing  or  hunting 
excursions,  when  they  erect  slighter  wigwams,  or  live  in  the  open 
air. 

The  Doctor  describes  their  castles,  or  palisadoed  strong-holds, 
as  placed  on  the  side  of  a  steep  and  high  hill,  near  a  river,  and  dif- 
ficult of  access,  except  from  the  water.  The  hill  so  chosen,  has  oo 
its  summit  a  level  plain,  which  they  enclose  with  a  strong  stockade, 
made  thus :  First  thev  lay  alons:,  on  the  trround,  larsre  loirs  of  wood, 
piling  others  on  them  ;  on  each  side  of  this  foundation,  they  drive 
in  the  ground  strong  oak  palisades,  the  upper  ends  of  which,  cross 
each  other,  and  are  joined  together :  in  the  upper  cross  of  the  pal- 
isades, they  then  place  the  bodies  of  trees,  which  make  the  work 
strong  and  firm.  These  they  consider  secure,  but  he  remarks,  **in  a 
war  urith  Christians^  those  afford  them  no  securitv  :  on  thecontrarv, 
they  do  them  more  injur}-  than  good."  He  says,  within  their  cas- 
tles, they  have  twenty  or  thirty  houses,  some  of  wliich  he  measured, 
and  found  one  hundred  and  ei«:htv  vards  lonsr,  and  onlv  twentvfeet 
wide.  In  such  a  place  great  numbers  are  crowded  together.  Be- 
sides their  stronj^-holds,  thev  have  villaires  and  towns  which  are 
enclosed,  those  usually  have  woodland  on  one  side,  and  comland 
on  the  other  sides.  \'i1lages  are  likewise  frequent  at  the  fishing 
places,  where  they  cultivate  a  few  vegetables,  and  leave  the  place 
on  the  approach  of  winter.  Then  the  woods  afford  shelter  and 
▼enison,  and  in  the  spring  they  come  in  multitudes  to  the  sea  shore 
and  bays,  to  take  oysters,  clams,  and  event-  kind  of  shell-  fish,  which 
they  know  how  to  drj*  and  preser\e  good,  a  long  time. 

I  am  particular  in  noting  and  transcribins:  from  Vanderdonck,  as 
a  writer  of  observation,  and  of  tlie  early  times  :  he  is  evidendy  a 
flum  of  veracity,  and  when  he  speaks  fit>m  another^s  informatioot  be 


REVIEW  OF  VANDERDONCK.  LXXIZ 

tells  US  SO.  I  shall  continue  to  follow  him.  He  speaks  of  poly- 
gamy as  confined  to  the  chiefs,  who  had  in  his  time,  some  three  or 
four  wives,  and  expresses  his  astonishment  at  the  harmony  existing 
among  them  ;  all  esteeming  and  obeying  their  husbands.  He  ad- 
mires the  simplicity  of  their  marriage  ceremony,  and  the  choice 
which  is  usually  made  according  to  fitness  and  condition,  some- 
times with,  often  without,  the  advice  of  relatives.  The  men,  ac- 
cording to  their  condition,  must  always  present  to  the  betrothed 
some  gift,  as  a  pledge  of  his  affection  or  token  of  tlieir  agreement* 
It  appears,  however,  that  marriages  were  dissolved  with  very  little 
ceremony,  sometimes  by  mutual  agreement,  and  often  by  the 
caprice  of  the  man  :  the  woman  being  **  turned  out  of  doors." 

The  Doctor  testifies,  that  the  dissolution  of  marriages  was  ge- 
nerally to  be  imputed  to  thie  fault  of  the  husband,  but  he  does  not 
give  us  an  exalted  notion  of  the  chastity  of  their  partners.  The  ab- 
sence of  danger  and  disease  at  the  period  of  gestation,  has  always 
been  remarked  as  a  privilege  enjoyed  by  the  Wilden,  and  although 
Vanderdonck  gives  several  theories  to  account  for  it,  we  continue 
to  think  it  a  blessing  that  attends  uncontrolled  natural  shape,  un- 
confined  bodies,  and  limbs  accustomed  to  exercise.  The  male 
child  is  immersed  on  its  birth  in  the  coldest  water,  even  in  winter, 
and  then  treated  with  care,  and  In  the  manner  well  known  to  us : 
every  mother  giving  nature's  nourishment  to  her  child,  with  a  holy 
attention  to  its  welfare.  There  are  civilized  people,  whose  females 
are  not  so  scrupulous.  Many  of  the  customs  appertaining  to  women, 
are  similar  to  those  prescribed  to  the  Jews.  Most  of  the  customs 
among  the  Indians,  are  such  as  are  still  found,  where  they  are  un- 
cantaminated. 

Of  the  manner  of  burying  the  dead,  the  Doctor  speaks  at  length, 
and  makes  the  ceremony  attendant  on  burials  more  universal  and 
more  attended  to  by  relatives,  than  those  writers  who  describe  the 
customs  of  this  people  at  a  later  day.  The  attention  to  the  corpse 
of  course  varies  according  to  station  and  character  in  life.  He 
gays,  the  nearest  relatives,  "  extend  the  limbs  and  close  the  eyes'* 
of  the  dead.  After  several  days  of  watching  and  weeping,  the 
corpse  is  deposited  in  the  earth,  in  a  sitting  posture,  ^^  upon  a  stone 
or  a  block  of  wood." 

I  have  been  informed  by  a  person  conversant  with  the  subject,  that 
when  a  death  occurred  in  a  family,  the  women  commenced  a  kind 
of  howling  monotonous  lamentation,  which  called  the  neighbouring 
females  to  the  wigwam,  who  joined  in  the  mournful  song.  This 
continued  until  the  body  was  buried  ;  and  sometimes  for  days  after. 
The  corpse  is  carried  to  the  grave  by  men ;  others  following,  with- 
out apparent  distinction  or  order.  The  women  remain  in  the  wig- 
wam continuing  their  lament.  The  body  of  the  deceased  is  depo- 
sited by  the  side  of  the  last  of  the  tribe  who  had  been  buried,  and 


some  oroameots  are  usually  thrown  in  the  grave.  The  relations 
of  the  deceased  do  not  follow  the  corpse  to  its  place  of  intended 
rest.  In  the  township  of  Pompey  is  a  very  extensive  cemeteij 
where  the  bones  of  the  aborig:iiies  lie  in  rows,  side  by  side,  for 
acres.  The  present  owners  of  the  soil  frequendy,  when  ploughing, 
turn  up  parts  of  the  human  skeleton,  and  occasionally  soine  arti- 
cles of  dress,  or  instrument  of  war.  The  head  that  guided  the 
council,  and  the  arm  that  wielded  the  tomahawk,  are  scratched  up- 
on the  surface  with  as  little  ceremony,  as  is  used  in  our  chy 
when  levelling  a  graveyard  to  make  way  for  a  street,  or  an  exca- 
vation for  the  cellar  of  a  storehouse.  It  is  observed  that  the  wan- 
dering Indians  assiduously  avoid  this  township.  They  feel  that 
not  only  their  land  has  passed  from  them,  but  the  resting  place  of 
their  ancestors. 

Articles  are  placed  in  the  grave  as  for  use  in  hunting,  war, 
and  other  occupadons.  **  They  then  place  as  much  wood 
around  the  body  as  will  keep  the  earth  from  it ;  aboTO  the 
grave  they  place  a  large  pile  of  wood,  stone  or  earth,'^  and  siUTOaodit 
with  palisades.  Their  cemeteries,  our  author  says,  were  secluded 
and  held  sacred.  The  women  are  the  inoumers.  Their  cxpiea 
sions  of  grief  are  violent :  those  of  a  mother  for  her  child,  aoKNinl- 
ing  to  waitings,  and  *'  expressions  of  grief,  exceeding  all  bounda." 
To  mention  the  name  of  tlie  deceased  in  presence  of  relatives,  m 
considered  an  insult.  As  a  token  of  mourning,  black  paint  is  used* 
**  When  a  woman  loses  her  husband  she  shaves  her  hair,  and 
paints  her  whole  countenance  black.'^ 

Our  author  says,  tliat  their  festivals  are  held  on  special  occaaoos, 
as  peace,  war,  or  devotion  :  ^*  or  to  consult  the  devil«''  as  to  future 
events.  On  matters  of  policy  they  deliberate  long,  '^  and  all 
the  chiefs,  and  persons  of  any  distinction  of  the  nation,  aasemUe 
in  their  councils.*'  Each  expresses  his  opinion  freely,  and  at  as 
great  a  length  as  he  pleases,  without  interruption.  ''  If  the  speaker 
even  digresses  from  the  matter  in  hand,  or  opposes  others,  he  is 
heard  with  attention.  If  they  approve  of  what  has  been  said,  at 
the  conclusion  thev  shout.**  He  savs,  their  councils  are  onlv  held 
in  the  afternoon.  But  for  consulting  the  devil,  the  afternoon  and 
evening  are  chosen,  when  ceremonies  take  place,  which  he  thus  des- 
cribes. *'  They  begin  with  jumping:,  crying,  grinning,  and  bowl- 
ing, as  if  they  were  possessed  and  mad.  They  kindle  lai^  fires, 
and  dance  around  and  over  the  same,  length-wise  and  acroas; 
they  roll  and  tumble  over  head,  and  beat  themselves,  and  continue 
their  violent  exercise  and  gestures,  until  their  sweat  pours  out  and 
streams  down  to  their  feet.*'  The  Doctor  says,  they  appear  at 
such  times  like  devils.  The  ^'  devil-drivers,'^  conjurers,  or  me- 
dicine men,  take  the  lead  in  all  this  extravagance*  lutil,  as  thsj 
say,  '*  the  devil  appears  to  them,  in  the  form  of  a  beest,**  which  if 


44 


asriEW  or  vandbkix>xck.  i-xxxi 

nveoous,  is  a  bad  oroen,  if  faananless,  a  good  omeD.  The  animal 
ia  eoiisulted  and  answers  their  queries,  but  in  the  old  oracular  man- 
mety  capable  of  anj  interpretation.  If  any  **  Christains  be  present 
oo  these  occasions,^*  the  devil  i?ill  not  appear. 

The  conjurers  ^*  bewitch  some  of  the  common  people  f  *  when 
the  rictim  appears  as  if  possessed,  throws  himself  into  tlie  fire, 
^  without  feeling  it,^*  but  if  the  medicine-man  whispers  in  his  ear, 
the  charm  is  dissolved,  and  the  bewitched  **  becomes  as  gentle  as 
a  lamb."  On  occasions  of  rejoicing,  Vanderdonck  says,  thej 
^  leet  at  mid-dqr**'  The  orator  explains  the  cause  of  the  assem- 
bliaf •  They  dien  eat,  and  voraciously,  as  if  in  honour  of  the  oc- 
:  this  done,  the  aged  smoke,  and  the  young  sing  and  dance. 
^  When  we  speak  to  the  natives  of  creation,"  the  Doctor  says, 
me  can  never  satisfy  them  on  the  subject,  or  receive  from  them 
any  aflbmation  that  they  believe  in  the  doctrine."  He  appears  to 
heard  of  the  voyages  of  the  Northmen,  and  speaksofa^'ceruin 
named  SacAema^  and  that  thev  had  never  been  heard  from 
they  sailed ;  and  as  the  native  chie&  of  the  New  Netherlands, 
reside  along  the  rivers  and  sea  shore,  are  called  Suchems^  they 
that  the  country  was  peopled  by  these  adventurers." 
Oir  aathor,  however,  leans  to  the  opinion  that  mm,  as  well  as  lions 
and  bears,  came  from  Asia,  and  says,  that  *^  memorials  of  Chinese 

T*ii,  are  iband  in  the  Braails." 
aiiaO  say  little  of  Vanderdonck^s  remarks  on  the  variation  of 
and  hnguage.  We  have  bener  authority  in  more  recent 
He  makes  four  distinct  languages,  beside  dialects,  viz  : 
of  the  Manhattoes,  the  Minquas,  the  Savanoo,  and  the  Wap- 
panoo :  by  the  6rst,  meaning  **  those  who  live  in  the  neighbouring 
■heea  along  the  North  River  on  Long  Island  and  at  the  Neversink. 
Widi  die  ACnquas,  we  include  the  Senecas,  the  Maquas,  and  other 
lalafld  tribes.  The  Savanooa  are  the  southern  nations ;  and  the 
Wappanooa  are  the  north-eastern  nations." 

At  this  time,  veiy  Uttle  gold  or  silver  was  used  as  a  medium  of 

in  New  Netherlands,  but  generally  the  Indian  money,  wam- 

(or  **  SKwamf^  or  seawant)  of  which  some  particulars  are  men- 

by  the  Doctor  worth  noting.     It  is  made  by  any  one  who  has 

die  wiU  and  the  skill.     It  is  either  white  or  black,  the  laner  being 

the  MCMfm/wiUf,  and  is  made  from  the  conch-shells,  urkich  are  cast 

twice  a  jfear.     The  thin  parts  are  broken  off,  and  from  the 

or  standards  the  iraropum  is  made  by  grinding  them  smooth 

event  and  reducing  them  to  the  thickness  required  ;  a  hole  is 

drilled  through  each  piece,  and  they  are  strung  for  use. 

thb  was  performed  by  the  Indians  with  their  imperfect  tools, 

km  doaa  nol  teU  as. 

Of  ■■■innrii  and  morals  be  observes,  that  the  natives  are  delibe- 

of  qiBecht  **  despise  lying ;  but  since  they  have  resorted  among 


LXXXU  APPENDIX. 

OS,  they  have  become  cunning  and  deceitful."  Tbey  beg  withoot 
hesitation,  (or  ask  for  that  which  they  desire,)  but  are  not  offisiKM 
by  refusal.  **  They  are  all  free  by  nature,  and  will  not  hear  aay 
insult,  unless  they  have  done  wrong,  and  then  they  will  bear  chat- 
tiseraent  without  resentment.''  Revenge  was  then,  as  now,  a  prin- 
ciple of  action.  To  swim,  they  are  accustomed  from  infimcy. 
They  lounge,  sleep,  smoke,  or  ''  play  a  game  with  pieces  of  feeds 
resembling  our  drafts,  and  also  our  card  playing."  The  old  mei 
knit  netts  and  make  wooden  bowls  and  ladles.     The  women  wwlu 

The  general  remedy  for  disease  was  fasting  or  sweating.  For 
tlie  latter,  they  erected  a  small  clay  hut,  into  which  the  ptteot 
crept,  after  it  was  prepared  by  heated  stones :  here  be  remainB  » 
long  as  possible,  and  then  issues  to  be  plunged  in  cold  water.  AD 
this  is  long  known.  I  remark  it  as  being  then  known  as  one  of  their 
customs.  Other  people  have  practised  it.  Roots  and  heihs  ait 
used  to  cure  wounds,  and  their  efficacy  is  known,  as  well  aa  tht 
sagacity  with  which  the  Indians  use  them.  The  magicml 
of  the  medicine-men  are  mentioned.  The  general  health,  and 
with  which  wounds  or  sickness  are  removed,  are  jnsdy  attribmed 
to  simple  diet  and  the  exercise  of  the  chase.  Fish  they  take  ii 
*'  seines,  set-netts,  small  fikes,  wears,  and  by  laying  hooks  :* 
these  snares  were  attended  to  by  the  old  men,  women  and  childrei^ 
when  the  young  men  were  out  on  hunting  expeditions.  Oar  author 
says  they  sometimes  hunted  in  companies — sometimes  made  ''fikes 
with  palisades,"  into  which  they  drove  the  hunted  animals.  He 
remarks  that  the  beavers  are  far  inland  and  distant  from  the  secde- 
ments,  and  are  principally  taken  by  the  black  Minquas — so  called 
because  they  wear  a  black  "  badge  on  their  breasts." 

"  For  beaver-hunting  the  Indians  go  in  large  parties  and  remain 
out  from  one  to  two  months,  during  which  time  they  subsist  by 
hunting,  and  on  a  little  com  meal,  which  they  carry  out  with  then ; 
and  they  frequently  return  home  with  forty  to  eighty  beaTer-skiBf 
per  man,"  besides  skins  of  others,  etc.  It  is  estimated  that  800,000 
beavers  are  killed  annually  in  this  quarter  of  the  country,  and  many 
bufialoes,  bears,  etc,  which  causes  apprehension  that  the  wild 
mals  will  be  destroyed :  however,  the  Doctor  thinks  not, 
the  extent  of  the  country  ''  even  to  the  great  south  sea,"  and  the 
many  districts  in  which  "  the  animals  will  remain  vnmolettedJ* 

Vanderdonck  says  the  Indians  '*  remark  that  they  do  not  know 
why  one  man  should  be  so  much  higher  than  another,  as  we  repie- 
sent  them  to  be."  He  might  have  answered,  that  we  can  giYO  no 
good  reason  for  it,  and  that  it  is  the  disgrace  of  the  Enropean 
ticms,  because  it  is  a  bar  to  the  progress  of  all  that  is  good  or  i 
mable  among  men — placing  as  the  highest  grade  in  society  (noltfaa 
most  Tirtnons  or  most  wise,  but,)  those  whose  fathers  hsTo  •ttyiip^ 
wealth,  power,  distinction,  by  whatever  means  achieved;  and  llii 


REVIEW  OF  TAXDB&DOXCK.  UUXHI 

•MMMigh  the  SODS  may  be  suipid,  u^nonuat^  vicious,  tiui  despicably 
▼lie.  It  is  a  bar  to  the  progress  of  good,  because  nations  of  meo 
(the  great  mass  of  communitvO  are  accustomed  to  look  up  with 
awe  and  reverence  to  tbe  hereditaiy  possession  of  wealth  or  titular 
diadaction,  as  beins^  above  them,  and  to  be  imitated — instead  of 
feeling  their  own  dignity  and  responsibility  as  rational  creaturot. 
It  is  a  hindrance  to  nKiral  improvement,  because  men  become 
eccusiomed  to  pay  that  deference  to  a  factitious  class  whose  influ^ 
IS  baneful  to  societ}'^-as  promoting  and  continuing  the  degra- 
of  man — ^which  is  due  to  virtue  alone. 
Tbe  American  Indian  in  1656  knew  no  superiour  but  as  smpt 
M  nrtir.  The  chief  was  only  such,  because  by  valour  and 
wiadem  be  had  proved  himself  woitliy  of  his  station.  The  influ- 
of  his  virtues  gave  his  son  a  preference  over  others,  his  ack- 
rledged  equals ;  but  only  as  tbe  son  inherited  the  talents  of  his 
or  followed  in  his  footsteps :  otherwise  he  sank  to  the  level 
ef  those  whose  Acuities  were  of  the  common  order,  or  still  lower. 

To  Vanderdonck  and  his  companions  it  appeared  that  there  were 
Kobles  among  the  Indians  of  New  Netherland  ;  and  the  chiefe  were 
called  kings  by  the  Europeans.  They  saw  that  the  child  of  tbe 
cbie^  if  competent  to  lead  in  war  or  persuade  in  council,  was  pre* 
fened  to  any  other  leader,  and  in  the  case  of  his  bein^  a  mimor.  a 
kind  of  r^nt  ruled  until  his  manhood  could  evince  the  talents 
■eceaiarv  for  a  chief. 

Among  all  barbarians,  bodily  strength,  activity  and  courage  must 
be  highly  esteemed.  The  Indians  of  New  Netherland  paid  great 
deference  to  the  chief  whose  warlike  exploits  proved  him  a  ftntce 
ID  battle,  and  a  sairacious  contriver  of  schemes  bv  which  to  cirrum- 

vent  and  destrov.     **  Thev  are.'*  savs  our  author,  **  artful  in  their 

•  •  • 

■nnstties,  furious  in  their  attacks,  and  unmerciful  victors^^^  It  was 
already  evident  to  their  visiMs  that  they  ik  ere  not  soldiers  in  open 
ficiit.  To  destrov  without  endan£:erinc  themselves  was  their 
glon* ;  to  fly  from  an  enemy  was  no  disgrace.  If  placed  in  a  sita- 
aiiaa  of  dancer  from  which  there  is  no  escape,  then  they  resist  to 
dK  last  manfully  ;  death  was  preferable  to  a  captivity  from  which 
there  was  no  ransom,  and  to  the  certainty  of  torture,  unless  adopted 
by  some  parent  who  had  lost  a  son  or  some  near  relative.  Unless  at 
the  moment  of  furious  assault,  they  spared  women  and  children ; 
and  our  author  says  the  women  are  treated  **  as  they  treat  their  own, 
and  die  children  they  bring  up  as  U)ey  do  their  own,  to  strengthen 
ibeir  nation.'*  He  hints  that  the  Netherlanders  gained  notice  of 
ibe  designs  of  the  Indians  from  their  women,  who  mi^ht  be  induced 
to  betray  the  confidence  of  their  husbands  or  lovers.  He  describes 
weapons  of  odience  and  defence  (before  tbe  introduction  of 
k)  as  being  **  bows  and  arrows,  with  a  war-dub  hung  to  tbe 
,  and  a  square  shield  which  covered  the  bodj  ap  to  the  shottldert.** 


LXXXIV  AFPBNDIX. 

To  the  club  succeeded  the  tomahawk,  (a  hatchet  boog^  froB  At 
Europeans)  and  to  the  bow  and  arrow,  the  gun,  powder,  and  lead, 
which  iliey  immediately  became  dexterous  io  using.  The  shield 
was  dismissed.  Every  tree  is  a  shield  to  the  Indian.  It  is  praba* 
bly  tlie  Iroquois  our  author  has  in  mind  when  he  speaks  of  the 
wars  of  the  natives ;  for  they  were  above  all  as  to  the  aits  of  de- 
struction. 

"  We  Netherlanders,"  says  Vanderdonck,  **  are  astonishwi  lo 
find  that  such  societies  can  remain  united  where  there  is  do  legaid 
paid  to  the  administration  of  justice*"  He  testifies  to  the  onfre- 
quency  of  crimes  among  them ;  and  says  that  crimes 
frequent  among  the  Dutch,  although  they  *' supported 
police,"  than  among  the  natives  who  had  none,  and  who,  if 
in  a  thievery,  were  only  obliged  by  their  chief  to  return  the 
and  receive  his  reprimand  for  the  delinquency — a  punishment  which 
they  appeared  to  dread.  If  the  Netherlander  detected  an 
in  stealing  a  knife,  an  axe,  or  such  like  tempting  article,  he 
tised  him  '^freely,"  and  the  culprit  received  it  unresistingl]r.  la 
nine  years'  residence  in  the  country,  he  says  he  had  not  heard  ^ef 
any  capital  offences."  An  instance  of  infanticide  committed  bj  an 
unmarried  prostitute,  went  unpunished,  as  did  several  aasanhs 
mitted  by  a  man  upon  women  whom  he  found  in  solitary  phoes. 

In  coses  of  murder,  the  chiefs  only  interfere  to  prevent  the 
extending  further,  by  reconciling  the  avenger,  one  near  of  kindiedt 
with  gifts  from  the  murderer  as  an  atonemenU  If  not  thus  recon- 
ciled, the  relations  pursue  the  murderer  to  death.  If  the  muidetsff 
is  slain  before  twenty-four  hours  have  elapsed  from  the  time  inwUdi 
the  crime  is  committed,  Vanderdonck  says,  the  avenger  is  not  liable 
to  the  vengeance  of  the  relatives  of  the  man  he  has  slain ;  but  if 
longer  time  elapses,  he  in  his  turn  is  Uable  to  pursuit  and  dtath 
He  says  *'a  murderer  seldom  is  killed  after  the  first  twenty-fcnr 
hours  are  past ;  but  be  must  flee  and  remain  concealed,  when  the 
friends  endeavour  to  reconcile  the  parties,  which  is  frequently 
agreed  to  on  condition  that  the  nearest  relatives  of  the  murderer, 
be  they  men  or  women  or  children,  on  meeting  the  reladves  of  tht 
person  murdered,  must  give  the  way  to  them."  This  (as  tht 
Doctor  has  previously  said  that  during  his  nine  years'  readeoce  he 
had  not  heard  of  a  capital  offence)  must  be  taken  as  hearsay  infia^ 
mauon.  In  Tanner's  Narrative  we  have  positive  tesdmonjr  on  this 
and  many  other  subjects. 

His  description  of  the  torturing  capdves,  is  the  same  as  men- 
tioned by  others.  He  does  not  say  he  witnessed  a  scene  of  the 
kind. 

Vanderdonck*s  notions  of  the  religion  of  the  Indians  of  New 
Netherland  is  confused  and  contradictory.  He  says  **  they  neidier 
know  nor  say  any  thmg  of  God,"  and  then  tells  us  that  **  fktfmskr 


UimW  OF  TAXDSKOONCK.  LXXXT 

VMriedge  the  jxW  proceeds  firom  God  tud  is  his  ctsu^  He  »js 
thej  hare  no  super^tions^  tmi  aftennnis  roeDtioos  supersdiiovs 
faus  and  customs.  He  sars  ther  sin?mr  bv  the  sun  who  ^*  sees  lU 
lhnics«**  and  reverence  the  moon:  ther  di^tinjpiisk  the  piinetslVoai 
tlie  scars,  but  do  not  worship  iheok  ^^  They  pn>ie&5  preat  fear  of 
ike  derii*  who  thev  beliere  ca«jses  their  diseases*  etc.**  To  refi^ 
gHHKS  discourses  they  li^en  attentirelr*  but  without  any  appareM 
tAcL.  Some  of  the  oki  men  sav  that  in  former  tim«s  God  w^a 
known  amoo;  the  Indians*  but  ther  not  knowiac  bow  to  read  and 
niilu  be  wns  for|totten.  If  told  that  their  conduct  is  odensrre  to 
ibe  I>eitT«  ther  answer*  **  we  have  never  seen  him — if  vou  know 
and  f!enr  him,  as  you  say  you  do,  how  happens  it  that  there  are 
ly  thieves,  drunkards,  and  evil-doers  found  amon^  you  ?* 
Indian  further  concluded  that  God  would  punish  the  Dutch 
disobeying  hiro«  whereas  be  had  never  made  himself  known  to 
ike  Indian.  Vanderdooci:  tennurks  on  the  verv  fow  who  become 
Cknsdan^  and  the  universal  practice  of  the  Indian  children  educe- 
aed  amonr  the  Dutch*  of  retumia?  to  their  nadve  tribes  when  adults. 
He  tetts  us  a  stocr  from  a  trader-who  went  amon^  the  French  I»> 
dians*  who  savs  that  in  1639  he  talked  on  the  subject  of  leligion 
with  a  chief  who  spoke  cood  French,  and  this  chief  told  him  that 
he  had  been  so  far  instructed  that  he  often  said  the  mass  amoqg 
^  Indians,  and  that  on  a  certain  occasion,  the  place  wbeie  the 
stood  cau^t  dre  by  accident,  and  the  Indians  made  prepem* 
to  extiniruish  it :  but  lie  forbade  them  ""^  saying  tW  inJ  who 
who  is  placed  there  (on  the  ahar^t  is  ahnishty.  and  he  will  put  out 
ike  fire  himself/*  We  waited  attentivelv  looking  on.  but  the  6re 
eontinoed  until  the  almighty  God  himself,  with  all  the  fine  things 
which  were  about  him  were  burnt  up :  since  that  time  I  have  never 
heU  to  that  religion,  but  re.^:ar\{  the  sun  and  the  moon  much  mote. 
And  he  cave  for  his  preference  their  warmth,  Ueht,  and  pcodne-^ 
^  To  their  belief  in  a  future  state  and  in  rewards  and  pun- 
our  author  testifies^  and  admires  their  distincutshuur  be* 
the  body  and  the  soul.  As  to  their  notion  of  a  place  of  hfiaa* 
or  the  contrary,  it  of  course  is  conformible  to  their  present  stale 
and  desires. 

Another  notion  is  mentioQed  bv  our  audior  at  cteat  lettcth.  It 
amoQiKs  to  a  belief  that  God  is  in  Heaven,  enjoyinc  happinfw» 
and  entmsis  the  a&irsof  the  eenh  to  the  deviL  As  to  thnr  fcUes 
of  die  creation.  1  cannot  think  them  worth  copyinc  ftiMn  the  Doe- 
lar.  A  chapcer  on  the  beaver  finishes  the  work ;  for,  die  pwa 
ncenpitid  by  a  discourse  between  a  patriot  and  a  New  Netberbn^ 
aieof  a  diMinct  chancter:  in  this,  however,  may  be  ciithered  hinii 


respecting  the  situatioo  of  Sew  Netberimd  at  tbe 
md  from  1617  to  16^6. 

Tbe  patriot  objects  to  tbe  colooj  as  tasaij  wrested  froa  Udr 
bud  bj  sor  other  European  power.  Tbe  Sew  Xcttmlsndff 
endear  oars  to  prore  its  capabilioes  of  defence :  he  sars  the  West 
India  Companj  have  been  at  a  great  expense  in  eaabliilnng  tbe 
colonv  and  (or  its  defence  and  seciuitv.  He  coosideis  the  aecet- 
sitj  which  foreigners  would  be  noder  of  using  the  lead  aad  tmt  m 
entering  tbe  Delaware  and  Hudson  as  a  source  of 
ao  doing  ther  must  pass  ^  forts  of  considerable 
tbe  forts  of  this  country*'  (Holland ;)  ^  Sandy  Hook,  the  High- 
lands, Hell-gate/'  etc,  can  be  rendered  impregnable.  To  the 
objection  that  an  enemy  would  land  on  tbe  sea-shore  aad  not 
their  bays  with  ships,  it  is  answered  that  the  Indiana 
shore,  and  are  rewarded  for  giving  intelligenee 
appear  on  the  coast.  He  thinks  landing  on  Long  Idaad 
of  the  question,  and  an  enemy  most  attack  Xew  Amsaerdaai  d^ 
rectly,  and  the  people  would  bare  notice  of  their  appronch  aad  be 
prepared  at  Sandy  Hook,  *^  the  Headlands,"  and  above  aD,  Fart 
Amsterdam — ^*  whereon  there  are  so  many  caimoo  inouated" 
half  would  not  be  required  to  repel  iuTaders. 

Tbe  patriot  then  states  the  danger  of  the  colony  frnm 
ing  Ixmle  enemies — tbe  Indians  and  English.  To 
answered  that  the  first  are  not  formidable  to  men 
their  mode  of  war£u^.  ^*  The  last  war  we  had  with  them" 
war,  ^*  when  we  were  not  half  as  strong  as  we  are  now,  they 
her  so  well  that  ihev  will  not  readilv  be^n  afi:ain."  He 
that  quarrel  *^  there  was  little  fault  on  their  side."  As  to  the 
Ush,  tbe  Xew  Netherlander  acknowledges  that  there  is  moch 
both  from  the  Vir^oians  and  New  EQo:landers.  But  ^  the  Virgi- 
nians can  do  nothing  unless  they  come  by  sea  ;  a  land  march 
seats  insurmountable  dimculties."  The  ^''New  Englandcrs 
much  stronxer  than  we  are/'  but  he  says  their  towns  aixi 
are  rery  open  to  inv'asloa.  ^^  Nor  would  they  trouble  ts 
an  express  command  of  parliament*'  which  would  occaaon  a 
between  Enzland  and  Holland.  He  thinks  tbe  New 
do  not  wi<h  war  with  New  Netherland,  **"  not  that  I  ascribe  this  to 
their  c:ood  will/'  but  to  their  interest. 

Tbe  commercial  advantages  of  New  Netherland  are  the  next 
ject  The  articles  of  export  are  suted  to  be  wheat,  rye,  peas, 
ley,  pork,  bceC  fi^h,  beer,  and  wines,  which  are  sent  lo  the  Wot 
indies.  The  settlers  who  come  to  New  Netheriand  raise  their  ova 
prorisions  **^  in  the  second  year,  and  in  the  third  hare  a  sfvpfa&>'* 
The  trade  in  peltries  is  then  mentioned,  and  the  adrantages  ex* 
pected  from  the  cultivation  of  tbe  vine,  from  the  fisheries,  and  the 
exportatioo  of  hemp,  timber,  tar,  ashes,  and  iroa. 


REVIEW  OF   VJINOSRDONCK.  LXXXVfl 

'  He  proceeds,  *'  it  is  now  about  fifteen  years  since  the  New 
Netherlands  have  begun  to  be  settled  in  earnest  by  freemen :  in  that 
time  we  have  endured  a  destructive  war,  otherwise  it  would  have 
been  double  what  it  now  is  :  for  that  which  had  been  done  by  the 
Company,  except  the  fortifications  and  a  few  houses,  was  of  little 
importance,  the  residue  was  destroyed  in  the  war."  The  exact 
period  here  meant  and  the  war  alluded  to  I  do  not  at  present  com- 
prehend. At  present,  he  says,  that  is  in  1656,  people  of  property 
nave  settled  in  the  colony,  whereas  before,  the  emigrants  were  ad- 
venturers, who  would  bring  little  and  carry  away  much,  and  thought 
nothing  of  the  common  good :  but  now  there  are  good  citizens, 
loving  '*  orderly  behaviour,"  who  have  erected  good  dwellings;  and 
fine  farms  with  pasturage,  fields  \)f  grain,  gardens,  and  orchards 
abound.  He  asserts  that  although  much  has  been  expended  on 
the  country,  more  has  been  carried  from  it,  but  the  expenditure, 
was  by  the  Company,  and*  the  profits  were  embezzled  by  others. 
Now  that  the  trade  is  free,  this  abuse  has  ceased.  It  must  be  re- 
membered that  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  failed  in  1684» 
**  Now  he  says  trade  is  carried  on  to  advantage,  the  Indians  with- 
out our  trouble  or  lobour  bring  to  us  their  fur  trade,  worth  tons  of 
gold,  which  may  be  increased." 

I  must  here  remark  that  the  natives  were  the  only  trappers  and 
hunters.  As  yet  no  companies  of  merchants  had  enlisted  Euro- 
peans in  their  service  to  be  led  by  their  agents  or  clerksy  armeij 
mto  the  territories  of  the  natives,  to  destroy  the  game  on  which 
the  owners  of  the  soil  subsisted,  merely  ^r  the  skins  of  the  ani- 
roals,  and  bear  off  for  their  own  profit  those  skins  which  were  the 
clothing  of  the  Indians  ;  thus  robbing  the  native  of  food  and  rai- 
ment, who,  if  he  stands  on  the  defensive  against  the  invaders,  is 
without  mercy  murdered,  and  stigmatized  as  a  murderer— nay  so 
reckless  are  the  wretches  employed  by  the  honest,  honourable, 
Christian  merchants,  that  they  occasionally  murder  the  Indians  for 
sport,  as  is  testified  by  the  author  of  Captain  Bonneville's  trapping 
expedition ;  and  yet  at  this  time  (1839)  these  trappers  are  held  up 
for  admiration  as  the  "  remnant  of  chivalry^^^  the  Raleighs  and 
Sydneys  of  the  age.*  The  Dutch  traders  exchanged  articles  de- 
sired or  wanted  by  the  Indians  for  those  of  which  they  at  that  time 
had  a  superfluity  ;  they  did  not  intrude  upon  the  haunts  of  the 
beaver  or  bufifalo.  They  neither  robbed  nor  murdered  the  Indians 
in  their  early  intercourse  with  them — yet  we  find  our  dainty  moral- 
ists of  the  present  day  reprobating  Dutch  traders  for  selling  guns, 
powder,  lead,  hatchets  and  rum,  to  those  who  like  the  whites  mis- 
use them  ;  and  praising  the  English  or  American  traders  who  hire 


*  Se«  tecond  No.  N«w  York  Reyiow,  Art  Inrinf  *•  BonaeviUo. 


LXXXVUI  APPENDIX. 

ruffians  to  rob  the  dwellers  on  the  prairies  of  the  West,  and  mm^ 
der  them  at  their  pleasure  whether  resisting  or  not.  The  ruffitn 
trapper  is  yclept  a  remnant,  of  chivalry — ^the  Indian  if  he  retaliates 
or  resists  is  a  "  merciless  murderer." 

Vanderdonck  says,  that  iron  ore  was  already  discovered  in  the 
New  Netherlands,  and  that  the  people  of  New  England  already 
^*  cast  their  own  cannon,  plates,  pots  and  cannon-balls  from 
native  iron." 

Our  author  says,  the  Indians  prepare  the  colours  i^th  which 
they  smear  their  faces  and  bodies,  some  from  earth  and  stones 
pounded  fine,  and  some  from  the  juice  of  herbs  and  berries,  dried 
on  pieces  of  bark  and  preserved  in  powder.  They  carry  these 
paints  about  them  in  little  bags.  Although  their  skill  as  paintets 
was  principally  confined  to  daubing  their  bodies,  he  says,  be  has 
seen  '*  some  counterfeit  representations  of  trumpets  in  their  strong 
houses  or  castles,  where  they  hold  their  councils."  They  like- 
wise paint  their  shields  and  war  clubs.  Sometimes  they  attempt 
the  likeness  of  a  canoe  or  of  an  animal,  but  the  Doctor  with  admi- 
rable naivett^  says,  ''they  are  not ^ well  done."  But  he  says 
that  they  have  a  method  of  colouring  and  preparing  hair,  whh 
which  they  form  beautiful  ornaments  resembling  plumes.  Some  of 
the  hair  used  in  this  ornament  is  long  and  coarse,  some  short  and 
very  fine ;  these  they  unite  together  by  means  to  him  unknown  and 
they  produce  a  beautiful  effect.  They  also  know  how  to  prepare  a 
colouring  wherein  they  dye  the  hair  a  beautiful  scarlet  red,  and  the 
colour  is  so  well  fixed  that  no  exposure  changes  it.  This  coloured 
hair  they  plait  and  tye,  forming  bands  for  use  or  decoration. 

This  art  practised  by  the  Mohicans  and  Iroquois  in  1600,  is  now 
in  use  among  the  tribes  of  the  far  west,  as  we  see  by  the  arms  and 
ornaments  in  our  museums.  General  Johnson  remarks  that  the 
purple  colour  prepared  by  the  Indians  was  from  **  the  poke  berry," 
but  they  knew,  as  Vanderdonck  remarks,  the  superiority  of  min- 
eral colours,  and  we  may  say,  that  it  was  experience  taught  tliem» 
as  well  as  white  artists,  that  only  such  are  permanent. 


IXOIAN  CUtCrLJLTIXS  MSUVM.  LXXXIZ 


9' 


J^  DfPUN  CffiOULATDCG  ME^n'M. 

^  FIRST  INTERCOURSE  BETWEEN  THE  DUTCH 

AND  NEW  ENGLAND. 


'    I  AM  imkbled  to  Mo>jhoo*s  Hutorr  of  Ne«r  York*  far  ^  fal- 

r "    *  Chxh,  [of  dirfc  colour]  hoes  hitchec$«  awk^  bcftds«  and  odwr 
tfdkVC<«  lookin^-^tasse^  Dutch  trumpets^  (in  which  the  natifet 
>  deE^ted)  and  £n^sl^:^$«  were  the  artioKes  tor  the  IiMfian  trade.   The 
ru!iU3^  3)ed:um  was  «kriaM.t     Thb  was  manu&ccured  puticii- 


Cbx*  '^   i»  e \T  rvsK^ «  o  :*  ±<«  ^  obervk  obess>«Eu&i:x'« s     Wca?a3L  ov  « tor  m»- 

d  'e^fia\'tne^i  tt  -ji^.^  S^^lldfL     TW-nr  baHiNrv  iSe  iBOWarooa  vf  a«k  mai 
wvrf  b«*«v^  «:di  «^nr?  «eo5<^  and  «a«sx  vp^Mi  «uw»  WKr«itf^  tmd  ml 
rrva  to  :2ff  bffvjih^  ot'tiaif  boad.  oorr  or  Vn«c  wiw»c«fcJ  a  M(  mti 

«i  Of" r»x«  ±/e  vi:-3«  o/tSiT  w^> :  b«t  «t:^r  <9«rs«t«  ««»  tmumtl  hiwf^m 

it.     T^rf^  >r.k»  cf  Siaitrk  &ad  ^.\  oc' « ijt«v  ««rip  «^m:v^BC.  umm^t  ate  Cacfcak.  i» 
s  ;«&3T.  laii  &=.v*:7X  '^«  D'svrfi.  %>  i  tcaTi^r.     Bat  witk  t^  fctoirf.  Sfer  t«mi>i 

9€  3€taca?a3.*  a:  voir  vr  m  ^t^t^m*     A  fCnftc  ^hT  tk»  f  tr.  mUt  rirfcif  Use. 

RTv  'dfersi*  A  kai^w Vdcv  Of*  ::'  %>  fr«r  rxJMinfnk    ^1  f9l^'  Jisicaf  (W  D«%k  >  ml 
TV  yrxtfw  ^fzni*  w^  tils* :  %be  [>ttdr^  and  Cbxj:^  M<ii  K»c  mwsb 

»«-j^  Vwskwtt  c^iwwi>  kftSr^Mk  b*Mc  C«h^  kfaKk 


— jj^fof  b*aiti  ui  astfk0«L«r  iW  laifaaBi  Mai  iHr  d»laihMBala  pmcir 


XC  APPENDIX. 

larly  by  the  Indians  or  Seatran-hacli/j  or  Long  Isknd ;  aad  rf 
this,  as  well  as  the  first  mentioned  articles,  the  New  NethahiidBi 
had  on  hand  a  surplus  quantity.  It  is  obvious,  therefore,  that  fci 
the  purpose  of  vending  these  wares,  a  favourite  policy  of  Gonh 
nour  Minuit  was  to  ascertain  a  new  market.  His  trading  Tewb 
had  visited  Anchor-brnj^  and  Slooip-hay^  situate  od  each  aditf 
Red'Island,*  ascended  the  rivcrt  flowing  into  the  bay  of  Naaai 
and  trafficked  at  Sawaans  or  Fuckanokicky  where  JtfoiioJioiPBf,  At 
friend  of  the  Plymouth  people,  held  dominion.  From  him  wi 
other  Indians  the  latter  had  often  heard  of  the  Dutch,  and  from  At 
same  source  the  Dutch  had  no  doubt  received  intelligence  of  At 
English.  But  during  the  six  years  which  had  elapsed  since  At 
settlement  of  Plymouth,  there  had  not  been  the  least  interoomt 
with  New  Netherland.  This  negative  relation  would  hare  ooa- 
tinued,  if  the  commercial  policy  which  has  been  suggeBted,  kil 
not  DOW  induced  Govemour  Minuit  to  seek  out  NewFlymoaAb 
as  the  market  which  was  most  convenient  to  intercourse,  moilooa- 
genial  in  temper  and  circumstances,  and,  therefore  preferabk  It 
Virginia  and  Canada,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  trettf  if 
commerce  and  amity.  The  people  of  Plymouth  had  a  tra&||- 
house  at  Manomet,^  but,  comparatively  unambitious,  their  con- 
roerce,  fortifications,  and  strens:th  of  men,  were,  as  was  ackno^ 
ledgedll  by  them,  far  inferiour  to  those  of  New  Netherland.     Cob- 


I 


and  other  artirlefl  of  the  Indian  trafiick.  and  with  the  seawmii  boacfat  die  fun,) 
and  venison  from  the  Indiana  on  the  ^ea-board.  who  also,  with  tneir  riicil 

boof  ht  fach  articleit  from  lodiaufi  residing  in  the  interiour  of  the  coontiy. 

hv  thi«  circulatiug  medium,  a  bh«k  commerce  was  carried  on.  notonhr  betvceatkt 
white  people  and  the  Indians,  but  between  dilferent  tribes  among  tiie  latter,  fm 
the  seawan  was  not  onlv  their  money,  bat  it  was  an  ornament  to  their  penoaa.  h 
distinguished  the  rich  from  the  poor,  the  proud  from  the  humble.  It  was  tht  Ib- 
bnte  paid  by  the  vanquished  to  tho^,  the  Five  Nations  for  instance,  who  had  eiaclii 
contribution.  In  the  fonn  of  a  belt,  it  was  sent  with  all  public  mesaagea*  and  pn* 
venred  as  a  record  of  all  tranuctions  between  nations.  If  a  message  waa  aent  wi^ 
out  the  belt,  it  was  con>idered  am  empty  vord,  unworthy  of  remembranoe.  If  tkt 
belt  was  returned,  it  wa:*  a  rejection  of  the  offer  or  proffer  accompanyiitf  iL  If 
accepted,  it  was  a  confirmation,  and  strengthened  friendships  or  efliaoed  mjami. 
The  belt  with  appropriate  figures  worked  in  it.  was  also  the  record  of  domartkt 
transaction?.  1  he  confederation  of  the  Five  Nations  was  thua  recorded.  Tte 
cockle  shells  had  indeed  more  virtue  amongst  Indians,  than  pearls,  gold,  and  ahrcr 
had  among  Europeans,  ^e^nvan  was  the  seal  of  a  contract — the  oath  of  fidc&tf. 
It  satisified  murder^,  and  all  other  injuries,  purchased  peace,  and  entered  into  at 
n'licious  an  well  as  civil  ceremouie^  of  the  natives.  A  string  of  seawaa  waa  da* 
hvered  by  the  omtor  in  public  council,  at  the  clojte  of  every  distinct  propodlioa 
made  to  others.  >is  a  ratilication  of  the  truth  and  Hincerity  of  what  he  said,  and  dbf 
white  and  black  Htriugt  o\'  seawan  were  tied  by  the  pagan  priest,  aroond  the 
of  the  white  do£  suspended  to  a  pole,  and  offered  as  a  sacrifice,  to 
magou,  the  upholder  of  the  skies,  the  God  of  the  Five  Nations.** 

•  *•  Roode  L^andt,  corrupted  into  Rhode  Island." 

t   **  Taunton.*' 

:    ••  Narragan«ett.'" 

%  •*  North  side  of  Cape  Cod." 

I  "  Dy  Governour  Bradford,  in  hit  Latter  Book." 


PIBST  CITSKCOUESS  BSTWBBN  THK  DUTCH  AMD  N.  «.      XCi 


in  their  opendoos  to  the  vicioitT  of  the  barren  and  looely 

SIC  OQ  which  they  had  been  cast,  their  tittle  trade  was  indispeosft- 
f  and  ther  were  ag^ered  that  the  Dutch  had  encroached  upon 
trade,  almost  to  their  rerv  doors.  Harios:  no  transatiantick 
imerce,  they>  this  year,  (10^)  sent  an  a^rent  to  England  and 
Holland,  to  make  arrangements  for  such  supplies  as  their  wants  or 
•oaunerce  demanded. 

^  Such  was  the  relative  situation  of  the  two  colonies  when  in 
March,  Goremour  Minuit  caused  a  deputation  to  the  govctnour 
ipd  council  of  Plymouth*  with  two  tetters,  written  in  Dutch  and 
French,  dated  at  ^  Manhatas*  in  Fort  Amsterdam,  March  9th,  1627/ 
(N.  ^)  signed*  ^  Isaac  de  Raaier,  secretary/  The  Dutch  gorer- 
and  council  congratulated  the  people  of  Plymouth  on  the  stic^ 
of  their  praise-worthy  undertaking,  profiered  their  *  good  will 
serrice  in  all  friendly  correspondency  and  good  neighbour^ 
kood,'  inrited  a  reciprocity  of  amicable  feeling,  suggested  ibr  this 
pmrpoae  among  other  things  ^  the  propinquity  of  their  oatire  conn* 
tties,  and  their  long  continued  friendship,'  and  concluded  by  dc^- 
airily  ^  to  &II  into  a  way  of  some  commerce  and  trade'— offering 
mmy  of  their  goods  that  might  be  serriceable,  and  declaring  that 
iher  should  feel  themselres  bound  to  accommodate  and  help  *  their 
Phrmouth  neighbours  with  anv  wares  that  ther  should  be  pleased 
i»  deal  for/* 

*^  The  answer  of  Goremour  Bradford  and  council  was  as  fal* 
fcwrsrt 

^  '  To  the  Honourable  and  Worshipful  the  Director  and  Com 
cil  of  New  Netheriand,  our  rerr  loving  and  worthr  friends  and 
Christian  neighbours. 

^  ^The  Goremour  and  Council  of  Plymouth,' in  New  Enghnd, 
vufa  your  Honours  and  Worships  all  happiness  and  prosperity  in 
tkis  life,  and  eternal  rest  and  dorr  with  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord  m 
die  world  to  come. 

^  *  We  haTe  receired  your  letters  wbeiein  appeareth  your  good 
viD  and  friendship  toward  us,  but  b  expressed  with  over  high 
tides,  and  more  than  belongs  to  us,  or  than  is  meet  fer  us  to  re* 
cnrre  :  but  (or  your  good  will  and  coogratulatioo  of  our  prosper iiy 
an  this  small  beginning  of  our  poor  colony,  we  are  much  bowad 
ufeo  you,  and  with  many  thanks  do  acknowledge  the  same,  taking 
it  both  for  a  creat  honour  done  unto  tis,  and  for  a  certain  testimony 


**  Cxtnct  from  a   ■■iwtfript  kiatorr  of  PYTinwitk.  cottiMnir1>i  ^f  H«a. 
v&M  of  MaMwrteMtti.     Prince ^»  .\«W  tj^jkmi  AwmIi.  ^  17^    Mm^ 


SI     "  "■ 


Hatoncil  C«B«rtwM.  p.  Si.    Haiekugvoa.  IL 
f  -  DaM4  Muck  19. 16S7.    Thi  •rifiMl  was  wnttoa  ia  Dwk.' 


of  jour  lore  and  good  neid^bourfaood.  Now  these  are  finriier  • 
give  yoor  Hoooars,  Worships  and  Wisdoms  to  trodf  iniadj 
it  is  to  us  DO  small  joj  to  hear,  that  it  bath  pleased  God  to 
his  Majesty's  heart,  not  oaljr  to  coofirm  that  ancient  amitTy 
and  frieodship,  and  other  contract  formerij  made  and  rsdfied  hf 
his  predecessors  of  famous  memonr,  but  hath  himself,  (as  joa  mw^ 
and  we  likewise  hare  been  informed,  strengthened  the 
a  new  tmion,  the  better  to  resist  the  pride  of  that  rommmi 
the  Spaniards,  from  whose  cruelt}'  the  Lord  keep  tis  both,  aad  am 
natire  coimtries.  Now  for  as  much  as  this  is  sufficient  to  uaitt  m 
together  in  love  and  good  neighbourhood  in  all  our  dealiiigs,  yet 
are  many  of  us  further  tied  by  the  good  and  courteous 
which  we  hare  found  in  your  counir}',  having  lited  thcie 
years  with  freedom  and  good  content,  as  many  of  our  friends  da 
to  this  day,  for  which  we  are  bound  to  be  thankful,  and 
dreo  after  us,  and  shall  nerer  forget  the  same,  bat  sfaafl 
desire  your  good  and  prosperity  as  our  own  forever.  JJkt 
your  friendly  proposition  and  offer  to  accommodate  and  hdf 
with  anv  commodities  or  merchandize  which  too  faave  and  * 
want,  either  for  bea%'er,  otters,  or  other  wares,  is  to  ib  rerj 
table,  and  we  doubt  not  but  in  short  time,  we  may  have 
commerce  and  trade  together.  But  you  may  please  to 
that  we  are  but  one  particular  colony  or  plantation  in  this 
there  being  divers  others  besides,  unro  whom  it  hath  pleased 
Honourable  Lords  of  his  Majesty *s  council  for  New  Engiandv  la 
grant  the  like  commission,  and  ample  privileges  to  them,  (as  lo  m) 
for  their  better  profit  and  subsistence,  namely ;  to  expulse  or 
prize  of  any,  either  strangers  or  other  English,  which  shall 
either  to  trade  or  plant  within  their  limits,  (without  their 
license  and  commission)  which  extends  to  forty  decrees :  yet 
our  parts,  we  shall  not  ^o  about  to  molest  or  trouble  joa  in 
thinzr  bat  continue  all  ^ood  neizhbourhood  and  corre 
(aras  we  mav  ;  onlv  we  desire  that  vou  would  forbear  to 
the  natives  ia  this  bay,  and  ri%'er  of  Narragansett  and  S 
which  is  (as  it  were)  at  our  doors.  The  which  if  you  do, 
also  no  other  Engrlish  will  zo  about  anv  wav  to  trouble  or 
you ;  which  otherwise  are  resolved  to  solicit  his  Majesty  far 
dress,  if  otherwise  they  cannot  help  themselves. 

**  ^  May  it  please  you  further  to  understand,  that  for  this 
we  are  fully  supplied  widi  all  necessaries,  both  for  clochinc  aad 
other  things ;  but  it  may  so  fall  out,  that  hereafter  we  shall  deil 
with  vou,  if  vour  rates  be  reasonable :  and  therefore,  when  t 
people  come  again,  we  desire  to  know  how  you  will  take 
by  the  pound,  and  otters  by  the  skin,  and  bow  yon  wiD  deal  per 
cent,  for  other  commodities,  and  what  vou  can  famish  os  with :  » 
what  commodities  from  os  may  be  acceptable  with  y 


riRST  INTBBCOURSB  BETWEEN  THE  DUTCH  AND  N.  B.      XCIII 

tobacco,  fishi  corn,  or  other  things,  and  what  prices  you  will 
give. 

"  *  Thus  hoping  that  you  will  pardon  and  excuse  us  for  our  rude 
and  imperfect  writing  in  your  language,  and  take  it  in  good  part, 
because,  for  want  of  use,  we  cannot  so  well  express  that  we  under- 
stand, nor  happily  understand  every  thing  so  fully  as  we  should  : 
and  50  we  humbly  pray  the  Lord,  for  his  mercy's  sake,  that  he  will 
take  both'  us  and  our  native  countries  in  his  holy  protection  and 
defence.     Amen. 

"  *  By  the  governour  and  council,  your  Honours'  and  Worships' 
very  good  friends  and  neighbours.' 

''  In  August,  Governour  Minuit  and  council  sent  another  de- 
puty,^  and  in  reply,  insisted  upon  the  right  to  trade  to  the  places 
which  Governour  Bradford  and  council  had  interdicted,  that  *  as 
the  English  claimed  authority  under  the  King  of  England,  so  we^ 
(theDutch)  derive  ours  from  the  states  of  Holland,  and  will  defend 
it.'  The  letter  was  in  other  respects  very  friendly,  and,  as  if  to 
preclude  any  interruption  to  the  harmony  of  their  projected  inter- 
course, the  messenger  was  charged  with  a  present  of  a  rundlet  of 
sugar  and  two  Holland  cheeses,  for  which  many  thanks  were  re- 
turned in  the  answer  by  Governour  Bradford  ;  he  also  requested 
that  a  deputy  might  be  sent  to  confer  respecting  their  future  trade 
and  commerce,  and  with  the  most  friendly  zeal  cautioned  the  Dutch 
to  avoid  the  Virginia  ships  or  fishing  vessels,  which  might  make 
prize  of  them,  as  they  had  a  few  years  previously,  of  a  French 
colony  that  had  intruded  within  their  limits  :t  apprized  them  of  the 
patents,  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  advised  them  to  solicit  the  States 
General,  to  negotiate  with  England  for  an  amicable  understanding 
upon  the  subject.  Governour  Bradford  communicated  copies  of 
the  correspondence  to  the  council  for  New  England,  and  to  Sir 
Ferdinando  Gorges,  requesting  advice.  But  now,  as  if  apprehen- 
sive, lest  the  contemplated  intimacy  with  the  New  Netherlanders, 
might  give  plausibility  to  their  local  pretensions,  he  wrote  again  to 
Governour  Minuit  in  October,  that  he  should  suspend  a  decision 
on  the  question  of  trade,  till  the  Plymouth  agent  should  return  from 
England  and  Holland,  whither  he  had  been  sent  to  make  arrange- 
ments, before  it  was  ascertained  that  supplies  could  be  obtained 
from  the  Dutch.  He  again  advised  them  to  adjust  their  tide  to  a 
settlement  '  in  these  parts,'  lest  in  these  *  stirring  evil  timesi'  it 
should  become  a  source  of  contention. 

"  But  before  the  reception  of  the  last  letter.  Secretary  Razier, 
actuated  by  the  prior  communication  of  Governour  Bradford,  re- 


*  "Jan  Jacobsen  Van  Wiring,  (John  the  ton  of  Jacob  of  Wiring/') 
t  "In  aDaiion  to  Argall'i  expedition  againat 'I'ort  Royal." 


XCIT  APPENDIX. 

9ohredf  with  the  approbation  of  the  governonr  and  council,  to  W 
himself  the  bearer  of  au  embassage  to  Plymouth.  In  the  bark 
Nassaa,  freighted  with  a  few  articles  for  traffick,  manned  with  a 
retinue  of  soldiers  and  trumpeters,  conformable  to  the  fashion  of 
the  daj,  and  proportional  to  the  dignity  of  his  station,  this 
officer  of  the  government,  departed  on  an  embassy,  which 
important  in  the  primitive  affairs  of  New  Netherland  and  New  Ply- 
month,  as  any  of  the  magnificent  embassies  of  the  old  world  were 
to  full-grown  kingdoms.* 

"  The  reader's  fancy  will  follow  the  bark  through  the  East  rirer,* 
into  the  great  bay  of  the  Island  of  Shells,|  and  as  it  boldly  swept 
over  the  bay,  or  cautiously  glided  along  its  shores,  skirted  by  tboo- 
sands  of  wigwams,^  he  will  picture  the  wild  and  joyful  gesticnb- 
tioos  of  the  Indians,  as  they  gazed  upon  the  fantastick  arrangements 
of  the  little  vessel,  or  listened  to  the  deep  notes  of  the  tmmpeteis. 

**  Arrived  in  safety  at  Manomet,{|  the  secretary  despatched  !• 
Govemour  Bradford  a  letter,^  announcing  his  arrival,  specifying 
the  articles  that  comprized  his  cargo,  and  requesting  some  mode  nf 


*  "  In  the  UngOAge  of  a  contemporarj  of  Goremoor  Minnit  sad  Gov4 
Bradford : — '  If  mnj  tax  me  for  wMsUng  |>aper  with  recording  theae  omO  i 
aoefa  maj  connder,  that  small  things  in  the  be^nninf  of  natoral  or  pcilttiek 
are  aa  remarkable  aa  ^eater,  in  bodies  fall  grown.'    Thomas  Dndier,  the  fim  d*- 

EBty  goTemonr  of  Massacha«>tts.  in  an  epistle  to  '  mj  rerjr  good  Wdy,  the  Ladf 
ridget  Connteas  of  Lincoln/  dated  Bo<ton,  1631,  and  pablisbed  in  *  If  aaMcka- 
aetts,  or  the  first  Planters/  etc.,  Boston,  1696,  p.  22." 

t  **  Oott  ritier,  called  also  HeOe  Gadt  rirtrr 

X  "  Long  Island  Sound.'' 

4  "  See  Trambnll's  Hist  of  Connecticat,  I.  ch.  3." 
I  "  North  side  of  Cape  Cod." 

5  "Addressed  to  *  Monsieur  Monseignienr,  WiUiam  Bradford,  GorerBenr  in 
Niea  Plemenen." 

*'  AAer  the  wishing  of  all  £Ood  nnto  yon.  this  serves  to  let  too  nndersSaad,  ikal 
we  have  received  your  (acceptable)  letters,  dated  the  14th  of  last  month,  by  JohB 
Jacobaon  of  Wiring,  who  beside^,  by  word  of  mouth,  hath  reported  onto  ns  yo«r 
Idiid  and  friendly  entertainment  of  him :  for  which  cause  (by  the  good  likingaiidappf#> 
bation  of  the  Director  and  Council)  I  am  re>olved  to  come  mr^lf  in  fnendship  la 
^ahyoo,  that  we  may  by  word  of  mouth  friendly  commnnicate  of  thin^rs  together: 
aa  abo  to  report  nnto  you  the  good  will  and  favour  that  the  Honoorable  Loftds  wf 
Ibeantbonzed  West  India  Companv  bear  towards  vou :  and  to  show  oar  wilfi^g- 
neaa  of  yoor  good  accommodation.  Lave  brought  with  me  some  cloth  of  three  aacto 
and  eoloara,  and  a  chest  of  white  sugar,  as  also  some  seacwi.  etc.  not  doaboag  bat, 
if  aaj  of  fbein  may  be  serviceable  onto  you.  we  shall  agree  well  eooogb  abooi  tbt 
pfieta  tbereof.  Also.  John  Jacobson  aforesaid,  bath  told  me  that  he  cante  to 
•fV  liwl  inaix  boms,  but  I  have  not  gone  so  far  this  three  or  four  years, 
I  ftv  Wtj  feat  win  ftil  me :  so  I  am  constrained  to  entreat  yoo  to  afioni 
Miitrt  aMnWytbat  I  may,  with  the  least  wearines*.  come  to  congratolaSe  wiib  y 
••Inviag  other  things  to  the  report  of  the  bearer,  shall  herewith  end: 
lag  mn  btaity  aalotations  to  vourvelf  and  friemis.  etc.  From  aboard  the  barb  !te- 
•  M  14tb  of  October.  16^.  before  Frenchmen's  FoinL 

"  Yoor  aiTectionate  friend, 

"  ISAAC  DE  RAZTEE.-* 


PIAST  INTBRCOURSS  BBTWSKN  TUB  DUTCH  AND  N.  B.        XOW 

conveyance  lo  Plymouth.  His  request  was  granted.  A  boat  was 
sent  to  Manonscu^setj^  and  Razier  '  honourably  attended  byga  Doiae 
of  trumpeters/t  was  ushered  into  Fort  Plymouth.  Here  be  waa 
kindly  entertained  several  days.  The  meeting  was  not  merely 
one  of  commercial  speculation  and  heartless  formality.  It  was  the 
first  meeting,  in  the  solitude  of  the  new  world,  of  the  friendly  c<h 
lonists  of  two  allied  European  nations.  It  was  the  joyful  meeting 
of  kindred  as  well  as  friends,  for  the  wives  and  litde  ones  of  acme 
of  the  pilgrims  had  also  their  place  in  Holland.  Though  the  rigid 
simplicity  of  puritan  costume  and  manners,  the  simple  salutatioo, 
for  instance,  of  goodman  and  goody,  were  in  direct  opposition  to 
the  high-sounding  tides,  formal  stateliness  and  warlike  decorations 
of  the  Dutch,  yet  the  very  spirit  of  amity  consecrated  the  inter- 
course upon  this  novel  occasion. 

"  When  the  Dutch  departed,  they  were  accompanied  to  Mano- 
met  by  the  Plymouth  people,  by  whom  articles  of  their  merchan- 
dize were  purchased,  particularly  the  seawan,  which  was  then  in- 
troduced into  New  England,  and  became  the  medium  of  profitable 
trade  with  the  Eastern  Indians.!  Such  was  the  harmony,  of  the 
first  communication  between  the  two  colonies,  that  the  Dutch  of- 
fered their  assistance  against  the  French,  if  needed ;  urged  their 
fi'iends,  to  abandon  the  barren  spot  on  which  fate  had  cast  them, 
and  remove  to  the  fertile  banks  of  the  Fresh  river.^  The  adop- 
tion of  this  advice  might  have  perpetuated  that  good  feeling,  which, 
though  afterwards  supplanted  by  contention  and  bitterness,  was  for 
years  the  foundation  of  repeated  intercourse  and  profitable  com- 
merce. The  Dutch  frequently  went  to  Manomet,  exchanging  their 
linens  and  stuffs  for  tobacco,  which  trade  was  extremely  advanta- 
geous to  the  people  of  Plymouth,  until  the  Virginians  found  out 


*  **  On  the  nouth  tide  of  Cape  Cod." 

t  *'  GoTernour  Bradford's  letter  book/' 

I  ^  Dr.  Chalmer's  (Politiral  AnnaU)  says,  that  Razier  brought  peltry  and  piir> 
rtiiatd  com.  Hence  it  in  inferred  the  Dntch  had  made  little  progreiw  in  agncnltiirt. 
Tbe  cooclosion  is  true,  though  the  premises  are  not  It  is  doubtful  WMtfa«r  Fly* 
■imth  raised  corn  enough  for  domestick  consumption.  *  But  whatever  were  tM 
lioney  in  the  mouth  of  that  beast  of  trade,  there  was  a  deadly  sting  in  die  tail.  For 
k  u  aaid  they  fin«t  brought  our  people  to  the  knowledge  of  wmmpmmpmf}  mnd  ^bm 
•eqoaintance  therewith  occasioned  the  Indians  of  these  parts  to  learn  £e  akiU  t& 
Id  make  it,  by  which,  as  by  the  exchange  of  money,  they  purchased  stores  of  artillery, 
both  from  the  English,  Dutch,  and  French,  which  hath  prored  a  fatal  botiiieM  to 
thaso  that  were  concerned  in  it  It  seems  the  trade  thereof  was  at  first,  by  atrkt 
praelamation,  prohibited  by  the  kin^.  *  Sed  qidd  non  mortoHm  ftdorm  e9gi»  -Amri 
tmtrmjkmet  /'  The  love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all  evil,  etc.  Hnbbanl. 
New.  Eng.    Mass.  Hist.  col.  V.  100." 

\  *'  I'encke  ritiir — the  Connecticut" 


the  Dulch  coionj,  and  drove  them  frcNn  ciiis  mulLet  faj 
Engtfaem  in  tobacco.* 

**  Tbe  West  India  Companj  also  enjojed  inunediiaeij  die  n- 
iotafy  fruits  of  this  comaiercial  ioieirhange,  for  the  jear  after  il 
commenced,  (viz.  162S)  Govemour  Minuit,  without  the 
of  anj  fresh  imports  that  year,  exported  to  the  Amstenlaiii 
meot  more  furs  than  at  any  other  period.''t 


FIRST  ORGAMZATION  OF  COXTLVEXTAL  ARMT. 

NEW  YORK  REGIMENTS. 


The  first  germ  of  the  Army  of  the  United  Colonies,  was  the 
militia  of  the  state  of  New  York.  On  tbe  26th  of  May,  1775,  die 
Contineota]  Congress  **•  resolved  unanimously,  that  the  milkia  of 
the  state  of  New  York  be  armed,  trained,  and  kept  in  constant 
readiness  to  act  at  a  momeDt's  warmnr:/'  It  was  also  bv  unazn- 
mous  resolution  "  recommended  to  the  coovention  of  New  York 
to  persevere  tbe  more  vigorously  in  preparing  for  their  defence." 
Tins  was  the  fir^t  important  miliiary  movement  of  tbe  new  and  first 
continental  congress. 

On  the  14th  of  June,  1775,  tbe  congress  appointed  **  roles  and 
reflations  for  tbe  government  of  fA<  army,''*  Tbe  militia  then  in 
service  being:  thus  considered  to  be  embodied  as  "  the  army.*" 
Tbe  action  of  congress  resulted  in  a  general  organization  by  4c 
appointment  of  one  general-in-cbief,  four  major-generals,  and  eight 
bngadier-generak,  and  the  general  staff  of  the  army.  It  was  oa 
this  occasion  that  *'*'  George  Wasbington,  Esq.,  received  aD  die 
ballocs'*  as  generai-in-chief,  and  rising  in  his  place  on  the  floor, 
modestly  bnt  gracefully  accepted  tbe  trust. 

On  the  fbUowing  226  of  June,  it  was  resolved  that  officers  then 
ia  the  army  receive  their  commissions  tbrou^  the  new  Eeoeial-iB- 
cfaieC  This  woald  seem  to  be  a  formalit}-  necessary  to  their  change 
of  character  from  pro%incial  miliiia  to  the  anny  of  the  United  Col»* 


''Mr.  BcflM*  eztnct.    IfSS.  Km.  of  Phmoiith.** 
t  **  Ta :  0051  besrerm.  734  aam  and  ocIict  ddmt^  -rhiri  at  €i4?S 
911 


NBW  TOBK  BBCUMBHVS. 

Dies.  Six  days  after  this  retoludon  Colonel  Van  Schaick  wu 
commissioned — being  the  first  ofiicer  commisBiotted  by  congress 
for  the  war,  in  this  state. 

Early  in  the  ensuing  session,  vis*  Jannaiy  9thy  1776,  congiOM 
passed  the  following : 

*^  Resolved,  That  Colonel  Van  Schaick,  Lieutenant-colonel 
Yates,  and  Major  Gansevoort  be  continued  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  and  that  they  take  command  of  the  battalion  to  be 
levied  in  New  York." 

Within  a  few  days,  however,  congress  found  such  a  force  entirely  ^ 
inadequate  to  the  protection  of  so  large  and  important  a  territory;, 
accordingly  we  find  that  on  the  19th  of  January,  (ten  days  inlei^, 
vening)  it  was  resolved,  *^  Th^i  four  baUaliaiu  be  raised  in  the 
colony  of  New  York  for  the  defence  of  that  colony,  and  that  the 
council  of  safety  of  New  York  be  requested  with  all  possible  expe- 
dition to  transmit  the  names  of  a  number  of  gentlemen — at  least  two 
for  each  command,  out  of  whom  congress  oiay  elect  field-oflSceis 
for  said  battalions." 

In  due  time.  New  York  furnished  her  four  complete  regiments 
— ^which  were  officered  as  follows — so  far  as  at  present  can  be 
ascertained : 

FIRST   REGIMENT. 

Date  of  (hmmisnan. 
Colatul—Gozen  Van  Schaick.  28th  of  June,  1776. 

Lieutmant-colonel — Cornelius  Van  Dyke.  21st  Novenlber,  1776. 
Major — Benjamin  Ledyard. 

Captains. 

John  Graham,  John  H.  Wendell, 

Andrew  Finck,  John  Copp, 

Benjamin  Hicks,  Nich*s.  Van  Rensselaer. 

Regimental  Staff. 

Peter  B.  Tearse — Adjutant. 

Henry  Van  Woert — Quartermaster. 

Abraham  Ten  Eyck — Paymaster.  .   , 

William  Mead — Surgeon.  ij 

Caleb  Sweet — Surgeon^ s-mate. 

Charles  Parson — Captain-lieutenant. 

Lieutenants. 

Guy  Young,  Peter  B.  Tearse, 

Barent  S.  Salsbury,  Nathaniel  Henry, 

John  C.  Ten  Broeck,  Abraham  Hardenbergh, 

Adiel  Sherwood,  William  Scudder. 


Wkk  wmak  ^  Seami 

EolvuiD  Soovy  Bsit»  «  9m  Vi 

HcBfT  \  an  ^1  ocfty  Abniiui  Tco  EtcIe« 

Jacob  H.  Wcode-H,         CfesHes  MaHer,  ' 
JwsabLCbek,  WiDwIaw 

Beojumo  GiSiert. 


CJiwrf    PMp  Vam  Cotthndt.  21rt  oTXarcaba;  177«u 


Regimemial  &ag, 
Robert  Preroo — Fatpmuigr. 


Cfasncs  Gnimiiy 

g IT,  Pdl, 

Jatob  Wriefac,  WilEain  MaiMfar, 

HaDet, 


Gilbeft  L  Lmnssioa, 
Claries  F.  Wr^eafefe. 
Joha  L.  HardeobercSiv 


ae  Van  Woen. 

Andrev  Wtuiie, 

WmiaiD  GkessT,  Rkaard  Mooni, 

TemuaVanWaseoea*  Jc^Broviiy 
Robert  Pr&Toec 


2l9i  of  3ki«mber,  17?ik 
Marioos  WiDet. 


Regimemial  Siaf- 


Jercsniab  Vaa  Retasetaer — Pawmamrr. 
ProRiee  Brovo — ^^rr^frwuto'. 
Siaaioke  Woodnzf — SvnrvM- 
^ona  AJMOtt-^'oiBFjFeMNi 


NBW  YOBK  UNttMEim. 


Capiaiiu. 
Aaioo  AonoD» 
Thomas  Dewitt, 
Coraelius  T.  Jaoseot 
Leonard  Bleecker, 
James  Gregg, 
Henry  Tieboutt 

CaptaiM  LinUenani. 
George  Sytes. 

Peter  Magee, 
John  Spoor, 
Josiah  Baglejr, 
Samuel  Lewis, 


LMtfifNoalt. 
Philip  Cooyno, 
WUliam  Topm 
Thomas  McCleUtDt 
Pientice  Bowra, 
GamtSiaats, 
BeDJamiD  Bogardos, 
WiJiiam  Colebraadth, 
Christopher  HutlOB. 


George  Deuiirto«» 
Jerenuah  Van 
Beojamio  Hetringi 
Gerrit  G.  Lansing. 


FOURTH   RBOUISNT. 


Ligmt.  Colond  CommatiJmi — ^Pierre  Regier.     I  Sth  Janoaij,  i77<. 
Mi^ar-^oseph  McCrackeo. 

RfgimentaJ  StaJT. 
John  Vashe — Surgetm. 
William  Wood — Smrgeom'f'tmUe. 


C47p(ains. 

Samuel  backett, 
John  Davi^ 
Benjimin  Walker, 
Israel  Smith, 
Nathaniel  Norton, 
Theodorus  Fowler, 
Edward  Dunscomb. 


LtemteMOMtM. 
Peter  EUsworth, 
Thomas  Hontt 
Abraham  Hjatt, 
Rudolphus\  aDHoTcnbuigli^ 
Joseph  Treligh, 
James  Barret, 
Daniel  Deniiiato«» 

•Silas  Grey. 


The  State  Library  has  in  vain  been  searched  for  infiMrmation 
to  the  pay  and  emolument  offered  to  the  officers  and  troops 
mooed  into  service  for  the  publick  defence.  The  law  of  &  ooh^ 
ntal  congress  makes  no  reference  to  the  subject,  based  appainndy 
upon  the  con6dent  reliance  that  the  soldiers  would  coma  into  tbt 
field  and  do  the  fighting  first,  and  talk  about  the  pay 
The  New  York  battalions,  in  their  minute  ornnintion, 
bahly  under  the  more  immediate  legislation  ol  the  prorinciil 
cil.  No  records  of  this  council  are  to  be  found  in  the  State  Library, 
at  Albany,  which  is  certainly  a  lamentable  delect  in  its  hiatotkal 
departmenL 

Lord  Stirling  was  appointed,  and  acted  is  cokmel  of  the 
set  militia,  which  immediately  applied  to  the  continentti 
appointing  turn  cokNid  of  the  fiist  refprnem  of  JUm  Jtnej. 


ENGLISH  SETTLEMENT  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

1664  Charles  the  Second,  bv  letter?  patent,  bc^riog  date  tbe 
20th  day  of  March,  1G64,  for  the  consideration  tberrin 
mentioned,  granted  unto  Jamef*,  Duke  of  York,  his  heirs  and  as^icns, 
**  all  that  part  of  the  main  land  of  New  England,  begiooing  at  a 
certain  place,  called  or  known  by  the  name  of  St.  Croixy  near  ad- 
joining to  New  .Scotland,  in  America  ;  and  from  thence  extending 
along  the  sea  coast,  unto  a  certain  place  called  Peraaquie  or  Pema- 
quid,  and  so  up  the  river  thereof,  to  the  furthest  head  of  tbe  same, 
as  it  tendeth  northward  ;  and  extending:  from  thence  to  tbe  riv^rof 
Cimbequin,  and  so  upwards  by  the  shortest  course,  to  tbe  river 
Canada  northwards  ;  and  also  all  that  island  or  islands,  commonly 
called  by  the  several  name  or  names  of  Matowacks  or  Long  Islandf 
fiituate  and  being  towards  the  west  of  Cape  Cod,  and  the  oaiTOV 
IIii;ansclts,  abutting  u{K)n  the  land  between  the  two  rivers,  there 
called  or  known  by  the  several  names  of  Connecticut  and  Hudson^s 
rivcrr  ;  together  also  with  the  said  river  called  Hudson^s  river;  and 
all  the  land  from  the  west  side  of  Connecticut  river,  to  the  east 
side  of  Delaware  bay  ;  and  also  several  other  islands  and  lands  in 
thr  snid  letters  patents  mentioned  :  toirether  with  the  rivers,  liar- 
bouD*,  mines,  minerals,  quarries,  woods,  marshes,  waters,  lakes, 
fiftjiiii^s,   hawkin^r,  hunting  and   fowlin;:,  and  all  other  royahies, 

rofits,  commodities  and  hereditaments  to  the  said  several  islands, 

ands  and  premises,  helonirins^  or  appertaining/' 

The  Duke  of  York  beinir  thus  seized,  did  by  his  deeds  of 
lru!*e  and  release,  bearin::  date  ////  '2SJ  and  24//r  Jtnjs  of  June,  1664, 
in  ronsidrration  of  a  "  competent  sum  of  money,"  grant  and  con- 
vey unto  John,  Lord  Berkely,  baron  of  Slralton,  one  of  tbe  kings 
privy  council :  and  Sir  (Jeonre  Carteret,  of  Salirum,  in  the  county 
of  Devon,  knight,  and  one  of  the  privy  council,*  and  their  heirs 
and  assigns  forever ;  all  that  **  tract  of  land  adjacent  to  New  Eng- 
land, and  lying  and  beins:  to  the  westward  of  Lonsr  Island  and 
Manhattas  Island  :  and  bounded  on  the  east  part  by  the  main  sea, 
and  part  by  Uudson*s  river ;  and  hath  upon  the  west,  Delaware 
bny  or  river ;  and  extended!  southward  to  the  main  ocean  as  far  as 
Ctpe  May,  at  the  mouth  of  Delaware  bay  ;  and  to  the  northward 


la 


•  Sir  iHwritr  Carti^r^ft  wa.«  c^^npriKiur  of  J.»r««»Y.  an.!  b«?U  it  for  kxBf 
U.  ttilW  trovbl**  of  l64i^^-«ip«U«d  (ti«  hA>tu«  of 'common,  m  V&eO  for 
«Mr«HiB^  M  chaaibtriUui. — SmtuiJL^. 


X2IGUSB  aBTTUmBHT  OP  HBW  JBBSBT.  CI 

IS  far  IS  tbt  WHthwnKwf  branch  of  the  said  bar  or  rirer  of  Deh- 
ware :  which  is  in  41  degrees  and  40  minutes  of  klitude,  and 
crossetfa  over  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  Hodson^s  river^  in  41  de» 
firees  of  latitude ;  which  said  tract  of  land  is  heseafter  to  be  called 
Nova  Cesaria  or  New  Jersey  :  and  also  all  rivers,  mines,  minerahi 
woods«  fishings*  hawkings^  huntings  and  fowUngs,  and  all  other 
royalties,  proAis*  commodities  and  hereditaments  whatsoever  to  the 
said  lands  and  premises  belonging  or  in  any  wise  appertainini:, 
with  their  and  e^^ry  of  their  appuitenances  in  as  full  and  arapfe 
manner  as  the  same  is  granted  unto  the  said  Duke  of  Y'orfc,  by  the 
before  lecitetl  letters  patents.*'* 

On  the  10th  of  February  (old  st}le)  Carteret  and  Berkeley 
pablished  a  plan  of  government  for  the  settlers  of  New  Jersej 
which  may  'be  considered  as  the  constitution  of  the  province. 
Thev  wer^  to  be  irovemetl  bv  a  legislature,  consisting  of  a  covei^ 
noar  and  council,  (ap|H)inted  by  the  proprietor)  and  an  assembly 
of  delegates  chosen  annually  by  the  people.  A  judiciary,  a  mi- 
liiia  for  defence,  and  rules  for  the  sales,  purchases,  and  laying  off 
of  lands  were  esublished.  Philip  Carteret  was  appointed  first 
govemour,  and  came  o%*er  in  It^S,  when  a  legislative  body  con- 
sisting of  govemour.  council  and  house  of  burgesses,  elected  by 
the  people,  met  in  general  assembly. 

After  the  re-conquest  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey  by  die 
Dutch,  and  the  retio-cession  to  Charles  II..  bv  the  general  article 
of  the  treaiy  of  peace  in  1073,  in  order  to  prevent  any  disputes 
that  might  arise  u{>on  a  plea  of  tlie  property  being  thus  alienated 
from  the  first  purchasers,  Charies  b\  letters  patent  bearing  date 
S9ih  dav  of  June  11^74,  ^n^nted  to  the  Duke  of  York,  his  heirs 
and  assigns,  the  several  tracts  of  land  in  America  of  which  New 
Jersey  was  pan :  and  in  the  same  year,  upon  ihe  application  of  the 
assigns  of  Lord  IVrkoley,  the  duke  made  them  a  grant  of  Wett 
New  Jersev :  and  in  like  manner  bv  an  instrument  bearinir  date 
the  10th  of  October,  granted  the  eastern  moieiy  of  New  Jersey 
to  the  grandson  of  Sir  tteonre  Caneret.t  Andnos  the  duke^s  gc^ 
vemour  for  New  Jersey,  a:^  we  shall  see,  in  U>>0,  disputed  the 
rights  of  government  which  had  been  conveyed  to  New  Jersey, 

Upon  the  surrender  of  New  Amsterdam  and  the  territory  of  the 
Dutch  to  the  English,  Nicolls,  as  govemour  for  James  Duke  of 
Y'ork,  (not  knowing  that  his  master  had  sold  New  Jer^y  to  Berke* 
lev  and  Carteret,)  induced  some  of  the  Enclish  of  Lon<  Island 
to  emigrate  to  what  they  called  Elixabethtown,  Woodbridge, 
etcl     Nicolls  called  the  territorv   AlbnmM  :   this  name  was 


•  SiBMMl  Smiik't  HiMorf  of  New  Mmmj,  pp. »  «1. 
t  Mi.  pp.  11^411. 


CU  APPENDIX. 

changed  by  those  who  purchased  from  James,  tnd  the  titles  to  land 
derived  from  Nicolls  were  disputed,  which  caused  much  distiub- 
ance  for  many  years. 

Smith  says,  Governour  Richard  Nicolls  granted  a  deed  or  patent 
to  John  Baker  of  New  York,  John  Ogden  of  Northampton,  John 
Bailey,  Luke  Watson  and  their  associates,  dated  at  Fort  James, 
New  York,  the  2d  of  December.  "  Tliis  was  before  Lord  Berke- 
ley's arid  Sir  George  Carteret's  title  was  known,'*  The  towns  in 
the  province  were  Elizabeth,  Newark,  Middletown,  and  Shrews- 
bury. Woodbridge  and  Piscataway  were  settled  under  Philip 
Carteret's  rule  and  influence.  Now  he  says,  that  Philip  Carteret 
**  going  for  England  in  the  summer  of  1G72,  left  Captain  John 
Carteret  his  deputy.  Philip  returned  in  1G74,  and  found  the  inha- 
bitants more  disposed  to  union  among  themselves.  He  remained 
governour  till  his  death,  in  16S2." 

Nicolls  addressed  a  remonstrance  to  the  Duke,  on  the  impolicy 
of  dividing  New  York  and  selling  this  part  of  it  to  Berkeley  and 
Carteret,  and  foretold  that  to  them  the  purchase  would  be  ruinous. 
It  was  too  late,  and  in  November,  Philip  Carteret  arrived 
1665  with  thirty  emigrants  from  England,  and  Nicolls  reluctantly 
surrendered  the  government  of  New  Jersey  to  him.  By 
degrees  settlers  were  added  and  the  country  cultivated  ;  but  ia 
1670,  those  who  had  their  titles  from  Nicolls,  refused  to  pay  quit 
rent  to  the  proprietors,  and  others  imitated  them.  After  a  strode 
of  two  years,  Carteret  went  to  England. 

Grahame  accuses  James  of  wishini^  to  resume  the  grant  purchased 
by  Berkeley  and  Carteret,  and  paid  for,  and  that  he  was  willing  to 
make  the  Dutch  conquest  and  cession  a  pretext  for  breaking  bis 
faith.  '*  It  was  pretended  that  the  Dutch  conquest  had  extinguisbed 
the  proprietory  right,"  and  that  the  territory  "reverted  to  the 
crown."  Charles  gave  his  brother  a  new  charter,  and  the  Duke 
appointed  Andros  '*  his  lieutenant  over  the  whole  re-united  pro- 
vince, establishing  the  same  arbitrary  sway  in  New  Jersey"  as  in 
New  York.  Carteret  requested  a  renewal  of  his  grant,  and  it  was 
promised,  but  as  mucli  as  possible  evaded  by  the  royal  duke. 
Andros  seconded  the  views  of  his  master,  endeavouring  to  render 
the  colonists  of  New  Jersey  tributary  to  New  York,  issued  mandates 
restricting  their  trade — seized  some  of  their  vessels,  and  arrested 
Governour  Carteret,  carrying  him  prisoner  to  New  York  city,  from 
his  residence  at  Elizabeihtown.  Berkeley  and  Carteret  had  by 
agreement  divided  the  province  they  had  purchased  of  James  "fii 
a  compensation,"  and  Berkeley  had  the  western  division,  which  in 
1676,  he  sold  to  two  English  Quakers,  Fenwick  and  Byllinge. 
This  sect  had  been  persecuted,  after  having  in  its  commencement 
persecuted  others  by  impertinent  intrusions  and  indecent  exhibi- 
tbns,  and  afbr  having  rendered  itself  ridiculous  by  wild  abetra- 


BNOLI8H  8STTLBMXNT  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  dUl 

tions  from  sober  and  reasonable  conduct  What  must  have  been 
thought  of  a  society  who  could  tolerate  in  its  members  the  outra- 
geous spectacle  of  naked  women  appearing  in  places  of  worship? 
or  of  opinions  which  could  mislead  the  cautious  wisdom  of  Robert 
Barclay  to  walk  through  tlie  streets  of  his  native  town,  Aberdeen, 

in  sackcloth  and  ashes  f 
1676  But  those  times  were  gone  by,  and  Quakers,  in  1676, 
were,  as  now,  only  distinguished  by  peculiarities  innocent, 
if  not  praiseworthy,  and  conduct  which  deservedly  placed  them 
among  the  foremost  leaders  in  political,  civil,  and  religious  reform. 
Still  they  were  persecuted  in  Europe,  and  looked  to  America  for 
an  asylum.  Many  settled  on  Long  Island,  where  George  Fox 
visited  them  during  his  journey  to  America.  AtOyster  Bay,  on  the 
side  of  the  sound,  the  people  point  out  a  rock,  a  little  from  the  shore, 
on  which  it  is  said  he  stood  and  preached  to  the  people.  He  like- 
wise visited  New  Jersey.*  In  1676,  many  Quakers  were  trans- 
B>rted  from  England  to  Barbadoes  and  to  the  American  settlements. 
yllinge,  one  of  the  purchasers  of  West  Jersey,  established  him- 
self in  that  portion  of  the  province,  but  soon  found  it  convenient  to 
sell  or  assign  his  share  to  William  Penn,  Gawiii  Lawrie,  and  Nich- 
olas Lucas,  who  assumed  the  direction  of  the  territoiy,  and  obtained 
a  formal  division  of  the  province  between  Humphrey  and  Sir 
George  Carteret,  he  taking  the  eastern  part  and  they  the  west. 
They  (Penn,  Lawrie,  and  Lucas)  framed  a  constitution  for  the  inha- 
bitants of  West  Jersey,  which  they  called  concessions.  They  con- 
firmed the  provisions  made  by  Berkeley  and  Carteret.  The  colo- 
nists were  exempted  from  taxes  other  than  such  as  their  own 
assembly  imposed  ;  and  as  ^^no  men,  nor  number  of  men  upon 
earth,  have  power  to  rule  over  men's  consciences  in  religious  mat- 
ters," they  were  free  to  worship  as  they  pleased.  Representadves 
to  the  general  assembly  were  to  be  chosen  by  balloting  balls :  and 
each  member  so  chosen  was  to  receive  a  shilling  a  day, ''  that  thereby 
he  may  be  known  to  be  the  servant  of  the  people."  Every  man 
was  eligible  as  a  representative,  and  free  to  vote  by  his  ballot.t  The 
assembly  could  make,  alter,  and  repeal  laws.  A  trial  by  jury  in- 
sured liberty,  property,  and  life  to  the  honest  and  innocent.  Im- 
priaonment  for  debt  was  not  permitted,  and  the  bankrupt,  after 
sorrendering  his  estate,  was  free  to  exert  himself  for  his  family  or 
himself. 


*  See  his  aoconnt  of  his  trarels. 

f  In  1S76,  the  wise  Clnaker  government  of  New  Jersey  declared  **  that  all  elec-' 
ttons  be  notjdetermuied  by  the  common  and  confused  way  of  cries  and  voices;  but 
by  patting  balls  into  ballot-boxes,  whereby  every  man  may  freely  choose  according 
to  his  own  jod^ment  and  honest  conviction."  v  oting  by  ballot  was  not  adopted  is 
Now  Yoik  oolil  after  the  revolation  which  established  our  independence. 


€!▼  APFBJim. 

Such  a  form  of  government  entitles  Penn  to  the  applause  of 
terity.  ^*  We  lay  the  fonndaiion,"  said  these  Quaker  lawgivere  of 
New  Jersey  *'  for  after  ages  to  understand  their  liberty  as  men  and 
Christians,  that  they  may  not  be  brought  in  bondage  but  by  their 

own  consent ;  for  we  put  the  power  in  the  people.'* 
1677  To  enjoy  the  benefits  of  such  self-government  in  such  a 
country  as  West  Jersey,  it  is  not  surprising  that  in  1677, 
between  four  and  five  hundred  Quakers  left  England,  bringing  with 
them  their  families  and  servants.  While  on  ship-board  and  in  the 
Thames,  Charles,  passing  in  his  pleasure-barge,  was  attracted  by 
the  appearance  of  so  many  Quakers.  He  enquired  where  tbqr 
were  going  }  and  being  told  **  to  America,"  lie  ^*  invoked  a  bles" 
sing  on  them."  The  blessing  of  Charles!  and  his  courtiers  proba- 
bly standing  around  enjoying  the  joke.  On  the  arrival  of  the  Qua- 
kers, and  settlement  in  Burlington,  Andros  soon  made  them  sensi- 
ble of  the  nature  of  a  king's  blessing,  by  summoning  them  to 
acknowledge  the  sovereignty  of  his  master,  the  Duke  of  York: 
they  remonstrated,  and  he  pointed  to  his  sword.  They  submitted, 
but  carried  their  application  for  redress  to  England. 

William  Penn,  as  an  active  agent  in  the  welfare  of  that  pait  of 
New  Netherlands  now  called  New  Jersey,  becomes  a  subject  for 
our  consideration,  and  without  going  into  minute  details  respecting 
his  biography,  I  will  consider  some  of  the  peculiarities  of  his  life 
and  character.  In  his  political  career,  he  endeavoured  to  assure  lo 
the  people  entrusted  to  him,  both  civil  and  religious  liberty,  yet  he 
was  the  friend  and  favourite  of  the  two  infamous  royal  brothers, 
Charles  and  James.  While  they  formed  plans  lo  deprive  New 
England  of  her  rii^hts  and  ciiarters.  and  sent  their  tools  to  execute 
them,  they  granted  almost  unbounded  liberty  to  the  Quaker  settle- 
ments under  William  Penn. 

His  father  had  been  severely  treated  by  Cromwell,  and  was  a 
friend  to  the  restoration  of  the  Stuarts,  and  they  appear  to  have 
relied  upon  Penn  and  the  Quakers,  as  the  advocates  of  passive 
obedience  and  non-resistance  in  political  afiairs :  they  likewise 
wished  to  remove  the  sect  from  Great  Britain,  where  thev  added 
numbers  and  stren<rth  to  the  nonconformists  in  religious  discipline 
and  the  opposers  of  poper}'.  They  might  further  be  satisfied,  that 
after  having  deprived  the  New  England  colonists  of  their  riehis, 
there  would  belittle  difficulty  in  extending  their  despotick  sway  over 
tbe  nonresisting  Quakers  of  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania.  We 
shall  see  that  in  1GS6,  Jameses  govemour  of  New  York  and  Massa- 
chusetts, by  his  master's  orders  so  far  infringed  the  rights  grmoted 
to  the  settlers  of  New  Jersey,  that  Penn  and  his  coadjutors  defen- 
ded by  remonstrance  that,  which  James  knew  their  principles  for- 
bade them  to  defend  by  more  effectual  weapons  against  tyranny. 

The  immediate  occasion  of  this  remonstrance  was  a  tst  impossd 


br  Aiidros,  of  ten  per  cent,  on  the  itapoiiaboQ  of  Europeto  mer- 
c^uchiiie  into  We>i  Jer^ej.  I  copy  the  gmter  put  of  this  remon* 
scnnce*  aJJiiiiribie  noiwiibstiDdiQ^  its  proKxity.* 

**  To  those  of  the  duke^s  commissioiierss  whom  he  has  oidered  to 
hear,  and  make  report  to  hiro«  concerning  the  customs  demanded 

in  New  West  Jersey*  in  America,  br  his  coveraow  of  New 

^  •  •  s» 

lork. 

**  1st.  The  kins  has  cnnted  to  the  Duke  of  York  a  tract  of  land 
in  America,  consistine  of  sereral  Indian  countries,  with  such  poir* 
ers  and  authorities  as  are  rv^uisite  to  make  laws«  and  to  covern  and 
preserre  the  territory  when  planted :  but  with  this  restriction  twice 
expressed  and  several  times  reierred  to«  Tia* — *  So  always  as  the 
sai.1  satutr>.  ordinances,  and  proceedings,  be  not  contrary,  but  is 
near  as  mav  be«  agreeable  to  the  laws,  statutes,  and  cP^emment  of 
this  our  realm  of  England/  In  another  place  thus  :  *  And  further, 
it  may  be  lawful  for  our  dearest  brother,  his  beir«  and  assiens,  by 
these  presents,  to  make,  ondain,  and  establish  all  manner  of  orders, 
laws,  cireciions,  instruments,  and  forms  of  government,  and  maps- 
trates  nt  and  necessarv  for  the  territorr  atoresaid  f  but  still  with 

riiis  limitation :  '  so  alwavs  as  the  same  be  not  contrarv  to  the  laws 

«  ^^  • 

and  statutes  of  this  our  realm  of  Entland,  but  as  near  as  mav  be 
acieeable  thereto.* 

^  :?.  The  Duke  of  York,  br  virtne  of  this  cram  from  the  kin;  to 
him.  lor  a  competent  sum  of  luoney.  tpaid  by  the  Lord  John  Berkeley 
and  Sir  Iteor^  Cirteret)  granted  and  soM  to  them,  a  tract  of  Iand» 
called  now  bv  the  nanw  of  New  Cesarea,  or  New  Jersev :  and  that 
ID  as  ample  manner  as  it  was  granted  bv  tlie  kin^:  to  tiie  duke. 

**  Thus  ttien  wv  come  to  buv  that  moietv  which  beloniiin^  to 
Lord  Berkelev,  for  a  i-aluablo  consideration :  and  in  the  convev- 
ance  he  made  us,  powers  of  coremment  ate  expressly  mnted  ; 
far  that  onlv  could  have  induced  us  to  buv  it :  and  the  reason  is 
plaio.  because  to  all  prudent  men,  the  eoveroment  of  any  place  is 
more  invitins:  than  the  soil :  for  what  is  coed  land  without  «ood 
kws :  the  better  the  worse.  And  if  we  could  not  assure  people  of 
an  easy  and  free  and  sate  coverament,  both  with  respect  to  their 
apiritiml  and  noridiy  property :  that  is,  an  uninterrupted  libeny  of 
conscience,  and  an  invkilable  poHCstsioo  of  their  civil  ri^iits  and 
freedoms,  by  a  just  and  wise  foverament,  a  mere  wilderness  would 
be  no  eocouracement :  ibr  it  were  a  madness  to  leave  a  free.  j:ood, 
and  improved  country,  to  plant  in  a  wilderness:  and  there  adven* 
many  thousandsof  pounds,  to  five  an  absolute  title  to  another 


•  mmmj  «r Not  Jamf.  p^  l^^^tt 


person  to  tax  us  tt  will  and  pleasure.  This  single  conaideratiaBr 
we  hope,  will  excuse  our  desire  of  the  government ;  not  asserted 
for  the  sake  of  power,  but  safety ;  and  that  not  only  for  ourselTCs, 
but  others;  that  the  plantation  miizht  be  encouraged. 

"  3.  The  Lord  Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Cartereif  considering 
how  much  freedom  invites,  that  they  might  encourage  people  to 
transport  themselves  into  those  pails,  made  and  divulged  certain 
concessions,  containing  a  model  of  government.  Upon  these, 
several  went,  and  are  there  planted  ;  the  country  was  then  pos- 
sessed, and  the  said  government  uninterruptedly  adrainidtered  bj 
the  said  Lord  Berkeley  and  »Sir  (^eorge  Carteret,  or  their  deputy, 
for  several  years  ;  during  which  time  no  custom  was  demanded. 

"  4.  We  dealt  with  the  said  Lord  Berkeley,  upon  the  sight  d 
these  concessions,  and  tlie  presumption  that  neither  he  nor  Sir 
George  Carteret,  would  attempt  to  act  any  thing  they  had  noc 
power  to  do;  much  less,  that  they  or  either  of  them,  would  pretend 
to  sell  a  power  they  never  had ;  since  that  would  not  only  be  a 
cheat  to  the  people  that  dealt  with  them  for  it,  but  an  high  affront 
to  the  duke. 

"  6.  The  moiety  of  New  Cesarea,  or  New  Jersey,  thus  bought 
of  the  said  Lord  Berkeley,  we  dispose  of  part  of  our  interest  to 
several  hundreds  of  people,  honest  and  industrious ;  these  trans- 
port themselves,  and  with  them  such  household  stuff  and  tools,  as 
are  requisite  for  planters  to  have ;  they  land  at  Delaware  Bay,  the 
bounds  of  the  country  we  bought ;  tlie  passa^re  God  and  nature 
made  to  it;  at  their  arrival  tliev  are  saluted  v\uh  a  demand  of  cu»- 
tom  of  five  per  cent,  and  that  not  as  the  noods  may  be  there  worth, 
but  accordinjT  to  the  invoice  as  they  cost  before  shipped  in  Eng- 
land ;  nor  did  they  take  them  as  they  came,  but  at  pick  and  choose, 
with  some  severe  laniruaire  to  boot.  This  is  our  jrrievance ;  and 
for  this  we  made  our  application  to  have  s[)eedy  redress,  not  as  a 
burden  only,  with  respect  to  the  qu?»ntum  or  the  way  of  levying  it, 
or  any  circumstances  made  hard  by  the  irregularity  of  the  officers, 
but  as  a  wrong  ;  for  we  complain  of  a  wrong  done  us;  and  ask 
yet  with  modesty,  quo  jure  ?  Tell  us  the  title  by  what  right  or  law 
are  we  thus  used  ;  that  may  a  little  mitigate  our  pain.^  Your  an- 
swer hath  hitherto  been  this :  '  That  it  was  a  conquered  country, 
and  that  the  king,  heing:  the  conqueror,  he  has  power  to  make  laws, 
raise  money,  etc.,  and  tliat  this  power  jure  re:;ale,  the  king  bath 
vested  in  the  duke,  and  by  that  riirht  anc^  sovereignty,  the  duke 
demands  that  rii^ht  we  complain  of  " 

*•  .  .  .  .  The  king's  crani  to  the  Duke  of  York  is  plainly  re- 
strictive to  the  laws  and  government  of  England,  and  that  more 
than  once,  as  is  before  expressed.  Now  the  constitution  and 
government  of  England,  as  we  humbly  conceive,  are  so  far  from 
countenancing  any  such  authorit}*,  as  it  is  made  t  fundamental  in 


BUOLISH  SETTL81IBMT  OF  NSW  JSRSBT.  OTU 

oar  constitution  and  goTernment,  that  the  king  of  England  cannot 
jusdy  take  his  subjects'  goods  without  their  consent.  This  needs 
DO  more  to  be  proved,  than  a  principle  ;  'tis  jus  indigene,  an  home- 
born  right,  declared  to  be  law  by  diverse  statutes." 

**....  To  give  up  this  (the  power  of  making  laws)  is  to 
change  the  govmnment,  to  sell,  or  rather  resign  ourselves  to  the 
will  of  another ;  and  that  for  nothing.  For  under  favour  we  buy 
nothingof  the  duke,  if  not  the  right  of  an  undisturbed  colonizing,  and 
that  as  Englishmen  with  no  diminution,  but  expectation  of  some 
increase  of  those  freedoms  and  privileges  enjoyed  in  our  own  coun- 
try; for  the  soil  is  none  of  his,  'tis  the  natives,  by  the  ju^gcntiiunf 
by  the  law  of  nations  ;  and  it  would  be  an  ill  argument  to  convert 
to  Christianity,  to  expel  instead  of  purchasing  them  out  of  th«9e 
countries.  If  then  the  country  be  theirs,  it  is  not  the  duke's ;  he 
cannot  sell  it ;  then  what  have  we  bought  i*  We  are  yet  unan- 
swered in  this  point,  and  desire  you  to  do  it  with  all  due  regard  to 
the  great  honour  and  justice  of  the  duke.  If  it  be  not  the  right  of 
colonizing  there,  which  way  have  we  our  bargain,  that  pay  an  arbi- 
trary custom,  neither  known  to  the  laws  of  England,  nor  the  settled 
constitution  of  New  York,  and  those  other  plantations  f  To  con- 
clude this  point,  we  humbly  say,  that  we  have  not  lost  any  part  of 
our  liberty,  by  leaving  our  country  ;  for  we  leave  not  our  king,  nor 
our  government,  by  quitting  our  soil ;  but  we  transplant  to  a  place 
given  by  the  same  king,  with  express  limitation  to  erect  no  polity 
contrary  to  the  same  established  government,  but  as  near  as  may 
be  to  it ;  and  this  variation  is  allowed  but  for  the  sake  of  emergen- 
cies ;  and  that  latitude  bounded  with  these  words,  for  the  good  of 
the  adventurer  and  phinfcr.^^ 

**....  Besides  there  is  no  end  of  this  power ;  for  since  we 
are  by  this  precedent,  assessed  without  any  law,  and  thereby  ex- 
cluded our  English  right  of  common  assent  to  taxes,  what  security 
have  we  of  any  thing  we  possess  ?  we  can  call  nothing  our  own, 
but  are  tenants  at  will,  not  only  for  the  soil  but  for  all  our  personal 
estates  ;  we  endure  penury  and  the  sweat  of  our  brows,  to  improve 
thera  at  our  own  hazard  only.  This  is  to  transplant,  not  from 
good  to  better,  but  from  good  to  bad ;  this  sort  of  conduct  has  de- 
stroyed government,  but  never  raised  one  to  any  true  greatness ; 
nor  ever  will  in  the  duke's  territories,  whilst  so  many  countries 
equally  good  in  soil  and  air,  surrounded  with  greater  freedom  and 
security.  Wijereas  if  the  duke  please  to  make  all  planters  easy 
and  safe  in  their  liberty  and  property,  such  a  just  and  free  govern- 
aient  will  draw  in  otlier  places,  encourage  persons  to  transplant  into 
his  country,  and  his  disbursements  will  soon  be  at  an  end  ;  his  reve- 
nues with  satisfaction  to  the  people,  presently  visibly  augmented* 
Next  this  encoiirages  shipping  and  seamen,  which  not  only  takes 
off  abundance  of  idle  people,  but  our  native  growth  and  manufac- 


CTin  ATPBICI^IZ* 

ture,  and  the  export  of  them ;  and  the  import  of  the  produce  of 
tliese  plantations,  in  a  little  time  overflow  and  advance  the  reveDsa 
of  the  crown.  V^irginia  and  Barbadoes  are  proofs  undeniable  in 
the  case." 

This  remonstrance  procured  redress ;  the  commissioners  were 
obliged  to  pronounce  judgment  in  conformity  with  the  opinion  of 
Sir  William  Jones,  that  the  legality  of  the  taxes  could  not  be 
defended. 

Thus  the  unqualified  assertion,  that  no  taxes  could  be  justly 
imposed  upon  them  without  their  consent,  was  triumphantly  as- 
serted by  the  sealers  of  New  Jersey  in  16S0.  Next  year 
1631  the  first  representative  assembly  of  West  Jersey,  was  con* 
vened  by  Samuel  Jennings.  They  enacted  a  code  of 
fimdamentul  consiitufionSj  by  which  they  were  empowered  to  appoint 
and  displace  all  persons  holding  offices.  The  govemour  was  pre- 
cluded from  any  act  obligatory  on  the  people,  without  the  concur- 
rence of  their  representatives,  and  from  withholding  his  assent  from 
their  enactments.  In  all  criminalcases,  (except  treason,  murder, and 
theft,)  the  party  aggrieved  had  power  to  pardon  the  offender,  before 
and  after  condemnation.  Landed  property  was  made  responsible 
for  debt.  Marriages  were  to  be  solemnized  by  justices  of  the  peace. 
The  sale  of  spirituous  liquors  to  Indians  was  prohibited.  Indented 
servants  or  redemptioners,  were  entided,  at  the  expiration  of  their 
time,  to  a  set  of  implements  of  husbandry,  ten  bushels  of  com,  and  a 
suit  of  clothes.  No  new  settler  was  to  be  admitted,  without  satis- 
factor)-  evidence  of  harmless  character  and  sober  life. 

The  assembly  met  annually,  until  the  end  of  the  proprietary 
government. 

In  16S1,  Sir  George  Carteret's  heirs  or  executors,  offered  East 
Jersey  for  sale,  and  William  Penn,  and  eleven  Quakers* 
1652  purchased  it  in  1 6S2.*  The  population  was  then  about  four 
thousand,  a  majority  not  Quakers.  The  first  twelve,  soon 
admitted  twelve  others,  anions:  them  the  Earl  of  Perth,  Chancellor 
of  Scotland,  and  Lord  Drummond  of  Gilston,  secretar}'  of  stale 
for  Scotland.     In  favour  of  tlie  twenty  four,  the  Duke  of  York 


*  Sir  Georf  e  Carteret  dyinc  in  1679.  ordered  the  province  of  Eait  Jersej  to  bt 
■old  to  pav  his  debts,  and  Wiiriam  Penn  with  eleven  others,  pnrebwed  it.  Tlwy 
tdded  twelve  others,  makinc  twenty-Toar.  to  whom  the  Duke  renewed  the  fiiBt 
IB  1682.  and  they  were  established  as  a  council  of  proprietors,  with  power  to  ap- 
point all  officers  necessary  for  the  management  of  their  property. 

Shortly  aAer,  the  persecution  of  the  Presbyterians  in  SoDtia'nd.  droTo  miiii  li 
take  refuge  in  New  Jersey.  The  tjrranny  of  James  li  and  LandenUle,  filled  iht 
jaib  and  ciblMta  with  conscientioos  religionists :  they  were  hnnted  like  wiU 
W  die  aokliera,  and  many,  who  did  not  fly  volutariKr  to  America,  were 
^Mtf ,  awl  toM  at  abTta. 


ENGLISH  SETTLEMENT  OF  NEW  JBBSBT.  OtX 

edited  his  third  and  last  grant  of  East  Jersey,  and  they  appointed 
a  council,  to  whom  all  the  functions  of  the  proprietary  power  were 
entrusted. 

We  have  seen  that  from  Long  Island,  some  of  the  towns  of  East 
Jersey  were  settled.  Others,  English  or  New  England-men,  came 
from  the  eastern  provinces.  Some  laws  of  this  government  are 
supposed  to  come  from  New  England.  Children  striking  or  curs- 
ing their  parents,  were  liable  to  the  punishment  of  death  :  adul- 
teries, to  flogging  or  banishment :  fornicatiou,  to  fine,  hogging,  or 
marriage :  a  thief  was  ^adjudged  to  restore  three  fold  the  value 
stolen,  for  the  first  offence  ;  for  frequent  repetition,  death  or  slavery 
was  the  punishment.  There  was  no  law  for  the  publick  sup- 
port of  religion,  but  the  people  of  most  townships  had  their  minis- 
ters, and  were  generally  sober,  industrious,  and  thriving.  Some 
yeais  after  it  appears,  that  it  was  necessary  to  interdict  the  wear- 
ing of  swords,  pistols,  or  daggers.* 

Governour  Philip  Carteret  directed  in  his  will,  dated  December 
10th,  1682,  that  his  body,  after  death,  should  be  deposited,  if  per- 
mission should  be  obtained,  in  the  vault  of  Governour  Stephenson, 
(as  Sluyvesanl  was  frequently  spelt  by  the  EngHsh  of  those  days,) 
in  the  Bowery :  otherwise  liberty  to  be  purchased  to  deposit  it  in 
the  church  at  New  York.  His  will  is  deposited  in  the  eastern 
proprietors  office.  Where  were  his  earthly  remains  placed  ? 
1683  Robert  Barclay  was  among  the  proprietors  of  East  Jer- 
sey, and  in  1GS3,  was  chosen  governour.  He  was  a 
Scotch  gentleman,  born  at  Urie  :  converted  to  Quakerism,  he 
wrote  in  its  defence  his  famous  apology.  He  was  in  favour  with 
Charles  and  James,  perhaps  for  the  same  cause  that  they  favoured 
Penn.  Grahame  remarks,  that  it  appears,  as  a  moral  phenonienon, 
that  such  men  as  Barclay  and  Penn,  the  votaries  of  universal  to- 
leration and  philanthropy,  should  be  found  voluntarily  associating 
in  their  labours  for  the  happiness  of  an  infant  community,  such 
instruments  as  Lord  Perth,  and  other  abettors  of  royal  tyranny 
and  ecclesiastical  persecution  in  Scotland.  Yet,  Barclay  addressed 
a  noble  admonition  to  Charles,  where  he  says,  after  reminding  him 
of  his  prosperity  after  adversity  ;  '*If  after  all  these  warnings  and 
advertisements,  thou  dost  not  turn  unto  the  Lord  with  all  thy  heart, 
but  forget  him  who  remembered  thee  in  thy  distress,  and  give  thy- 
self up  to  follow  lust  and  vanity,  surely  great  will  be  thy  condem- 
nation." Charles  probably  made  a  jest  of  this  admonition,  as  we 
know  the  base  and  loathsome  character  of  this  slave  to  vice,  and 
penaioner  of  France. 


*  See  S.  Smith's,  Hut  of  New  Jenej. 


it^uY  rwv.-.'j.  Q  -i^ktrif.  v. no  ryiif-.r^,  trrjirrfcied  from  Barclay 'i 

J  *iinr»  1 1 .  f^a-v  i :j  V  « *.r  *: '; :,  ■; '.  i; -  ■; !  .  r  o r.  •; . :  ij o  ■; .• :, i  i i  beneath  ij ; e  k ir.z 
u$  \i$i  iMr<J  oy  Uw#?W3;y;:'::''':;jt.t  of  irje  duke,  aac  Le  unceremoniouslv 

i»(r<M(iuMr<J  ,N<:u  J(rni€v  in  Lb  plan  of^flDuiJiiii'ibe  charters 
lOMJ     of  Um^  AfM<,'f]ra:<  colonU^i^,  aod  io  lOSO,  wril*  of  yk/>  trvir- 

rtf/y///  H4r/<;  i^'^iieil  n'^'-iin^l  bc'Jj  Ea^i  and  West  Jersey. 
Th**  |*roj>n#florj»  of  Ka*t  Jer^y  jire-ented  a  memorial  to  the  king, 
in  wUMt  tUtty  rt!tn\nd*iti  liiin,  tiiut  tiic-y  iiad  not  received  the  errant 
afiUtt  ifrovifirfr  »)(  a  U*:ti*:\tAtriif'(',,  lji:i  had  bought  it :  and  had  been 
riiroiir:i;'f'd  lo  riirikf;  ih^f  |fijnlia!-(;  by  assurances  received  from 
hifii3i'|(.  Tb';  only  nn*\\tr  \\n*y  n.'r'(.-ived  tVoni  his  most  ^iracious 
riinji'ifri)-  v^iiH,  iUit\  lii'v\;i.<^  iU'U-rii/uwd  to  unite  both  East  and  West 
Jriftry  uiib  Ni-vv  Vork,  and  ihr;  .Nr.*\v  Kni^land  provinces,  in  one 
guniTuI  ^ovi'riiitiriit,  fbr|)<'iiri:iiit  r)n  the  crown,  and   to  be   adniinis- 

incd  by  Sir  Kdnmiid  Andros. 
lOsH  if  iippiMrs  lii'it  the  proprietors  made  no  resistance,  but 

iibauibini'd  ihi;  ri^hls  of  thf:  people,  offering  a  formal  sur- 
rcindc«r  of  ihrir  pnlfiit,  rin  rniidltir)ii  that  their  own  prii'ate  propertj 
in  fill*  rcihiniiil  noil,  shoiihl  h(!  strrurtM)  to  thcin — butwhicii  business 
WMH  innnunfnii'^hiMl  siah',  whfn  t  he  t\  rant  was  driven  from  the  throne, 
and  lhi»  piMipli*  ol"  \rw  .Insi'y  continued  for  a  time  longer,  to  go- 

vnn  ih«'ni'»i'l\<*?«. 
\i\\)*2         Thi'  nriulual   propriiiors  of  New  Jersey   had,  by  the 

yi*ar  lt»!<*J.  ^oM  out:  tho  iroviMnnieni  fell  into  weak  or  cor- 
rupt h:ind'«.  and  iMironr.n^rii  by  William  ill.,  the  sovernour  and 
counril  ol  Nf  w  \  ork  utuinpud  to  rt'\i\e  the  old  pretension  of 
rmnmi;  a  rovrnur  in  ihr  sIsIit  rolony.  The  inhabitants  were  in- 
«'hiibnl  in  n  tax  laiii  upon  iho^c  ol  Ni'w  York.  Tiiis  was  resisted, 
And  with  tin*  >anir  >ni  i  r-«.>  a>  ow  \Uc  lorrntT  occasion.  New  Jer- 
«rv  ooinpl:iiiirtl«  and  tin*  l.iwvrrs  to  wlK»in  the  ca^e  was  referred, 
(Sir  John  U.n\lr^»  and  Sir  iVi^wi^ll  Lrvinz.)  lieclared,  that  •*  no 
CilMom?!  ronld  hr  nnptwi  d  on  \\\c  ptitpjo  o!  liie  Jerseys,  otherwise 
lh«n  by  an  :u*t  of  parllam*Mii.  or  tin  ir  own  asMiidily/-  Thus,  al- 
ihoii^h  thr  pi*i'iiM>ion  ol  ih.r  ;:o\rmoi:r  ol  Nt  w  ^  f-rk  was  defeated, 
a  hiihl  in  iho  V*n^li>ij  parliainiMi  \\.'»s  ^!;'4  up  omt  these  colonists 
((u  ihr  Iii>l  linio. 

l>iMir'nlion>  boiwrrn  diiurini  proi^ifiors.  and  between  then 
tAi)  tlx*  |H^>pIr.  crru  to  >urli  a  ii:  i;::'t  in  i.'.f  fi-ceeriini:  reare, 
iImI  llw*  ptx^piirioiN  ii>:riir»i  to  ihc  Kn^ii>ii  jTinislfTs.  (who  to  qnici 
ih^  iswi plain i>  m.idr,  and  :i^   :.^'rt-*n>i'   ::«o  .r.iuiencf  iifiiie  crowa. 


*  fm  ]«ftnirBlwf  M**  5  Sailh. 


SBTTLEMCNT    OF   NEW  JBBSXT.  CZI 

Tn:5  wa*  rrvil'v  ?."r.r* -o.i  ?.t  :!u*  co'v:?u"nv"omon!  of  iJio  rei^  of 
A  :*: iio.  ;•  ■■. vi  > :i :'  ? .^  *■  ixr  \:  \^ c :*.:  1  v  »-* . •  -^ i ii .  V. li  a  a :\\  1 1  v  Je,  Lord 
C.v..D.r^,  lo  ^rnerp  ar.ii  o/i-^rt^?  l>o:h  ;ho   Jersexs.  and    New 

1705         Ai  :i:i5  r!'.i>e  New  Jer^^y  b  swprosed  to  hire  Ind  a  po- 

arst^  F.r.i  ;>::.  ktv.v:"^  for  a  ]ox*z  i«*ie  :heir  ilif^nnoliTe  chanciers. 
Kji-.:.  :ht^  Swi\v<:i  iv:r.i>i.  \v!u>  ionnd  tKTe  the  beainiful  dower 
i:  1 :-' c ,:  t* y  h  ^ : v .  K a !  :r.  'a,  a  n  J  n  i^-"  i:  sox;  ii :  •  v. jic !f  with  ihe  u" n'  faces  hit 
5^'^a;"f>:v..uie  o:?  h\\\:\^  31  ;*•■'>'"  -"/\.  iive^  i:?  a  favourable  descrip- 
T5v>''  o:'h>  Avo'iv\-i  coir^:r\v:H-:i,* 

Ti:;?  P.::  V'l  ivMr  :::t*  Hj.isiin.  :^rc»  sii:!  D;i:c*h,  in  ij~cnace,  sober 
:"? .i •.! >: r i o .: >  ! : ?. * v : < ,  a n.i  p r: m : : : ve  d rv>>  :  i h e  d t>s:v :id a n ts  of  ihe 
5-,"o:c^,  p.ro  o""":}  di>:i:'jciii<:  .*i  It*  fry-*'!"!  ihe  Kr::"i>h.  a>  beinsr  less 
i:ke  ;:7e  Neu  K:"'c^a'^dcr>.  A'l  wcri^  i:ri:o  J  bv  simJLiHiv  of  occo* 
pAiKHY.  moral  cond ;;ci.  a::d  a  dt^irv  u^r  a  >«  TT:ed  ioxemment,  i^hicb 

iher  iond'V  ho.vd  \v.5>  oS;  ="::u%i  bv  tbe  iir.ion  ::i  1 7l>t?,  and  ihe  arriril 

•  •       •  • 

of  Carni».;rv  :  !or  ovtvi  r.!*  v-ivs  s:id  de>r^>al  le  eorsduct.  did  noC 
lend  to  dMt'io  ;:'e  JV'"»:vi\  biit  n',;!"or  orct'iNiereil  an  universal  $ni- 
ril  of  re^ifia-^.^e  to  h>ro!^n  rovi  rr'ner:,  w::ioh  irrew  and  prxxliiced 
friiit  in  17 7o.  Ncu  Jor>e\  isii  i::il':U"\i  a  !o\e  of  lil^ertv,  from 
ibe  earlv  form  of  co\or:vrirr.:.  r\i:::od  b\  ibe  lir>:  senler?. 

The  ««nvni3t*r  \v3>  irs^io  bv  an  i'^>irumem.+  headed  thus : 
••  Sitmender  f!or'>  ihe  s"»:>^:'»rio:or*  of  Ka5!  ard  West  New  Jer^er, 
of !he:r nreienvloti  ri^/i  o:"^'."»^ern:vtn:  ;o  1  f  r  ":»a^rMv."  Thi<  and 
fome  j>ai555;:t*>  i  i  I'/o  ;:>*.';: -/or:  ex-.n^'c  a  j^i::.;Me  deierioniiion  fiom 
the  spin:  of  iS^  r.**:  lo^i'^riiTor*. 

The  i::>:nJC*:"iv-<  lo  l\>'rb-'''\  A  sre  drs'nn  r;>  careful^v  and  with 
t  view  onnirir.-.  !v,  :o  t.  e  i/:c?t*>;  of  ibe  iv-o:her  coiintrv.  ai  the 
fame  lin^,  seeivirc  *•'*  ^•-.rii  aralr>'  ;?  e  \:oo<  of  the  co\em!T>ent. 
Siave?  avd  5*a\t^ry  art*  r:vo^vri\: — I'lrisii^r  sonant*  are  lo  be 
irmed  arni  m«5:ert\i  :*i  :h-^  :^^- :::-.?. — I  J/ inkers  are  e\emp;eii  frooi 
oith*.  ami  iheir  ?.n:r"s:"vn  ad:r.:::cd.  ar.d  !l  c}  ar>e  eligible  lo  office 
^-hb  wt^ivr  '^,f  ?■'  >>  .^.r>?  :o  ?e  i:>od  nJTb  ihe  a>5emb?y,  thai  id 
•ct  be  {>a«(5ed  for  r.-;>:v;:  :""d  <i"::!"r^  a  ;m:1  liok  reverse,  lor  defriy- 
icf  charpe*  of  n:e  io\i  "'*;^?^r:  of  the  i-rxnince.  and  a  competent 
alary  for  himself.  a>  wtT.  ;?>  \\  o:hcr  onWt^ — he  \<  not  to  come 
ID  Europe  or  o:ivw:>e  It-au-  :*i<  cover  v.ert.  ^of  ilw  mo  pr\>rinces) 
without  leave  from  the  q;:co!>^he  i?  irv.-^on  ere^l  to  impnw*  setmeo 


for  English  ships  of  war,  but  as  complaints  bad  been  made,  tbat 
captains  of  such  ships  had,  at  their  pk^asure.  made  impressmentty 
they  are  not  to  be  permiiicii,  but  on  appliraiion  to  him — (he  is  Vice 
Admiral,  under  Anne's  hu>hand.  Prince  Georiie  of  Denmark,)  and 
is  to  send  any  captain  wiio  disobeys  him,  to  said  ''dearest  husband** 
— the  acts  of  trade  and  navigation  are  to  be  strictly  put  in  eseco- 
tion — he  is  to  "  take  especial  care,  tbat  God  Ahnisbty,  be  devouihr 
and  duly  sen'ed  throughout  his  government,  the  book  of  commoo 
prayer  (as  by  law  established)  read  ea(*h  Sunday,  and  holy  day, 
and  tlie  blessed  sacran:ent  cdniir.isiertd,  accordini:  to  the  rites  of 
the  church  of  England/*  Churches  are  to  be  built,  and  i  com- 
petent maintenance  assigned  to  the  ministerof  each  orthodox  cburcbf 
and  a  convenient  house  built  for  him,  whh  a  glebe  or  pro|>ortion  ofland. 
This  is  to  be  at  the  common  charge :  this  means,  that  all  the  iobt- 
bitants,  Qunkers,  Presbyterians,  Dutch  and  Swedes,  Scotch  and 
English,  are  to  maintain  the  minister  of  the  church  of  EDgland. 
The  ministers  are  not  to  be  preferred  without  a  certi6cate  from  the 
Bishop  of  London.  If  any  minister  within  his  irovernment,  preaches 
or  administers  the  sacrameni,  without  beins:  in  due  orders,  the  go- 
Fcmour  is  to  inform  the  said  Bishop  thereof. — My  Lord  Combuiy 
b  to  discourage  immorality,  but  isespecially  charged  to  encouragb 
•'  the  Royal  African  Company,"  instituted  for  the  purpose  of 
stealing,  kidnapping,  and  buying  negroes  from  those  encouraged 
to  kidnap  them,  and  for  cairyincthem  in  chains  to  the  plantations: 
and  ^*'  that  the  said  province  may  have  a  constant,  and  sufficient 
supply  of  wtrvhahudii  tuguts  at  moderate  rales,  l:e  is  to  take  care 
that  pnymeni  he  duly  made"  to  the^e  kidnaj>pers.  This  is  included 
in  the  sen  ice  of  God  Almiixhtv.  The  eovernour  is  to  endea\our 
to  get  a  law  pjssed  lo  |;revent  inhuman  cruehy  towards  "Christian 
sen'ants  and  slons^^*  and  airainst  the  wilful  killin:r  "of  Indians  and 
negroes,"'  whicii  is  to  be  made  punishahle  with  death  :  and  mainiin?, 
to  he  punished  by  a  tit  penally.  He  is  to  find  out  the  best  means  to 
facilitate  and  encourage  the  conversion  of  negroes  and  Indians,  to 
the  Christaiu  reliirion.  He  is  lo  provide  for  the  itiisihg  f>f'  Siocb 
and  building  of  publick  work-houses,  "ibr  the  employment  of  poor 
and  indigent  people.''  He  is  to  encouraire  the  Indians  to  trade 
frith  England,  ratlier  than  uith  anv  other  country  or  nation.  He 
is  to  dispose  the  assembly  of  New  Jersey,  to  raise  supplies  for  the 
defence  of  the  province  of  New  York.  He  is  to  prevent  any  per- 
son hrjHMg  a  jrinfing  press,  for  printing,  and  no  book^  pamjihUt^ 
or  other  matter  xchat$fHvtr^  is  to  he  printed,  without  his  especial 
leave  and  license  first  obtained." 

James  Grahame,  considers  the  commission  and  instructions  given 
to  Cornbury,  "an  abstract  of  the  political  state  of  New  Jersey, 
from  the  resumption  of  its  charter,  till  the  termination  of  itscoonex* 
ioD  with  the  British  Empire.'* 


ENGLISH  SBTTLBMBNT  OF    NEW  JERSEY.  OXm 


The  government  was  to  consist  of  a  governour  and  twelve  coun- 
sellors nominated  by  the  crown,  and  a  iiouse  of  assembly,  consist- 
ing of  twenty-four  members  elected  by  tiie  people,  qualified  by 
possessing  an  hundred  acres  of  land,  or  personal  property  to  the 
value  of  fifty  pounds. 

The  laws  enacted  by  the  assembly  were  subject  to  the  negative 
of  the  governour :  but  if  approved  by  him,  were  to  be  transmitted 
to  England  for  confirmation,  or  the  contrary. 

In  1695,  the  governour's  salary  in  East  Jersey  was  £160,  in 
West  ^200.  After  1702,  the  salary  of  the  governour  (of  both 
united)  was  ^600.*  As  Smith  mentions  this  sum,  I  conclude  it 
was  provincial  currency.  When  Lewis  Morris  was  governour,  the 
salary  was  raised  to  ^1,000. 

The  sessions  of  the  assembly  were  to  be  held  alternately  at 
Perth  Amboy,  in  East  Jersey,  and  Burlington,  in  West  Jersey. 

The  arbitrary  rule  of  Cornbury  I  have  mentioned  elsewhere. 
Notwithstanding  his  notorious  vices,  he  prevailed  upon  some  of  his 
counsellors,  appointed  by  the  crown,  to  subscribe  an  address  to 
himself,  beginning  thus  :  **  Your  lordship  has  not  one  virtue  or 
more,  but  a  complete  accomplishment  of  all  perfections,  and  ex- 
pressing" says  Grahame,  **the  most  loyal  abhorrence  of  the  factious 
stubbornness  of  their  fellow  subjects."  And  this  was  received  by 
the  ministry  for  a  time  as  sufficient  testimony  to  prevent  the 
1708  effects  of  the  complaints  made  against  him.  He  was 
superseded  in  1708,  by  Lovelace.  As  a  comment  on 
on  whom,  I  may  quote  Oldmixon's  words.  "  I  confess  it  gives  me 
a  great  deal  of  pain  in  writing  this  history,  to  see  what  sort  of  gov- 
ernours  I  meet  with  in  the  plantations." 

Manufactures  were  discouraged  by  the  English  government. 
Education  was  not  in  a  flourishing  state  :  yet  Princeton  College 
was  founded  in  173S. 

In  1677,  the  beautiful  town  of  Burlington  on  the  banks  of  the 
Delaware,  was  established  by  English  emigrants  from  London  and 
from  Yorkshire,  who  agreed  upon  this  spot,  and  laying  out  the  main 
street  directly  from  the  river — the  Londoners  taking  ten  lots  on  the 
west  side,  and  the  Yorkshiremen  the  same  number  on  the  east.  It 
was  first  called  New  Beverley,  then  Bridlington,  and  finally  Bur- 
lington. 

In  1683  a  town  was  laid  out  on  the  point  of  land  which  is  situa- 
ted at  the  month  of  the  Raritan,  havini^  liiat  river  to  the  souih-west, 
and  the  sound,  called  Arthur  Kull,  dividing  it  iVoui  ^Staten  l.^huid 
on  the  north-west.  Tfiis  beauiiful  situation,  havii)-  a  hnrboiir  ior 
large  ships,  overlooks  the  point  of  Sraten  I^lund,  ami  give;?  a  vlav 


•  Sm  8.  Smhh'i  Hilt  of  New.JenMj. 

O 


of  tbe  Great  Bay,  Saody  Hook,  the  Highlands  of  NeversiDk  and  the 
hills  of  Monmouth. 

Gawin  Lawrie  arrived  as  deputy-govemour  of  East  Jersey  under 
Robert  Barclay,  in  1683,  and  pitched  upon  this  point  for  the  capi- 
tal. It  was  called  originally  Ainboge,  as  may  be  seen  by  old 
records ;  shortly  after,  Ambo  Point,  and  when  in  compliment  to 
the  Earl  of  Perth,  one  of  the  second  set  of  proprietors,  the  town 
was  named,  the  original  Amboge  was  changed  to  Amboy,  and  tbe 
city  called  Perth  Araboy. 

Lawrie,  writing  to  a  friend  in  Britain,  says :  ^^  There  is  no  such 
place  in  England,  for  conveniency  and  pleasant  situation."  He 
says,  he  has  laid  out  ^'  a  place  for  a  market,  with  cross  streets  fironi 
the  river"  where  the  town  houses  are  to  be  built.  '^  I  engage  all 
to  build  a  house  of  thirty  feet  long,  and  eighteen  broad,  and  eighteen 
feet  to  the  raising.  I  have  laid  out  forty  or  fifty  acres  for  the 
govemour's  house." 

The  proprietors  of  New  Jersey  established  universal  freedom  of 
religious  worship.  The  government  and  church  of  England  sent 
out  missionaries  to  that  province ;  the  first  who  arrived  was  Edward 
Perltinch  :  the  people  of  Perth  Amboy  fitted  up  a  house  for  public 
Episcopal  worship :  this  was  near  tbe  gate  of  the  dwelling-place 
now  owned  (1840)  by  Mr.  Andrew  Bell.  The  site  of  this  first 
place  of  publick  worship  was  long  marked  by  a  hollow  which  had 
been  the  cellar,  and  in  that  hollow  grew  a  cherry-tree.  This  was 
on  the  church-lot. 

According  to  the  original  plan,  the  city  of  Perth  Amboy  was 
divided  into  150  lots,  each  of  ten  acres  :  the  price  to  those  who 
first  purchased  was  £15  sterling ;  and  one  year  after  it  was  raised 
to  ^20.  Four  acres  were  reserved  for  a  market  square.  Gawin 
Lawrie  gave  the  plan  for  a  regular  town. 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.^ 


I  HATB  given  the  unsoccessliil  n^oditioos  of  GoTenioor  Stu]r> 
^result  to  prerent  the  New  EngluKl  encroachmoits  in  the  settle* 
nem  of  Westchester ;  but  the  Dutch  did  not  c<Hifine  their  eflbrli 
ID  self-presenration  (or  tt  least  presemuon  of  their  territorj)  lo 
mwe  negotiatioii — they  resisted  the  intniders»  and  at  length  car- 
lind  off  Hrennr-three  persons  to  Foit  Amsterdam,  and  thore  held 
then  priaoners.  They  were,  however,  dismissed  by  the  govei^ 
now,  on  sttbmittii^  to  his  jurisdiction,  or  removing.  When  Nicolk 
airived  at  Westchester^  ihey  complained  to  him ;  but  were,  of  ccHiraOt 
adjudged  to  belong  to  New  York.  At  this  period,  Carr  and  Cart- 
wnght,  took  possession  of  Albany^  for  NicoUs,  and  concluded  a 
treaty  with  certain  chie&  of  the  Mohawks  and  Senecas,  by  whidi 
it  was  stipulated,  that  the  English  should  furnish  to  the  lfoquois» 
aU  sQch  articles  as  the  Dutch  had  done ;  and  shooM  punish  any 
Englishman  who  bdiaved  ill  to  the  Indians,  they  agreeing  to  do  tbie 
same  by  their  people.  The  English  commanders  likewise  agreed* 
to  conclude  a  peace  for  the  Iroquois  with  the  Indians  on  the  river 
and  on  Manhattan  Island. 

Of  the  changes  that  have  taken  place  on  our  shores  by  the  iiK 
flueoce  of  the  sea,  most  people  are  aware.  It  is  stated,  that  **  Conaj' 
Island  proper/^  lay  at  the  entrance  of  the  Narrows,  and  was  sepiK 
rated  (nom  the  Island  now  called  by  that  name,  a  channel  intert^ 
ning.  Who  shall  say,  that  when  Verrazzano  entered  witliin  Sandf 
Hook,  he  did  not  find  in  Amboy  Bay,  five  small  islands  ?  It  m 
certain  that  Nutten,  or  C«oremour*s  Island,  was  almost  within  the 
meroofy  of  man,  part  of  Long  Island,  insomuch  that  at  tow  water  the 


*  Tb»  a«tbor  had  collected  m  gmt  imm  of  oMtmife  l#r  b'»  work,  wlkidi  coidi 
■ol  prvpeitT  b«  intrcHittcvd  m  pait  of  tiie  text  bat  yet  w^re  loo  inportuit  •?  «> 
tere^uiif.  or  runout  to  be  OTenooke^.  Tbe^e  principstiy  cooM^t  of  aWtrtru  Cnm 
w<onI*~«pd  other  antbentxk  doea»eat$  in  the  po««e«4on  of  tbe  CorponticHi  af 
ilie  CitT  of  New  York,  to  wbieb  dM  wnter  wm»  in  the  kinde:«t  onnner  |n  f  iniMu< 
mni«5Btiieted  acee^s^  Tbere  aure  other  extracts  from  tile*  ckT  eotemporur  aewipft* 
pem.  which  are  probably  now  onlv  to  be  foaad  in  the  libroia*  of  pnbtick  inatilB- 
tsmm  The  colleetio»  of  the  aadftor  extend  fion  before  iIm  j«nr  16^9  ta  thn 
peiM^  and  after,  when  ht:^  h«!ittiMnr  was  tn  be  canclnded.  This  cnBectxMi  b  CMi»  < 
tained  in  upwardit  of  ;)00  clo^e  i«ntten  pa^t^  of  foobrap.  The  writer  had«Tt* 
dendr  arransed  the  iir«t  p«rt  of  the^  abrtraets  for  the  purpose  of  ^*  An  Apptf^dfat 
•T  JiWellaneott«  Matter/'  with  the  de^tfn  of  introdncinic  »nch  inlere$tii^^  svAy 
ns  woald  not  siwell  oat  the  work  to  an  inconvenient  extent.  The  Editor  In* 
dfOTonred  ont  of  thb  treasore,  to  aeleet  the  pieces  OMst  rdtnahle— dhhongh  if 
whole  wore  to  bo  pohlHhed,  xmj  iittla  wooM  ho  fenad  cither 


canle  pas&ed  and  rejxased.  A  ship  cbaoDel  wm  tc^ilet  lix  tp§ 
bhndr.  ^^Ti  :r;e  r»i:.t-r  litA.  in  loi^!i.  Grav^^rsend  bad  i  rciOu  212?- 
bour  Tor  •-:.:?[>' "2.  "Riil-:.  !-•?  i-ow  ::-.eLCO"A  Jard- 

el^e.  w-a*  ]/*di-i  for  in  pro5  ^ce.  Trje  jj^^rc^njaii  wiio  suenoea  inc 
caUje  of  i!je  2ou:a  wl?  '^ciii  in  tiiiuei.  wije^t  aod  com.  Ti<e  nuD- 
Uier  of  Earl  Kjrii:':r>ii  liid  .£*»  &  v-rij  -in  *ucii  par  as  ncB 
ni*!e.  a-  1:  pa*=4r*  fiO'n  rastj  10  m^iij/'     A  ad  itje  peopie  f«f  Ne-»To»:i 

be  paid  fjoif  i2  cr#rx:  iiiir^  i,ih  :t3  cl:^c  :"  ar>d  ii!U«^ol 
perfom^ed.  or  dc:>i  eOJuC^td  to  be  pild.     :r:ock  UmC  p: 
e^timaied  l»v  25^*550.-?.  c.^o  Mr-  Wcod  rive*  ibe  prices 
16G-5  asd  1679.     Tiii*  pricJce  ccjuouei  uiiiii  17 W, 
bei-ame  more  pleDiv, 

Of  tl>e  ludi^i^of  Lodz  Lhnd  the  MoDiauks  appear  to  bare 
been  the  principal,  and  tueir  oaice  i<  peq>eiiiaied  by  ibe  appella- 
tsoa  of  tbe  exireme  ea^iem  point  of  ibe  Ujaod.  Tber  mere,  bam^ 
erer,  subject  to  I'te  Pefjuots  of  New  EdzIaikI.  acd  pe7iiap§  10  tie 
Iroquob  of  New  York.  In  1644^  tbe  Mootauk^  axni  oeirbbcMffBC 
tribes  put  tbemsehes  onder  tbe  projection  and  soveroiDeoi  of 
CoxDfnissJoDers  of  ibe  Cfliied  CoiODies.  aod  a  sacbem  of  tbe  J 
tauks  was  made  cbief  of  tbe  Loa£  Inland  lodians.  In  16-S4  ife 
XarracriDseTis  icraded  tbe  Mootauks.  aixl  tbe  wbole  uibe 
bave  beeo  extirpaied  biii  for  tbe  protecik>o  of  tbe  seoien  of 
HampioD. 

Ii  t^irjy  found   incoDvenieDt  thai  tbe  town  aod   comnr 
sbouid  a?  beretoiVtre   be  paid  in  b^rtL  pork,  etc—  NicoJis 
ti*e  lowD*  to  ineei  and  send  in  tiie  comt^ioed  rates,  as  do 
beef,  pork-  eic.  nojld  be  received. 

WijiiiTD  >rrji;r.*  &si  ^  \::i\  a:  lire  liirje  of  trje  surreixaer  to  Njcala. 
New  York  -cor-ji^ied  of  rivers.:  «>ma^,  *:reei5-  Jaid  oai  in  tbe  rear 
1055."  \^  e  iirfOTT  -uT-at  ::.e  :.r.  itlj  c r.  a.rj  en-ii>eDce  oier]oc*ldnr 
tbe  bcv  on  the  fice  of  if'proc.::.  r'rori;  lii-e  s^o.  Lud  lije  'iown  od  the 
land  aide.  Ii  wij  £  r-f^Libr*:.  v^jir.  fojii  bsff-ijon^ :  tbe  oisier  ?t^ 
lower  T«ai]  ws^  of  irTice.  W;:!:.  the  fort  were  ^r>e  ro^erDOEa-"* 
boa^.  *e:ret=:r}'=  or.'e.  ire  cr.-r'.  1.  cIjO  bcjrtckf  for  ir»e  riLmMOL 

Id  1*>->5.  Go.  er-  .-  ^:  _;. -.  r»rn:  rci«:d  L*^  we]j  corL;«o««  cj 
stoTie?  c'C  e'-rn  ..  --r-"-.-.  :.:6-"  :.■}  j  iV.rscoe?.  -rif -.  exTended  frcwn 
wai^.r  :o  \*b:er.  100  .:  ::.e  r!:e  of  '..ir  present  W^^i  sireet-  I:  bw 
two  ^•%:€-*:  ije  -rl'-:  r^'e.  re-r  ::  *■  rreseni  Pear  street,  ibet  ciose 
on  iLe  ELJ-iriier.  lj.:  i::e  l2:r.d  ri^e,  on  tbe  Llrn  rn>ui>d. 
Broad  »-£'»'. 


€fSm^rmk,X9ltp. 


MXSCBLLANBOUS  UATTBB.  CZTU 

A  Dutch  memorial  states  the  population  of  the  province  at  CyOCMiL 
The  city  is  ?iippo>etl  lo  have  rc»niaine<l  i?.0(H). 
1669  When    (tovernour    Loithire   nqwired  aid  from   Lon^ 

Island  to  fortify  New  York,  it  was  riM'i.seti  ••  unlr'^s  tlie  peo- 
ple might  have  the  privilcires  whirli  other? of  his  m;ijes!\  *s  ^iibjecls  in 
these  parts  enjoyed."     Kvidnntly  meaning  by  "  liis  njaje>i\'5  s^ub- 
jects"  the  people  of  New  Kngiand.     Tiiese  proreedinirs  were  pro- 
Douoced  **  scandalous,  illeiralo  and  seditious.**     The  izovernoiir  and 
council  ordered  the  paper  demanding;  these  ris:liis  (which  had  been 
promised  in  fact  by  Nicolls)  to  be  burned  before  the  Town  house* 
We  have  seen  (vol.  1..  p.  1:^7.)  that   Mr.  Hedlow  was  one  of 
govenour^s  council.     The  island  which  is  now  called  by  his 
ooee  had  the  name  of  ^^  Lo%e  island/*  and  subseipienfly  the 
more  appropriate  one  of  ^^Dyster  Island."     In  liU)9,  by  request 
of  Mr.  Bedlow,  it  wat  made  a  place  of  privilege  from  warrant  of 


We  find  an  order  from  Govemov  Lovelace  and  council,  dated 
Janiierj  2Sth,  1669,  for  the  lrans|x>iiation  of  Marcus  Jacobs^  or 
Jacobson,  called  the  I^'ug  /Vmn,  to  Barbadoes,  there  to  be  sold 
for  a  servant  to  the  best  advantage.  He  had  been  imprisoned  e 
mootfa  in  New  York.  Marcus  has  not  printed  his  autobiography, 
or  perhaps  he  would  appear  a  patriot  hero.  As  his  enemies  say,  be 
was  an  imposter  and  a  rebel,  assuming  the  name  of  a  distinguished 
Swede,  and  opposing  the  legal  government  of  England  in  Delaware 
Bay.  He  was  tried  by  a  special  conmnssion,  as  Leisler  afterwards 
that  is,  bv  those  who  had  determined  to  destrov  him.  He 
sentenced  to  death,  but  merci/tiiltf  the  sentence  was  changed 
to  whipping,  brandin£:,  imprisonment,  transportation,  and  slavery. 

March  24th,  1669,  Govemour  Lovolace  established  by  order  a 
dme  and  place  for  merchants  to  meet.  The  time  was  to  be  oo 
Fridays,  between  the  hours  of  eleven  and  twelve,  at  present  aecir 
tie  bridge.  The  bridge  was  a  planked  walk  over  a  part  of  the 
canal  near  the  foot  of  Broad  street.  This  canal  or  sewer  had  for- 
raerif  been  the  creek  leadinsr  from  the  bay  to  near  the  present  Ctia- 
tom-house,  that  b,  to  the  foot  of  the  hill  called  by  the  Dutch  Ver- 
leiteoberg,  and  long  after  by  the  English,  Flattenbarrack  Hill. 
Berg  b  in  itself  Ai//,  and  rt  ritfftn  is  fn  sfnp.  Thus  the  hill  was 
caliod  the  stopping-hill,  or  the  termination  of  the  tide  water ;  and 
here  was  the  Ferr}*  house. 

When  Lovelace  fixed  the  time  of  meeting  for  the  merchants,  be 
ordered  the  roavor  to  take  care  that  thev  be  not  disturbed  ;  and 
the  riDgiog  of  a  bell  denoted  the  times  of  congregating  and  dispers- 
ing.    In  afierdays,  a  building  was  erected  on  this  spot,  called  the 

Eivhange. 
1670         It  is  believed  that  Pauw,  one  of  the  first  patrooos,  pur* 
dMsed  Slaten  Island  from  the  Indiaiis;  but  in  1661  it  was 


aguo  pmcbased  from  tbem  bj  Angoitiiie  Hennto,  ca  dbe  tt  d 
ueeefober ;  ootwithstaiidinE  whichy  and  anoiber  sde  made  lo  ikc 
Dotcb  in  1657.  certain  Indian  sacbema  claimed  the  whole  ar,  a 
greater  part  of  it,  from  tbe  gorenour  and  council,  in  1670L  Loie- 
lace  appealed  to  tbe  old  sales,  but  tbe  Indians  said  tbe  Doicfa 
paid  tbem  in  full,  and  tbef  now  demanded  an  addition  of  six 
fiuboms  of  wampum,  but  finally  agreed  to  receive  ibor  humdni^ 
together  with  a  number  of  guns,  axes,  kettles,  and  watcbooais.  The 
govemour  and  council  came  to  an  agreement  with  tbem  od  the 
April,  1670,  bj  wbicb,  on  receiving  payment,  they  promised  lo 
don  the  isbnd«  On  tbe  l-3tb,  tbey  were  satisfied,  and  on  the  lAcf 
May  tbey  formally  delivered  up  tbe  island  to  Mr.  Thomas  \jm^ 
lace  and  Mr.  Matthias  Xicolls,  wbo  were  deputed  by  the  govc^ 
nonr.  Vet,  Nathaniel  Sylvester  is  represented  in  a  poblick  ioeow 
raent  of  the  government,  in  1672,  July  ^tb,  as  tbe  owner  of  dbe 
island. 

In  July  of  this  year,  (IG7O9)  Catharine  Haffaoo,  a  native  of 
England,  (who  lived  nineteen  years  at  Weathersfield,  in  C 
ticut,  where  she  had  been  tried  for  witchcraft,  found  guilty  by 
jury,  acquitted  by  tbe  bench,  and  released  out  of  prison  opoo 
dition  that  she  would  remove)  appeared  before  tbe  council  om  iha 
accusation  of  Thomas  Hunt  and  Edward  Waters,  in  bebalf  of  iht 
town  of  Westchester,  they  praying  that  she  might  be  driven 
the  town.  Tfab  affair  was  adjourned  to  tbe  ;^4th  August, 
being  heard,  it  was  referred  to  Uie  general  court  of  as.-^ 
woman  bein;  ordered  to  trive  «<;curiiv  for  srood  behaviour. 

In  Albany,  the  exci-e  on  beer  ua«  fanned  out  to  Delavall,  the 
mavor,  for  7,S00  sniiiderf. 

There  were  three  companies  of  militia  at  the  city  of  \ew  Vorfc, 
and  when  Governour  Lo%eIace  went  to  Delaware,  he  ordered  out 
twenty  horse,  ro  escort  him. 

Lovelace  heinz  apjjlled  to  for  a  bill  of  divorce,  which  a  cocrt 
had  declared  beyond  their  power?,  he,  in  council,  decreed  that  **  il 
bein;  conformalile  10  the  hw.r  of  shU  ^'ovemrncrnt  as  weii  as  to  tbe 
practice  of  the  civil  law  and  the  law«  of  our  nation  of  KnrUnd.'*  the 
marriage  should  be  di^.-olved.  on  proof  of  ihe  '.lift'*  aduherr. 
1671  The  :ro\enimcni.'?  of  New  Vork  and  New  Jerj^ey,  made 

preparations  for  a  war  with  the  In^iians  of  the  letter  pn^ 
▼ince.  in  consequence  of  tuo  munJer<  committed  on  wbitesw  who 
lived  upon  the  Liitle  l.'^land  i:i  ti>e  Delaware,  hinz  between  Bur* 
linston  and  Bri^^iol.  But  the  Indian  «acheras.  disowoed  partici- 
pation in  tlie  act,  and  proved  it  by  orderinsr  the  death  ol'  the  mar* 
defer.  He  wia  a  vonnsr  man.  who  in  a  fit  of  zrief  or  freozv.  oc^ 
easooed  by  tlie  death  of  hU  .•ister  by  .•ickne;^*.  had  comraitietl  this 
daad,  and  on  beinf  informed  that  the  sachems  ordered  his  detfht 
CJOfCfcd  hia  eyes  with  his  bands,  saying,  **  kill  me.**     Tha  Indfaa 


U18CBXJULMBOU9  UATTBB.  GXXX 

sent  with  the  messag:eY  immediataty  shot  him.     The  English  bong 
his  body  in  chains,  and  trave  the  sachems  five  matchcoats. 

In  June  this  year,  Sir  William  Berkeley,  go^ernour  of  Viipnia, 
returned  thanks  to  («od,  that  there  were  neither  free  schools  nor 
printiug  in  the  colony.  **  (lod  keep  us  from  both/'  Agreeably  to 
this  sentiment  of  the  ^rood  old  times,  when  Lord  Effingham  was 
appointed  governour  of  Virginia,  he  was  ordered  by  the  English 
government,  **  to  aliow  no  person  to  use  a  printing  press  on 
any  occasion  whatever,"  This  order  was  in  1688.  Evelyn  tes- 
tifiies  that  in  1670,  there  were  fears  that  the  New  England  plania- 
tions  would  break  from  all  dependance  on  England.  The  pros* 
perity  of  the  colonies  was  a  constant  source  of  jealousy  to  England, 
and  to  make  pmfit  by  engrossing  their  trade  was  the  great  object  of 
English  lesrislation,  in  respect  to  them. 

The  books  of  the  council  give  as  the  yearly  charge  to  the  town 
of  Albany  for  officers — to  the  minister,  l2o  beavers,  "at  thirty 
guilders  or  stuyvers"  the  beaver.  The  secretary  600  guilders : 
the  recorder  400. 

The  governour  commissioned  an  Indian  to  be  sarfiem  of  the 
SAiumtcftch :  and  he  commissioned  an  Indian  as  constable  among 
the  Shinnacocks. 

Samuel  Drisius,  the  Dutch  minister  of  the  city,  applied  to  the 
governour  and  council,  December  the  5th,  1671,  to  have  two  years 
arrears  of  salarv  made  s:ood  :  thev  determined  that  as  he  had  been 
sick  one  year  of  the  time,  they  would  only  pay  him  one  year,  and 
accordingly,  ordered  4,400  to  be  paid  him.  And  they  recom- 
mend to  the  elders  and  deacons  of  the  church,  that  if  it  should  not 
be  tliought  sufficient,  they  will  by  some  means  help  him  further, 

and  for  the  future  his  salar\'  t^o  on  as  before. 
1672  Henry  Roonboome  the  Dutch  sexton  at  Albany,  applies 
to  the  governour  and  council,  that  he  might  have  liberty  to 
bar\'  Lutherans  and  all  there.  Ordered,  that  since  the  Lutherans 
have  a  toleration  for  their  religion,  they  may  bury  their  own 
dead. 

Ordered  by  the  court  of  assizes,  *'  that  a  good  piece  of  eight  of 
Spanish  coin  of  Mexico,  Sevil,  or  Pillar,  be  valtied  and  go  for  six 
shillings." 

Gardifrr*s  Island^  had  been  called  the  hie  of  Wight  by  the 
English,  and  by  the  Indians  ManchoHack.  It  appears,  that  David 
Gardner  (son  of  Lyon)  in  1665,  received  a  patent  from  Nicolls,  in 
which  was  stipulated,  that  he  should  pay  a  yearly  rent  of  fire 
pounds,  but  Gardner  petioned  Lovelace,  in  September,  1670,  to 
hare  the  above  rent  remitted.  Accordingly,  the  governour  remi^ 
tad  it,  aiHl  in  lieu,  ordered  a  lamb  (if  demanded)  to  be  paid  on  tte 
lal  of  May,  yearly,  forever.  About  this  time  governour  Love* 
pnrduoed  Staten  Island. 


CXVIII  APPENDIX. 

again  purchased  from  them  by  Augustme  Herman,  on  the  6th  of 
December  ;  notwithstanding  which,  and  another  sale  made  to  the 
Dutch  in  1G57,  certain  Indian  sachems  claimed  the  whole  or,  t 
greater  part  of  it,  from  the  govemour  and  council,  in  1670.  Love- 
lace appealed  to  the  old  sales,  but  the  Indians  said  the  Dutch  had  not 
paid  them  in  full,  and  they  now  demanded  an  addition  of  six  hundred 
fathoms  of  wampum,  but  finally  agreed  to  receive  four  hundred, 
together  with  a  number  of  guns,  axes,  kettles,  and  watchcoats.  The 
governour  and  council  came  to  an  agreement  with  them  on  the  9th  of 
April,  1670,  by  which,  on  receiving  payment,  they  promised  to  aban- 
don the  island.  On  the  13th,  they  were  satisfied,  and  on  the  1st  of 
May  they  formally  delivered  up  the  island  to  Mr.  Thomas  Love- 
lace and  Mr.  Matthias  Nicolls,  who  were  deputed  by  the  gover- 
nour. Yet,  Nathaniel  Sylvester  is  represented  in  a  publick  instru- 
ment of  tlie  government,  in  1672,  July  8th,  as  the  owner  of  the 
island. 

In  July  of  this  year,  (1670,)  Catharine  Harrison,  a  native  of 
England,  (who  lived  nineteen  years  at  Weathersfield,  in  Connec- 
ticut, where  she  had  been  tried  for  witchcraft,  found  guilty  by  the 
jury,  acquitted  by  the  bench,  and  released  out  of  prison  upon  con- 
dition that  she  would  remove)  appeared  before  the  council  on  the 
accusation  of  Thomas  Hunt  and  Edward  Waters,  in  behalf  of  the 
town  of  Westchester,  they  praying  that  she  might  be  driven  from 
the  town.  This  affair  was  adjourned  to  the  24th  August,  when 
being  iieard,  it  was  referred  to  the  general  court  of  assizes — the 
woman  being  ordered  to  give  security  lor  good  beiiaviour. 

In  Albany,  tlie  excise  on  beer  was  fanned  out  to  Delavall,  the 
mayor,  for  7,800  guilders. 

There  were  three  companies  of  militia  at  the  city  of  New  York, 
and  when  (lovernour  Lovelace  went  to  Delaware,  he  ordered  out 
twenty  horse,  to  escort  iiim. 

Lovelace  being  ap|)lie(l  to  for  a  bill  of  divorce,  which  a  court 
had  declared  beyond  their  powers,  he,  in  council,  decreed  that  '*  it 
being  conformable  to  the  laws  of  this  government  as  well  as  to  the 
practice  of  the  civil  law  and  the  laws  of  our  nation  of  Kn2:land,"  tJie 
marriage  should  be  dissolved,  on  proof  of  the  wife's  adulter}'. 
1671  The  governments  of  New  York  and  New  .Jersey,  made 

preparations  for  a  war  with  the  Indians  of  the  latter  pro- 
vince, in  conserpiencc  of  two  murders  coniniittcd  on  whites,  who 
lived  upon  the  Little  Island  in  liie  Delaware,  lying  between  Bur- 
lington and  Bristol.  But  the  Indian  sachems,  disowned  partici- 
pation in  the  act,  and  proved  it  by  ordering  the  death  of  the  mur- 
derer. He  was  a  young  man,  who  in  a  fit  of  grief  or  frenzy,  oc- 
casioned by  the  death  of  his  sister  by  sickness,  had  committed  this 
deed,  and  on  being  informed  that  the  sachems  ordered  his  death, 
covered  his  eyes  with  his  hands,  saying,  ^^  kill  roe."     The  Indian 


MISOBLXJLNEOUS  MATTER.  CXIZ 

sent  with  the  message,  immediately  shot  him.     The  English  hung 
his  body  in  chains,  and  gave  the  sachems  five  matchcoats. 

In  June  this  year.  Sir  William  Berkeley,  governour  of  Virginia, 
returned  thanks  to  God,  that  there  were  neither  free  schools  nor 
printing  in  the  colony.  **  God  keep  us  from  both."  Agreeably  to 
this  sentiment  of  the  good  old  times,  when  Lord  Effingham  was 
appointed  governour  of  Virginia,  he  was  ordered  by  the  English 
government,  "  to  allow  no  person  to  use  a  printing  press  on 
any  occasion  whatever,"  This  order  was  in  1683.  Evelyn  les- 
ti6es  that  in  1670,  there  were  fears  that  the  New  England  planta- 
tions would  break  from  all  dependance  on  England.  The  pros- 
perity of  the  colonies  was  a  constant  source  of  jealousy  to  England, 
and  to  make  profit  by  engrossing  their  trade  was  the  great  object  of 
English. legislation,  in  respect  to  them. 

The  books  of  the  council  give  as  the  yearly  charge  to  the  town 
of  Albany  for  officers — to  the  minister,  125  beavers,  "at  thirty 
guilders  or  stuyvers"  the  beaver.  The  secretary  600  guilders : 
the  recorder  400. 

The  governour  commissioned  an  Indian  to  be  sachem  of  the 
Shirmacocks :  and  he  commissioned  an  Indian  as  constable  among 
the  Shinnacocks. 

Samuel  Drisius,  the  Dutch  minister  of  the  city,  applied  to  the 
governour  and  council,  December  the  5th,  1671,  to  have  two  years 
arrears  of  salary  made  good  :  they  determined  that  as  he  had  been 
sick  one  year  of  the  time,  they  would  only  pay  him  one  year,  and 
accordingly,  ordered  ^100  to  be  paid  him.  And  they  recom- 
niend  to  the  elders  and  deacons  of  the  church,  that  if  it  should  not 
be  thought  sufficient,  they  will  by  some  means  help  him  further, 

and  for  the  future  his  salary  go  on  as  before. 
1672  Henry  Roonboome  the  Dutch  sexton  at  Albany,  applies 
to  the  governour  and  council,  that  he  might  have  liberty  to 
bury  Lutherans  and  all  there.  Ordered,  that  since  the  Lutherans 
have  a  toleration  for  their  religion,  they  may  bury  their  own 
dead. 

Ordered  by  the  court  of  assizes,  "  that  a  good  piece  of  eight  of 
Spanish  coin  of  Mexico,  Sevil,  or  Pillar,  be  valued  and  go  for  six 
shillings." 

Gardner* s  Island y  had  been  called  the  Isle  of  Wight  by  the 
English,  and  by  the  Indians  Manchouack.  It  appears,  that  David. 
Gardner  (son  of  Lyon)  in  1665,  received  a  patent  from  Nicolls,  in 
which  was  stipulated,  that  he  should  pay  a  yearly  rent  of  five 
pounds,  but  Gardner  petioned  Lovelace,  in  September,  1670,  to 
have  the  above  rent  remitted.  Accordingly,  the  governour  remit- 
ted it,  and  in  lieu,  ordered  a  lamb  (if  demanded)  to  be  paid  on  the 
Ist  of  May,  yearly,  forever.  About  this  time  governour  Love- 
laco  purchased  Staten  Island. 


QXX  APPENDIX. 

On  llio  l-2ih  ofOpioher,  K»72.  Lovelace  W'trr-rrf  nvt  of  ike  m^ 

g07i:  /■''.  r',-  -  . ''  A  '  //.'  ,  /  •!/•  /n.tj  a^ilf  t'li*' II  then  in  office,  Mr.  Jofaa 
L-iv.T'  :/ ^-  !o  li.j  J";  \'/.  !'>r  ;i.«r  f  n..jiij:i  \  rur.  Cornelius  N  an  Ruj- 
vf'Ti  lo  \,f  i!":=  ."'-..    '.'.  .  M   --J-.   I-aii^-*  iJedlow,  Johanmi 

D'.'-ve*. -•-:.  V.  :  .;  .  .. ;  ;  •.  • '.  :::.!  I'i  ji.':- kr>niouL«.  lo  be  alderiMfc 
Mr.  Vi;.:..:  -  N.  '^  .-.  i  .••  i:;.;.or  lor  Mi72.  on  *' taking  leafe  of  ik 
bencli,""  le  •oiijiriL:i.:vii  lijat  ct  riiin  cJ'yr  be  appointed  for  bold^| 
the  ro'iri.  V.  iiij  oUiir  p-.tli'Ions  :  and  that  "  Mr.  Charicton  BMJT 
be  aiJrnii'.cti  to  'oiriij^.f:  lii-  -fhoole  in  tfie  state-houBe."  By  iha 
influenfo  of  Mr.  M:irijiji-  Miroll-,  it  was  ordered  that  no 
arre-ji'Ml.  ^lio'ild  br*  i\i-u\\\frf\  in  prison,  any  lonirer  than  ihe 
ensuin;;  court  day.  fuiri  tiir-n  to  li:r\e  a  bearing',  or  else  be 
The  court  allow frd  to  I*eter  ShitHeiu.  a-  n  i:ifi  for  this  present 
year,  "  above  fii:^  former  .-^^dary,  tiie  >uui  of  Ofty  i^uilders,  provided 
it  be  laid  oui  in  clo?ah<:.'' 

In  1672  llie  nuiiilvjr  of  militia  in  the  province  was  2000 — Dam- 
ber  of  inhabitants  10  or  12.000.  Jn  10^0  this  number  was  doubled* 
Militia  4000  foot.  -^UO  l:or-e.  iiiid  a  company  of  dra«roons.  Kezi>- 
lar  troops,  a  ro'npany  at  New  Voik.  and  one  at  Albany.  New  York 
had  a  fort  of  40  l'imi-.  A  .rmall  fort  at  Albany  of  palisades,  wat 
the  defeiK'e  of  ihm  pl:if"e. 

Neirrrj  ^bue^r  were  broucrht  from  Barbadoes  and  exchanefed  fat 
the  nece^T-arie?;  of  life.  'J'wenty-fonr  villajres  divided  into  six  cir- 
cuits constituted  the  |)ro\ince.  Sixty  thousand  bushels  of  wb^it 
were  now  a!iii'i:d!y  i-vjioited  :  other  produce  was  peas,  tobacco^ 
carpenter*^  woorl.  :j:id  nut  v.ood.  Already  tar  and  pilch  were  made- 
Beef,  pork,  bor-e*.  wr-i«-  hI^o  exporter',  and  the  traders  received 
much  fur  from  the  Indirjit-.  'J*Jje  injjioil*  were  manufactures  of 
all  kinds.  Woollen  bhinkets  and  other  article:^  for  the  Indians, 
the  trade  with  wliom  wns  r-arried  on  ;:t  Albauv.  to  the  airiount  of 
j£oO,000  per  anrmm.  Vet  a  merchant  possessed  of  X 1 000,  or  even 
£oOi),  was  accounted  rich.  I'he  moveable  property  of  the  roer- 
chanis  and  landholders  was  e:?timated  at  41100,000.  Trade  was 
carried  on  in  ten  or  fifteen  \essels  of  100  tons,  beloufring  to  Europe, 
New  Knidand,  and  .New  York.  Of  the  latter,  six  small  vesstrb 
were  all.  A  ho:rshead  of  tobacco  paid  a  tax  of  ^'25,  and  one  of 
beaver  skins  -t'lo  :  other  articles  exported  free  :  2  per  cent,  was 
paid  on  imports,  and  'i  jier  cent,  on  the  Indian  trade.  Dealers  in 
spirits  paid  a  hiidier  duty  and  for  a  license.  There  were  many 
sects,  but  few  supported  ministers.  1*he  Presbyterians  and  lade* 
pendents  were  the  rirl^e-t.     .]f:\'^<  were  tolerated. 

October  2-id. — At  a  special  fouii  of  the  mavor,  John  Lawrence 
and  Aldermen  Van  ituwen,  Depevr-ter  and  Darvall : — Messrs 
Johannes  Van  Bru^^h.  Jerouymus  Ebbitrgh,  Jacob  Leisler,  and 
Nicholas  Bayard,  or  in  his  absence  Gelyne  Verplank,  wert  ap- 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CXZI 

ftoioted  to  examine  a  certain  claim  made  by  Jaquea  Cousseau; 
n  the  next  record  Jacob's  name  is  written  Lfuslaer, 

October  26th. — In  the  mayor's  court  the  first  cause  is  recorded 
in  Dutch,  the  others  in  English.  Anna  Wessels  demands  for  a 
debt  to  her,  from  Rymer  Van  der  Coote,  that  Symon  Hawkes,  the 
serrant  of  Rymer  Van  der  Coote,  may  be  condemned  to  serve  out 
the  remainder  of  his  time  for  said  debt  Hawkes  says,  that  Rymer 
Van  der  Coote,  paid  450  guilders  for  him,  which  he  was  to  work 
out  "  by  said  Van  der  Coote."  Gelyn  Verplanck  and  Thomas 
Taylor  appointed  constables  for  a  year. 

November  (>th. — By  the  order  of  Governour  Francis  Lovelace, 
the  following  ordinances  are  published  from  the  State-house. 
•*  Concerning  the  prosecution  of  servants  with  hue  and  cryes  at  the 
publick  charge."  2d — "  Touching  the  killing  of  wolves."  3rd 
—"That  no  stranger  or  person  unknown, should  travel  within  this 
government  without  a  passport  whence  he  came."  A  law  for  the 
observing  of  the  Sabbath,  passed  in  1665,  renewed.  Nicholas 
Bayard  at  this  time  vendue  master. 

December  3d. — The  sheriff  brings  Thomas  Crancon,  a  carman, 
into  court,  for  "  uttering  of  [here  a  word  occurs  in  the  record 
which  I  cannot  decipher,]  language,  and  bad  speaches  against  Mr. 
Pell,  Mr.  Atwood,  *and  others  of  the  inhabitants."  The  carman 
confessed,  and  promised  better  behaviour:  "the  court  passed  by 
bis  errour,  but  ordered  him  not  to  suffer  his  daughter  to  go  any  more 
in  the  cart ;  but  he  himself  to  attend  the  Kart^  or  put  an  able  person 
in  his  stead."  A  man  coming  into  court  states  that  in  compliance 
with  their  order,  he  had  kept  the  peace  and  in  no  manner  molested 
his  wife,  and  therefore,  requested  that  his  wife  should  be  ordered 
to  come  and  live  with  him,  he  promising  to  behave  himself.  She 
is  sent  for,  but  declares  that  she  had  tried  him  so  often  and  been 
deceived,  that  she  "would  rather  dye  than  be  brought  to  it  again." 
Bui  the  court  determined  that  being  lawfully  married,  and  no 
just  cause   of   separation,   they  do   live    together  as   man   and 

wife. 
1673         April  8th. —  Upon   information   given  to  the  Mayor's 
Court,  the  court  ordered  that  William  Pamer  shall  make 
appear  to  Mr.  Mayor  before  next  court  day,  how  he  was  married^ 
and  by  what  means  he  came  by  this  wyfe. 

May  6th. — The  court  adjudged  a  man  to  pay  ^6  Boston  sil- 
ver, or  the  value  thereof  in  wheat :  the  w^heat  at  the  price  of  3s.  6d. 
per  bushel. 

May  28th. — A  man  swears  to  the  agreement  between  Peter  Ben- 
nett and  Jean  Le  Roux.  Bennett  was  the  captain  of  a  vessel  sail- 
ing from  London,  and  she  engaged  to  pay  for  the  passage  of  her- 
self and  four  children  to  New  York,  each  the  sum  of  £S  sterling 
on  arrival ;  and  if  the  said  Jean  could  not  procure  the  money  in 

p 


•is  veekf,  **  the  nid  four  cbBdreo  Aovid  be  at  the  <Byl  of  Ai 
■aid  Benoeu  for  to  be  8oid  or  disposed  of  at  his  pleasarB/*  Tm 
court  ordered  accordinclv,  that  fbe  should  paj  XS 
bead.  Nothinz  is  said  of  the  power  giren  to  the  rapiain 
children.  But  June  20th,  Jacob  Leuler  came  ibrnrd  m 
of  this  poor  woaiaDv  and  tendered  the  amount,  JLAO 
this  conntrj  pqr,''  and  the  payment  was  made  by 
chandixe  and  produce. 

Some  attempts  were  made  to  g^  up  witchciafi,  bal  they 
The  major  and  citizens  did  military-  doty,  parading 
City  hall,  at  Coenties  slip,  and  holding  goard  at  dbe  fivf, 
locking  the  city  gates,  (on  Wall  street)  The  fan  was  oo 
terminating  precipitously  in  a  blnff  on  the  south  point  iit  the 
and  so  remained  till  17S9,  or  after.  The  govemonr  and 
proclaimed  that  instead  of  eight  while  and  ibnr  black 
six  white  and  three  black  should  be  equal  to  a  stiTcr  or  peany,  (I 
ptesuroe  a  peimy  sterling.)  The  white  wampimi  was  worked  oflt 
of  the  inside  of  the  conque,  and  the  black  (or  purple)  cot  of  Ac 
mussel  or  the  cbm  shelL 

Coenties  slip  was  so  called  from  CoemraJi  Tern,  Eydk-^^i 
being  the  iamiliar  equivalent  for  Coenradt. 
1674  In  the  year  1674,  John  Gerritts  was  thiowB  imo 
for  pretending  to  extraordinary  sanctity,  and  endeari 
to  impose  on  the  people.  And  Peter  Ebbet  was  taken  up  oa  a 
warrant,  for  reporting  that  he  bad  seen  sights  and  risioos  in  At 
city,  and  causing  publick  uneasiness.  There  were  Indian 
and  block-houses  were  ordered.  The  Quakers  were  fined  ibr 
doing  military  duty.  The  Long  Island  sachems  came  to  3 
York  and  ga%'e  Andros  assurances  of  fiieodship ;  but  it 
that  the  Indians  had  been  disarmed,  and  traffick  hui  been  fixfatddea 
with  the  Long  Island  Indians  by  the  court  of  a«ax^i^  On  die 
18th  of  September,  anns  were  restored  to  the  Indians  o(  Eaii 
Hampton  and  Shelter  Island,  on  account  of  good  behaiionr ;  fast 

in  October,  they  were  again  disarmed. 
1676  Orders  made  at  the  general  court  of  assizes  in  New  ToriE, 
beginning  the  6th  and  ending  the  13th  of  October,  in  the 
97th  year  of  his  majcsty^s  reign,  167o.  In  consideratioQ  of  the 
mischief  liappening  from  carT}'ing  liquors  and  goods  to  trade  wtk 
ibe  Indians  at  their  planutions,  where,  in  case  of  disorders  ^'anll 
rabcfe  cann  bee  expected,**  it  is  ordered,  that  the  law  be  iiltmnJ, 
which  prohibiu  strong  liquors  to  the  Indians  in  New  Yorke  schire, 
upon  Long  Island,  and  dependencies — and  the  constables  are  ID 
lake  care  that  no  powder  or  lead  be  sold  to  the  Indians  **  bat  faj 
tbcm  as  directed,  or  by  their  consents/*  The  goTemour^s  procb- 
mation  about  bkMrk-houses  is  to  be  obsen  ed.  "  Resolred,  ifaM  aD 
canoes  belonging  to  Christians  or  Indians  oo  the  North  sale  of 


If ISCSLLAXBOUS  MATTBR.  CXXUl 

Long  Isltody  to  the  East  of  Hellgate,  shall  be  (within  three  days 
from  the  publication  of  this  order,)  brought  to  the  next  townes  and 
delivered  to  the  constables,  to  be  secured  near  their  block-house* 
And  any  canoe  found  upon  the  sound  after  that  time,  be  destroyed.* 
That  the  Indyans  at  Mr.  PelFs  or  Anne  Hook's  Neck,  be  ordered  to  re- 
move to  their  usual  winter  quarters^  within  Hellgate  upon  this  Island. 
English  weights  and  measures  ordered,  and  others  prohibited. 
This  being  a  time  of  scarcity,  com  and  flower  not  to  be  exported. 
Ordered,  that  all  persons  having  horses  on  Long  Island,  do  within 
six  months,  prove  their  horses  before  the  constables  and  overseers* 
etc,  and  such  as  shall  be  found  unmarked  (according  to  law) 
shall  be  forfeited,  tlie  one  half  to  his  Royal  Highness,  the  other  to 
the  town.  No  person  to  presume  to  mark  a  horse  or  colt,  but 
before  a  constable  or  overseer.  Those  on  Long  Island  who  have 
estates  from  £20  to  100,  may  keepe  one  breeding  mare  and  no 
more,  and  so  for  every  jCIOO  ;  but  may  have  as  many  working 
horses  as  he  shall  have  occasion  for,  and  double  the  number  in  the 
woods.  That  every  single  person,  though  of  but  £20  estate,  may 
keep  one  horse  at  home,  and  in  the  woods  proportionably.  Re- 
gulations made  for  the  oil  casks,  at  the  East  end  of  Long  Island 
in  the  towns,  "  where  the  whaling  dengne  u  followed.^*  Ordered* 
that  besides  the  usual  county  rate  for  maintenance  of  ministers, 
"  there  shall  be  a  double  rate  levyed  upon  on  all  those  towns  that 
have  not  already  a  sufllcient  maintenance  for  a  minister."  Orderedf 
that  after  this  season,  there  shall  be  a  fair  or  market  yeariy  *^  at 
Breuklyn,  near  the  ferry  for  graine,  cattle,  or  other  produce,  to  he 
held  tlie  first  Monday,  Tuesday,  and  Wednesday,  of  November ; 
and  in  the  city  of  New  York,  the  Thursday,  Friday,  and  Saturday* 
f<rilowing.''  Ordered,  that  in  case  of  a  **  war  with  the  Indians  in  tUs 
government  (which  God  forbid)— one  or  more  rates  shall  be  levyed.*' 
Ordered,  that  the  magistrates  **  do  justice  to  the  Indyans,  as  well 
as  Christians.''  *'  That  by  reason  of  the  separation  by  water,  Sn- 
ten  Island  shall  have  jurisdiction  by  itself,  and  have  no  further  de- 
pendance  on  the  courts  of  Long  Island,  nor  on  their  militiai*' 
Bigned — Matthias  Nicolls,  Secretar}'. 

October  SOth,  1675,  it  is  ordered,  that  all  persons  who  have  not 
complied  with  the  proclamation  of  the  Idth  of  March,  1674,  re- 
quiring all  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  his  majesty's  govern- 
ment, within  his  Royal  Highneas's  government,  etc,  shall 
appear  at  the  City  Hall,  on  Wednesday,  die  24di  of  November 
next,  by  nine  of  the  cloick,  in  the  mommg,  at  the  third  ringing 
c^the  bell  to  take  said  oath :  a  special  sessions  to  be  held  for  that 


*  Tlui  ofder  ii  «ud  to  h«T«  bMB  made  to  prerrat  tha  infitiM  of  Lmv  U^^^ 
joniiv  King  Philip  aguiMt  Now  Ei^IumL 


CXXIT  APPENDIX. 

purpose.     The  prochmation  above  alluded  to.  is  ««t  farih^  aad 

be;?ins — •"  Wnerea?  ihere  ha*  been  a  chanro  of  sorcmmeai.'^ 

December  :5'Uh. — Tiie  deniiTy  mayor  and  aldermen.  {Mt>bib;t  ihr 
firini:  oi  "  o'.^ieWs  and  o:her  ci:nn>"  on  New  Year's  da  v.  and  &x  tae 

same  liir.e.  oriier  ail  persons  to  clean  their  doors. 
1676  January-  1  lih. — (.Viiers  to  be  oJ>sen-ed  bv  the  consabk. 
watch,  and  ci::zens  souitiiers.  in  the  ciiv  of  New  \ork. 
'*  That  the  watch  be  so-ti  eTer\-  ni^-ht  bv  eiirhi  o'clock  :  imrnedi- 
atelv  after  lije  rinjinr  of  ihe  bell.  Tnat  the  citv-jates  be  locked 
up  by  ihe  corisiabie  or  ilepu'.y-  i>efore  nine  of  the  cliick.  and  opeaed 
in  the  nr.ominj  prc:=r:i:A*  aftei  ihv-iii:lit,  at  the  dismissii>n  of  ifae 
watch:  and  if  any  n'?:^r-.:i  inf?  frrnn.  or  absent  himself  wiiboist 
consent.  i:?e.  or  i:jey.  i^hiVi  f«irfei:  for  evvr}'  such  defau:!.  ten  ciil- 
ders/'  Tiiat  tiie  svr.'t-i:::  or  corr-'-Tiii  of  the  watch,  shall  ai  ail 
times,  siicceei  ti.e  de:  utv  constaKles  on  the  watch  for  the  execo- 
tion  mere  of.  Tnr:!  if  a.r/  ono  coire  noon  the  watc'ii  orercharred 
with  drink,  he  siiall  nav  two  irr.iiders  :  but  if  abusive  or  ouite 
drunk,  he  i-  to  r»:y  tiie  saine  a>  if  he  r:b?ented  himself,  four  guil- 
ders. If  anv  person  shall  c'j.^rrc";  "  unon  liie  watch  on  account  of 
beinsr  of  diti'  rem  nnions**  or  oiher  pretence,  he  shall  pay  Kwr 
gilders.  Any  ceniii'.ri  leaving  his  post  before  he  is  relieved. shall 
pay  twenty  ^ri;!!  jers.  and  suner  three  dmys  imprisonment.  The 
cenlinel  to  .^tand  on  his  ;»o-!  one  hour.  That  Irequent  rounds  aboot 
the  city  1:=-  ini-ne.  e>i.ec:n:ly  towards  the  bridje.  No  curseiof 
and  rwerii:r  siinii  b-?  allo'.vo.i  lu^on  the  watch:  nor  anv  e^rainre  ai 
dice  or  cards.  lor  any  exorcise  of  dri:iki::<:e.  i:pon  the  penalty  of 
four  i:i:i.iiv>.  'i'.>;T?.  ;i-.:  ori'.:r-  fi"e?  be  brought  bv  the  pr'trr^  antt) 
the  mayor.  •*  Trie  :=c:j'e'?n:  be'.oivrini:  to  e^en*  watch  shall  cone 
wiih   I. is   haib'T! :  cr  }  svo  v.-.ii  even*  one  of  the  watch  brin?  his 

arms,  th'.i  i>  to  snv.  \\\^  ?^\yo:^\  cn»i  rood  half  pike."     Everv  bead 

«...  "  '  • 

oi  fc.ijily  to  hiw  "  i.;^e  j"od  i:.i:<kvi  or  tirelock.  with  six  charges 
of  Pi»wi:r?r  ':.id  six  of  i,i*.  n:  :■:?.:.!,  on  pena!:v  of  four  cuilders  for 
the  tirsi  rir-ncr*.  ei_:ii  for  i'::e  s-i-coiui.  and  iweiie  for  the  third  :  and 
the  ornct .  s  of  e.-.f-ii  •rini.iv  are  :o  sv:>rc::  four  times  a  A-eare.  The  citi- 
zer-  s: ...   irr-  a:--  :  •  ::-^-  .-r  wi:ii  jt^od  annes  before  their  captain's 

■  ■  ■    ■  • 

couiiers.  ci  the  first  u-  a::::r  ofii.e  liruni.  Penalty  tor  noi>-appear- 
ance.  ihirry  L-iii«iors — for  lier'iciersi  arn:es,  ten." 

Janu-:rv  L'LUh. — ( Jr.ierr^d.bv  ! he  r:;avor  and  aldermen,  that  all  iiit»- 
ters  or  vess-.'s  arrivin:;  at  New  York,  as  soon  as  they  shall  come 
ashore,  ri^o  ari  acroi-i  lo  t'^e  mayor  of  all  and  every  passeDcer: 
penahy  for  rrrj'.e'^?.  ••  .1  »»•■•-.',/:•.. //;-\,V  /^i>r."  Ch-dered.  that  no 
person  -n-;.!  s»  :i  cry  ron-is.  usres.  eic.  by  retail,  on  pain  of  for- 
feiture, u:..-'-  ::e  L-  a  frvcn.-^n.  or  in-uie  free,  or  bnrcher  of  this 
ciiy.  «"'r  •-:*..-.■:  ..  ■•  -r-k- •-•  or:  unl'-s  hy  sr^ecial  license  from  the 
mayor,  etr..  wiiii  aj«;iroba!.on  of  the  eovemour.  Any  person  de- 
parting the  city,  unless  *-  he  keep  fire  and  candle  ligbt,  and  paj 
scott  and  lott,"  shall  lose  his  freedom ;  and  every  merchant ' 


MISCELLANBOCS  MATTER.  CXXV 

ifter  to  be  made  fcvo,  shall  pay  for  the  same  «ix  beven — and 
banJioraft  traJos  aiui  lUhers.  lo  puv  luo  hovers  lorhLMiic  made  free. 
— **  l^rderod,  that  all  piTsoiis,  thai  keop  puhlick- houses,  shall  sell 
beene  as  well  as  \\\n  and  otiior  ll«|uors,  and  ket'p  iod;:in^  for  slrao* 
'  dated,  :20ih  Ja:iuurv — Saimiei  i^eeih.  i^'larke. 
April  14«  proclaiiiioii. — Tiuit  every  mereiKUit  trading  at  this 
pbce*  •'before  the  New  Horke  or  warfe  (i mended  to  be  buildt) 
shall  bee  finished  a:ui  p.ilJ  i^r.  s!;all  pay  proportiouahly  for  his 
estate,  the  same  as  the  iiiiriiMuUiis  and  oiiier  inuiors  here,  towards 
the  builduii:  of  the  siimo."  l-'i[ii  Aprii,  **  allowed  by  the  goremour, 
and  forth wiiii  to  be  piii  in  exoeiuion/* 

Proposals  by  the  iiiaxor  a::. I  alderiiien,  prosemed  to'his  honour, 
the  c^nernour.  ""  Tiia;  lhto  be  slv  hoiists  ap^Kunted  to  sell  all 
sorts  of  wine,  braiuiv,  a:»i  n;;:!,  aiui  lo/ui;i^.  'I'ijai  die  re  be  eiffht 
bouses  apiHiintod  lo  >c  it  bee  re.  sviter,  mi;m.  aiul  run),  and  to  pro- 
vide for  siransiers  as  ti:e  law  directs,  lo  sell  bnindy.  rum.  and  strong 
waters,  and  tobacco.  Tuai  iwo  oi  liie  wine  houses  bt:  onlinarives  : 
and  four  of  the  biort*-iioi>e>."  Tiie  prices  of  wines  and  otlier  li- 
quorsL  as  tbey  are  to  i»e  sold,  o  .  :/i-  ri.';*/^;,*.  French  wines  Is,  3d. 
per  quart.  Fayal  wines  and  St.  lieor;:cs.  Is.  Gd.  Madera  winea 
and  Porta[H>rt,  Is.  1<M.  C\:Kir\ cs.  Hrcsados,  and  Malasroes,  ^ 
per  quart.  Brandy,  lui.  |ht  irill-  liuiu,  ;id.  per  clil.  Syder, 
4d.  per  quart.  Double  luiTe,  -ui.  per  quar;.  Mum.  Od.  per  quart* 
The  ordinary  at  wine-house,  1  s.  per  meal :  at  beenvhouses,  Sd« 
per  meal.  Loiiirin::  at  ti:e  w  ine-iiouse,  4d.  |H*r  night :  at  the 
beere-house.  3d.  per  ni.lit. 

Proclamaiion  \^as  r.  .ule  \\  ihc  covemour.  Kdward  AndroSy 
Februar\'  od.  that  a  wet  ki\  nuirket  should  be  held  ever\-  Saturdav. 
at  ihe  house  built  for  thai  pur}K>se  **  hy  ine  water  side,  near  the 
bridse."  i.  e.  at  ii;e  fi>oi  oi  r>i-oad  street.  Tiie  first  market  lo  be 
held  March  12 4th.  A:ui  a  lair  lo  he  V.M  at  **  r>reukiyn'*  for  catde, 
grain,  and  country  prodiice.  ilio  f.rsi  Monday,  Tuesday,  and  Wed- 
nesday, in  NovemlKT  :  **  a:ul  in  liie  ciiiv  at  the  market-house  and 
iW<iiji<r  a-'  re  th-  ■•►■•,  tiie  Tnursdav,  Fridav,  and  Saturday  follow- 
in^."  All  persons  coi-.iiiu  i.itnto.  are  to  bo  tree  lri>m  any  arrest 
for  debt  *'  comin;;  or  rciurnin::  \t\>\w  the  said  market  or  fay  re." 
This  proclamation  to  remain  in  t'orce  tiiree  years  from  tlie  24th  of 
March  next. 

Matthew  Hillyer  [vtiiions  the  common  council,  and  says  that  he 
hath  kept  school  for  diildren  of  botii  sexes,  for  two  \  ear»  f^st.  to  the 
sattftfaction  of  their  parents :  but  as  he  understands  complaints  haye 
been  made  to  the  mavor.  etc.,  oi  some  ne^rlects.  he  wishes  to  inibnn 
thero  that  the  occasion  of  these  ne^'.ocis  was  the  want  of  a  conyfr- 
nieni  house  wherein  lie  mi::hl  ho  settled,  **  and  not  be  trobled  with 
so  often  removals."  **  But  your  petitioner  understanding  of  an 
ehamiction,  by  a  person  lately  arrived*  who  endeayours  tbecircuaa* 


CXXn  APPBXDU. 

▼enting  of  yoar  pedtioner,  and  reape  the  fraits  of  his  Ukoun,  d 
which  likewise  jour  petitioner  has  fully  iuformed  his  faoaoar,  whs 
is  bj  the  petidooer^s  humble  request  pleased  to  ordering  of  a  school 
and  master  to  your  worships  pleasure,  giving  your  pedtioDer  hopa 
and  encouragement  that  by  your  worship's  wisdom,  things  may  he 
better  regulated."  And  he  requests  that  he  may  be  established  is 
his  employ,  in  which,  with  the  help  of  God,  he  doubts  wn  be  afad 
give  their  worships  satisfacdon. 

Aogost  25th. — ^Upon  the  pedrions  of  Ebenezer  Kirtland  ad 
Matthew  Hillyar,  "  it  is  ordered  that  Matthew  Hillyar  coodoue  ii 
the  same,"  the  schoolmaster's  office,  "  in  behaving  himaelf  lor 
the  future  better  than  the  dme  past :  and  instead  of  jC12  the  aa- 
nnm,  according  to  former  order,  is  onlv  to  hare  a  roome  prorided 
for  him." 

The  court  choose  two  tanners,  and  forbid  all  others  to  exerdie 
the  trade ;  and  Peter  Pansfbome  is  chosen  the  currier  for  the  dtr. 
"  Also  ordered,  that  no  butcher  be  permitted  to  be  currien,  or 
shoemakers,  or  tanners ;  nor  shall  any  tanner  be  either  currier, 
shoemaker,  or  butcher :  it  being  consonant  to  the  laws  of  Engiaod, 
and  practice  in  the  neighbour  colonys  of  the  Massachioeits  and 
Connecdcott." 

Further  it  is  ordered,  that  if  any  Indians  shall  be  seen  coming 
oot  drunk  of  any  house,  that  it  shall  be  a  sufficient  conviction  ;  and 
if  seen  drunk  in  the  streets,  and  the  house  not  found  out,  or  known 
where  he  or  she  were  made  drunk,  the  whole  street  to  be  fineable. 
Likewise  ordered,  that  no  person  disdll  any  grain,  nnlefts  it  be 
«•  unfit  to  grind  and  boalt." 

November  10th. — An  assessment  and  tax  for  defrayinz  the  cbirges 
<^  the  new  dock,  and  paying  the  city  debts  and  other  public  duties, 
at  one  penny, half  penny  per  pound.  The  names  are  301,  arranaed 
in  this  manner : 

OoO     Alexander  Stilher, 

050     Andrew  Bradsteid  Cooper, 

100  Andiias  Jansen, 
Of  these  names,  there  are  but  104  that  are  decidedly  Englisii, 
three  or  four  that  are  French,  and  the  remainder  Dutch.  Of  names 
now  with  us,  I  remark  those  of  Anthony,  Alard,  Hardenbrookt 
Peterson,  Bedlow,  Byard  (Bayard,)  Crossfield,  Clopper,  Ten 
Eyck,  Provost,  De  Haert  (or  De  Hart,)  Clarkson,  Dnykinge, 
Phillips,  [in  two  or  three  instances,  the  names  are  entered  tbns : 
**  Garret,  the  Miller,"  '<  Moses,  the  Jew,"  and  Moses  is  rated  at 
jC200,  and  pays  £1  2s.  6d.,]  Kipp,  Davenport,  Brasier,  Smith, 
Vandewater,  Johnson,  Matthews,  Sharpe,  Lawrence,  Cowley, 
Shackerley,  Henry,  Delaplaine,  Delanoy,  Turke,  Romeyn,  Tay- 
ler,  Cooke,  Delaval,  Aerslor,  Beakman,  Bogardos,  Ebwotdw 
Bhfl,  Spencer,  Hambleton  (probably  the  same  as  HaniiIlon») 


£ 

s. 

d. 

00 

06 

03 

00 

06 

03 

00 

12 

06 

MISCBLLANBOUS  UATTBK.  OXXTU 

Glanson,  Cobbett,  Garritson,  Jacob  Israel,  the  Jew,  Norwood 
Verplanke,  and  Courland,  (perhaps  the  same  as  Cortlandt.) 
The  amount  of  property  assessed  is  jC99,695,  19s.  7d.  The  richest 
persons  in  the  city,  according  to  this  assessment,  are-^omelius 
Stanwike,  jC4,000  ;  Jacob  Leishler,  ^3,000  (Leisler ;)  the  Widow 
De  Haert,  jC  1,200  ;  Nicholas  Byard,  ^€1,500  (Nicholas  Bay- 
ard ;)  Courland,  (meaning  Cortlandt,)  ^8,000  ;  Storey,  ^1,000  ; 
Dersall,  jCd,000  ;  Delaval,  ^3,000  ;  Jno.  Wilson,  ^£2,500  ; 
Jno.  Robinson,  .£2,530;  Edward  Griffith,  j£2,030  ;  Jno-Robsoa, 
^2,389 ;  George  Heathcott,  £2,036. 

November  13th. — An  ordinance  against  profaning  the  Sabbath, 
from  rising  to  sun-setting.  No  buying  or  selling,  card*playiiig| 
disorderly  assemblings  of  children  in  the  streets  and  other  places ; 
publicans  not  to  permit  any  persons  to  drink  or  game  in  their  hou- 
ses, or  gardens,  or  yards.  Fine  for  the  first  offence,  20  guilderSf 
second,  50,  and  third,  100  guilders,  and  forfeiture  of  license. 

Ordered,  tlmt  no  person  shall  come  and  dwell  in  this  city  for  the 
future,  or  take  a  house,  warehouse,  cellar,  or  shop,  or  lodging, 
without  first  coming  to  the  mayor  or  deputy-mayor  and  aldermen, 
and  have  liberty  or  license  from  them  for  the  doing  thereof,  (except 
such  persons  as  have  the  governour's  order  therefore) — the  penally, 

five  pounds. 
1677  The  18th  April,  proclamation  by  the  govemour  and 
court  of  mayor  and  aldermen  at  New  York.  Thai  the 
great  and  little  pacht  or  excise  be  taken  off,  and  liberty  given  to 
buy  and  sell  freely  at  all  due  times  ;  but  to  prevent  confusion,  etc*, 
by  many  disorderly  retailers,  or  houses  of  entertainment,  ordered, 
that  none  sell  or  retayle  at  home  nor  out  of  dores  less  than  one 
gallon,  except  licenced  houses,  under  the  penalty  of  forfeiting  all 
such  liquors,  and  treble  the  value,  and  be  furder  punished,  and  for 
contempt,  as  the  case  may  require.  And  all  persons  who  wish  to 
retail,  are  to  apply  to  a  person  appointed  by  the  court ;  those  not 
complying  with  this  request  after  5th  February,  to  be  proceeded 
against.  To  be  in  force  one  year.  Given  in  the  27th  year  of  his 
majesty's  reign.  To  the  mayor  and  aldermen  to  be  forthwith  pub- 
lished at  the  City  hail. 

August  25th. — Ebenezer  Kirtland  petitions  the  deputy-mayor 
and  aldermen,  inasmuch  as  he  understands  that  they  wish  **  to 
erect  and  maintain  a  school  for  the  educating  and  instructing  of 
youth  either  in  reading,  writing,  arithmetick,  Latin,  or  Greek,  and 
supposing  himself  a  persop  fit  to  undertake  and  discharge  such  an 
employ,  did  address  himself  to  his  honour  the  govemour,  for  his 
good  liking  therein,  and  he  having  signified  the  same,  and  ordered 
him  to  make  his  addresses  to  your  worshipful  body,  to  be  the  mat- 
ter  of  said  school,  he  therefore  humbly  prays,''  etc.  etc. 


OZXVIU  APPENDIX. 

Stephen  Van  Cortland,  mayor,  John  Guion,  deputy-mayor, 
John  De  Peysier,  Peter  Jacobs,  (Jiilyne  Verplank,  aldermen, 
give  permission  to  Arthur  Levy  to  build  a  slaughter-house,  and 
take  in  Mr.  Garret  Jansen  Rose  ns  a  partner,  and  all  persons  shall 
have  liberty  to  kill  and  hang  their  meat  there,  paying  for  the 
same. 

1678  Andros  appoints  Stephen  Van  Cortlandt,  the  present 
mayor,  to  be  judge  of  tlie  court  of  admiralty,  and  four  al- 
dermen to  he  assistants.  He  likewise  appoints  the  above-named, 
with  William  Beekinan,  .Tohn  Junyuns,  Francis  Rumboult,  and 
Christopher  Ilooirhlandt  to  be  aldermen,  and  Captain  Thomas  De- 
laval  to  be  mayor,  dated  14th  Octoiicr.  On  the  3d  December,  he 
appoints  Delaval,  present  mayor,  to  be  judge  of  the  admiralty,  and 
six  aldermen  assistants. 

December. — The  provost  of  the  city  is  ordered  to  levy  fines  on 
all  persons  refusing  or  notrlocting  to  watch.     But  the  elders  and 
deacons  '*  within  this  i<:ovcrnment  formerly  having  been  excused 
from  the  city  watch,"  are  still  excused. 

1679  The  next  appointment  of  aldermen  and  mayor  by  An- 
dros, is,  Francis  Itumbolt  to  be  mayor,  William  Beekman, 

Johannes  Van  Burirh,  Thomas  Lewis,  Peter  .Jacobs,  Gulien  Ver- 
plank, and  Samuel  Wilson,  aldermen.  William  Corbett  is  ap- 
pointed clerk  of  the  court  and  city,  William  Bogardus,  treasurer. 
Andros  proclaims  that  he  has  received  information  that  Captain 
Philip  Carterett,  assuminir  and  autliorizinir  others  to  exercise  juris- 
diction, without  the  loi^nl  authority  of  said  Andros,  to  the  great  dis- 
turbance of  his  majesty's  <iil)jocts  within  the  bounds  of  his  majes- 
ty's letters  patents  to  his  I  {oval  llifi:liness ;  **  I  have  sent  to  forewarn 
said  Captain  P.  Carteret  to  cease  his  illeiral  acts  ;  and  I  do  hereby, 
by  advice  of  my  council,  retjuire  and  command  the  said  Philip 
Carteret  not  to  exercise  jnris»iiction  within  the  bounds  of  the 
letters  patent  granteil  to  his  If  oval  Iliirhness,"  etc.  He  caused 
Carteret  to  he  seized  and  brought  to  New  York. — (See  Vol.  I., 
p.  133.) 

1680  2'Jd  Slarch. — Proclamation  prohibiting  the  entertainment 
of  negers,etc.,  published  in  this  city  and  precincts:  ''Where- 
as, several  inhabitants  within  this  citv  have  and  doc  davlv  harbour, 
entertain  and  countenance  Indian  and  ne<rer  slaves  in  their  houses, 
and  to  them  sell  and  deliver  wine,  rum,  and  other  strong  liquors, 
for  which  they  receive  money  or  iroods  which  by  the  said  Indian 
and  negro  slaves  is  pilfered,  purloyned,  and  stolen  from  their  seve- 
ral masters,  by  which  the  puhlick  pence  is  broken,  and  the  damage 
of  the  master  is  produced,  etc.,  therefore  they  are  prohibited,  etc. ; 
and  if  neger  or  Indian  slave  make  application  for  these  forbidden 
articles,  immediate  intbrmation  is  to  be  given  to  his  master  or  to 
the  mayor  or  oldest  alderman."  Penalty  for  the  breach  or  neghct, 
Ave  pounds. 


MISCBLLANB0U8  MATTBn.  CXXIZ 

April. — The  governour  and  council  resolved,  "  That  all  In- 
dyans  here,  have  always  been  and  are  free,  and  not  slaves 
— except  such  as  have  been  formerly  brought  from  the  .bay  or 
other  foreign  parts.  But  if  any  shall  be  bi ought  hereafter  into 
the  government  within  the  space  of  six  months,  they  are  to  be 
disposed  of  as  soon  as  may  be  out  of  the  government.  But  after 
the  expiraition  of  the  said  six  months,  all  that  shall  be  brought  here 
from  those  parts  and  landed,  to  be  as  other  free  Indyans." 

1681  January  2Sth. — A  proclamation  renewing  a  former  proc- 
lamation  prohibiting  Christians  from  trading  with  Indians 

in  their  towns  and  plantations  or  abroad  in  the  country  and  rivers. 
The  militia  are  ordered  to  keep  watch.     A  commissioned  officer 
to  lock  the  gates  at  9  o'clock,  and  open  them  at  daylight. 

1682  In  this  year,  the  return  of  the  number  of  inhabitants 
and  houses  gave  upwards  of  2,000  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren, besides  negroes  and  slaves,  and  207  houses  now  in  this  city, 
besides  barns  and  sheds.  This  return  I  found  on  a  loose  piece 
of  paper,  in  manuscript,  in  the  clerk's  office  of  the  common  coun- 
cil of  New  York  ;  but  in  the  book  of  records  it  is  stated  to  have 
contained,  in  1678,  343  houses ;  this  can  only  be  reconciled  by 
adding  the   *' barns  and  sheds"  to  the  lesser  number. 

Whereas,  great  inconveniences  arise  from  frequent  meetings  and 
gatherings  of  negroes  and  Indian  slaves  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  at 
unseasonable  hours ;  using  rude  and  unlawful  sports  to  the  dishon- 
our of  God  and  profanation  of  his  holy  day,  and  the  disturbance  of 
the  peace  of  his  majesty's  subjects,  many  of  whom  are  tempted  to 
become  spectators  and  neglect  their  duty  ;  Resolved,  that  no  ne- 
groe  or  Indian  slaves  presume  to  go  or  absent  themselves  from 
their  master's  houses  on  the  Lord's  day  or  any  other  unseasonable 
time,  without  the  said  master's  leave,  in  writing ;  or  it  may  be  law- 
full  for  the  sheriff,  constable,  or  other  officer  to  seize  such  negroe, 
etc.,  and  carry  him  before  the  next  magistrate,  who  shall  order  him 
to  be  forthwith  severely  whipped  and  sent  to  his  master,  who 
is  to  pay  all  charges.  Then  follows  a  prohibition  to  sell  liquors 
to  negroes,  Indians,  etc. 

1683  The  deputy-mayor  and  aldermen  of  New  York  pray  the 
governour,  Dongan,  that  order  may  be  taken  to  regulate 

the  value  of  Spanish  coin.  They  give  their  opinion,  that  if  all 
pieces  of  eight  "  being  civill  Mexico  or  pillar,  not  weighing  less 
than  fifteen  pennyweight  do  pass  for  6s.,  and  all  Peru  of  the  same 
weight  at  5s.,  half  pieces,  at  3s.,  quarters  at  Is.  6d.,  and  royalls  at 
9d.  The  governour  accordingly,  on  the  13lh  September,  1683, 
so  ordered,  only  changing  the  word  civill  into  sevill^  and  adding, 
"  provided  they  be  good  silver." 

November  2d. — ^Dongan  proclaims,  that. as  "greate  hurt,  trou- 
bles and  inconveniences,  have  and  do  grow  and  increase  eveiy 

Q 


dav,  from  die-  di:rorder?  co:3imJtted  in   public k 
tap-bousef?-  aod  ordiuan?.  a:jd  by  j>erK#n5 presuming lo  seUBqi 
witboui  Ijcenre  :"  Ordered-  iljai  no  pcraOD  presiixae  lo  seD  nodflr 
five  sraJlons  \\/iijoui  obvd'iLinz  licen&t. 

November  7tL. — Ii  i:?  recommeDded-  inasmuch  a«  the  traden 
wiihifl  ilie  chy  are  few  who  deal  iviih  Indian?,  and  therefore  do  roo- 
Dev  of  aov  consequence  caa  be  made  from  ihtiu  for  bi«  Rova]  Higir 
ness,  tbat  all  trade  wiih  Indian?  be  prohibited,  eiicepl  for  prDvisioiis. 
firewood,  and  rutiers  for  houses. 

9ih. — The  corporaiion  fietjtjon  the  ri^ht  honourable  Coiooi-I 
Thomas  Doni::an,  Esq..  ?}jowini'.  thai  iJie  citr  haih  enjoy trd  priri- 
le^'es.  eic.  confirmed  bv  Colonel  Richard  Ni colls-  laie  «:oremour.  m 
100-j  :  who  incorf>on:ied  trie  inhabiian'ts,  New  Harlaem,  and  all 
others  iLbfebiiirz  on  the  LlHr.d  Maijb&usia.  a?  one  body  polniqiie. 
and  so  has  con'Jrjued  wiih  j  livileres.  viz  :  Isi.  ihai  aU  ibeinfaafaas- 
ants  of  ihe  i^iaiid  are  uLdt-r  ihe  jovcmmeni  of  ibe  chr;  2d.  ifas 
the  fovemmeni  wa?  by  se^en  ma  risi  rales  -  and  a  nch'.na^  Tbes« 
magistrates  were  formeny  called  bitrvoin'.uUr  and  uhcppau  now 
maror  and  six  aldermen,  and  one  sherid'.  3d.  tbat  these  masv- 
traies  had  [wnwer  to  ap[»oiDi  inftriour  officers  and  to  make  lairs  idr 
govemin;:  lije  inbabitsint-: — and  held  a  court  of  judicatBre  ererr 
fourteen  dav= — ^ijavini*^  vower  to  determine  all  matiei^  under  forrr 
shillings,  witljout  a;«peaj.  Ly  verbal  btarlnr  of  parties.  AAer  men- 
tioning power-  of  iiifr  rhfi-jic" — *.'itlj.  ti/dt  ljj  merchandize  of  ibe  pro- 
vince was  lo  tKr  s:-;;i;»e'j  arjd  uijladen  i-T  the  cirr ;  7th-  that  no 
person  was  a  &eei::h:j  of  :be  city,  but  as  ad  mined  by  the?e  maris^ 
irates,  and  none  iKrfore  --'jc:!  cd ::;>:■  ion  lo  sell  bv  retaiJ.  or  exercise 
any  handicraft  trcde.  ar^d  evtn*  merthaiji  or  s:iOr»-keeper  was  lo 
nav  the  cilv  £Z  I'j?..  uiA  evtrv  haudvcrcfi  man  £\  4s-  on  beixir 
made  free;  Sth.  ih-jt  i:o  fretmLTj  wt*  to  bv  arrested,  or  have  hi? 
pood;  atiacLtd.  uidess  it  wa*  made  a]»r.'e.ar  iliit  be  was  disfiosinr  or 
cor:vey;nr  away  hi=  ertate  to  G*:fra'jd  »il:?  creditor?  :  9th.  no  person 
was  permitted  lo  tr-ide  i:j»on  Hud^0IJ'^  KiAC-r  unJe-s  a  freeman  and 
resident  of  the  c:tv  ilir^e  vezL^-s :  10:1:.  lL"  die  inhabitants  on  Hud- 
ton's  River  were  forbid  to  inido  -"'Vtr  -ea  ;  lliii.  no  flower  bohed 
orbisket  made,  for  exponaiion  but  iu  the  city  :  litir^.  ar^d  ujai  the 
chr  had  a  coram  on  sesL  Tbev  lijtrefore  iK-tition  Lim  to  interce-de  witb 
his  Itoyal  Hinlmess  to  Uu\  e  ibes*  j^ri^  ile  je?  confirmed  with  ibew  addi- 
ikms :  To  be  divided  iijto  six  wards.  Tba:  tiit  freemen  of  each 
ward  do  elect  i>jeir  own  aldermen,  comir-on-cobncil  men,  and  olber 
offioen.  Tbat  a  recorder  be  hCc^^A  to  the  coq»oratioD-  Thai  a 
mayor  be  ap;»ointed  even*  vear  bv  iiie  I'overnour  and  councD.  sod 
to  be  one  of  tiie  aldermen  ^.o  cbo?<erj  a*  aforesaid.  That  all  mac^- 
traie5  be  sworn e  l»efor'?  ir.e  ::ovcrroi:r  arid  counclL  That  the 
recorder  be  judre  of  uje  city  and  corj.omtion.  and  be  aiding  and 
aESiEtiflg  to  the  mayor  and  aldermen  and  council    Tlia!  the   '     "* 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CXXXI 

coroner,  and  town  clerk  be  appointeil  annually  by  the  irovernour 
and  council.     Tiuu  ilie  corponiiion  appoini  their  treasurer. 

••  Some  objociion^  made  bv  tlie  •^>veniour  and  council/^  to  the 
petition,  wiili  desire  for  explanation. 

No\  ember  Uhlu — Present,  the  goveriioiir  and  Mr.  Frederick 
Plilitipse  and  Mr.  Luca.<  Lancton.  Tiie  above  petition  bcin?  read, 
**  It  i$  tliousrlit  reasonable  that  the  town  ot*  liarlaem  have  jurisdic^ 
lion  in  matters  untlor  40s.  lor  themselves." 

19th. — Kxplanaiions  are  made. 

i4tli. — The  old  nu::isi  rates.  Mr.  Cornelins  Sic  in  wick,  Mr.  N. 
Bayard,  Mr.  J.  lniun<,  Mr.  Wm.  rinhorne,  Mr.  (■uline  Verplank, 
Mr.  liobinson,  and  Mr.  Wm.  Co\,  b*Mn;;  sent  tor,  all  wailed  ou 
llie  goveruour  at  ilie  lone,  except  Mr.  Cox,  where  the  old  masjis- 
tnites  were  dischari^nl,  and  a  commission  i^iven  to  Mr.  Cornelius 
Stein  wick  to  be  mavor,  and  to  the  others  as  aldermen,  etc.,  uutU 
the  usual  time  of  new  elections. 

The  corporation  present  anotiier  petition,  to  the  jrovernour  in 
council,  %*iz.,  **  Captain  Anthony  Drockhohs,  Mr.  Frtulerick  Pbil- 
li|»se,  Mr.  Stephen  Co nrtlandi,  Mr.  Lucas  Lancton.  The  petition 
beinor  read,  tlie  **  irovernour  wondered  tliut  haviui:  latelv  granted 
almost  e%'er}'  particular  ot*  a  larire  and  considerable  i>etition,  that  be 
should  so  suddenlv  receive  anoiher.**  He  savs,  no  ferr\*s  sliall 
be  allowed  but  those  already  ^'ranted.  That  the  licences  belong  to 
the  f^overnoiir.  He  then  rciculates  the  markets— twice  a  week — 
only  butcher's  meal  every  ilay — nothin:;  to  be  sold  on  board  any 
boats,  canoes,  etc.  Tiiat  bakers  be  obliiied  to  keep  good  botise- 
hold  bread  tor  those  wlio  desired  it,  and  that  it  be  made  of  dour, 
**  as  tlie  meals  conte  from  the  mill.'* 

December  Slh. — The  city  is  divided  into  six  wanls.  Isl,  The 
South  ward — to  be:;in  at  the  iiouse  of  James  Mathews,  by  tlie  water 
side,  and  so  northwanl  alon^  the  Hecreiiraft  tollie  house  of  Siraou 
Johnson  Komain,  anil  from  thence  westward  up  tlit  Beaver  iiraft, 
to  tlie  corner  house  of  Baret  Conrson,  and  from  thence  southward 
by  the  tone  to  the  water  side,  includin;:  the  Pearle  street,  solo  the 
house  of  Mathews  aculii.  'Jd,  The  Uock  ward — to  begin  at  the 
house  o(  Mr.  Stephen  Van  Coiirtlandt  by  the  water-side,  and  so 
northward  to  ilie  corner  house  of  Cieesie  Denys,  from  dience  east- 
ward to  the  house  of  David  IVovoust,  and  from  thence  to  the  house 
of  Trjntie  Clox,  and  so  westward  to  tlie  house  of  Tliomas  Lewis, 
and  thence  northward  to  the  house  of  Lawrence  Huys*  3d,  The 
East  ward — to  besin  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Lewis,  and  from 
thence  northward  to  the  house  of  Thomas  Huys,  then  along  die 
wall  to  the  corner  house  of  Miriam  Levy,  and  so  to  Thomas  Lew- 
ises again,  with  all  the  houses  in  the  Smith-doye,  and  without  the 
gate  GO  the  south  side  of  the  fresh  water.  4Ui,  North  ward — to 
begin  at  the  house  of  Ariane  Jonson  Hagenvcr,  then  eastward 


CXZni  APPENDIX. 

along  the  Beaver  Graft  and  Prince  street  to  the  house  of  CbristiaB 
Laurie,  and  so  northward  to  the  house  of  Garret  Hendrix,  and 
from  thence  westinrard  to  the  corner  of  the  New  street,  and  tbeoce 
southwards  to  Ariane  Jonson's  a<rain.  5th,  The  West  ward — to 
begin  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Coker,  so  northwards  to  the  gate, 
and  thence  eastwards  along  the  wall  to  the  corner  of  New  street, 
thence  southwards  to  the  house  of  Peter  Brestede,  and  from  thence 
westward^  to  the  widdow  of  Jonson  Brestede,  and  so  to  Thomas 
Coker's  azain.  6iii,  The  Out  ward — ^to  contain  the  town  of  Har- 
lem, with  aj]  the  fermcs,  plantations,  and  settlements  on  this  Islaod 

Manhattans,  from  the  north  side  of  the  Fresh  water. 
1654         February  ]st. — The  mayor  and  corporation  represent 

the  trade  to  New  Jersey  as  being  much  prejudicial  to  the 
trade  of  this  city  and  province.  The  power  of  the  corporation  to 
bold  a  court  of  sessions  is  disputed  by  Govemour  Doogan;  but 
allowed  until  his  Royal  Highness's  pleasure  is  known. 

March  7th. — Address  of  the  mayor  and  aldermen,  to  the  gover- 
nour,  about  Fast  Jersey.  They  say  that  the  natural  situation  of 
the  island  beinrr  convenient  for  trade,  the  predecessors  of  hb  Royal 
Highness  bestowed  many  privileges,  confirmed  by  Colonel  Ni- 
colls  and  successive  governours,  which  would  have  been  of  great 
benefit,  if  the  unhappy  separation  of  East  Jersey  had  not  oc- 
curred, which  must  necessarily  divide  the  trade  of  this  province, 
as  the  expfrfience  of  this  year's  doth  sufficiently  demonstrate, 
goods  bein^^  furnished  to  the  city  without  pay  ins:  the  duties  due  to 
his  Koyal  Hi;:hness,  and  the  interference  with  the  Indian  trade,  to 
the  great  lf>?>  of  this  city.  They  therefore  pray  the  erovernour  to 
intercede  with  his  lioval  Hiirhness  to  have  East  Jersev  annexed  to 
the  province  of  New  York,  **  by  purchase  or  or/K-n'^v*," — other- 
wbe  his  Royal  Highness  will  be  injured,  and  New  York  ruined. 

loth. — In  common  council,  Mr.  Cornelius  Steinwick,  mayor, 
in  the  thirty-sixth  year  of  the  reign  of  his  majesty  Charles  U. 
Ordered — That  no  manner  of  senile  work  be  done  on  the  Lord's 
day — penalty,  10s.,  and  double  for  each  repetition.  That  no  chil- 
dren meet  together  in  the  streets  or  places  to  play  on  that  dar; 
penalty.  Is.,  and  double  for  each  repetition.  Tfiat  no  publick 
house  sell  any  liquor  on  that  day,  d urine:  divine  service,  unless  to 
travellers.  That  no  ne^io  or  Indian  slaves,  above  the  number  of 
four,  do  assemble  or  meet  together  on  the  Lord^s  day,  or  at  any 
other  time,  at  any  place  from  their  masters'  sen-ice,  within  the  hb- 
Mties  of  the  city,  and  that  "  no  such  slave  doe  goe  armed  aU  any 
time  with  punns,  swords,  clubs,  staves,  or  any  other  kind  of  wea- 
pons whatsoever,  under  the  penalty  of  beinz  whipped  at  the  pub- 
lique  whippinjir-poste  tenn  lashes,  unless  the  master  or  the  owner  of 
such  slave  will  pay  6s.  to  excuse  the  same."  Thai  a  contiable 
with  his  staff  do  walk  the  citv  and  see  the  law  fulfilled.     Thai  tlia 


MISCBUJIXBOV9  XATTBK.  CXXZUI 

constable  of  each  iranl  enquire  and  return  the  names  of  all  strao- 
pen  that  come  to  reside  within  the  irard.  under  [penalties  to  be  in- 
dicted on  the  Irani  and  the  constable  :  and  the  roasters  of  publick 
houses  are  ordered  lo  repv^rt  all  stran^rs  coming  to  lodsre  or  lire 
with  them,  and  thov  are  lorlndden  to  receive  or  lodge  anr  person* 
male  or  female,  sus{>ecied  or  of  evil  name,  under  penalty  of  10s« 
Th€ir  tire:ity  carmen  be  ap|>oinied.  and  no  more*  under  certain 
resulaiions — one  of  which  is,  that  they  doe  fill  up.  amend,  and 
repair  the  b^eacho^  in  the  streets  and  highways  in  and  about  ihe 
city,  when  required  by  ilie  mayor,  fi"n;;w,  and  cart  the  dirt  every 
Saturday  in  the  afternoon  out  of  the  streets  and  lanes,  provided  the 
dirt  is  swept  to^etiier  by  the  inhabitants.  The  price  of  cartage  to 
any  place  within  ihe  urates  of  the  city  fixed  at  od.«  except  for  wines  ; 
if  a  load  is  carrieil  out  of  the  ci:v  to  anv  place,  that  is  to  sa\%  to 
tbe  further  end  of'  the  :>miih*s  Fly,  or  any  part  thereof,  double  ;  no 
carman  allowed  to  ride  upon  their  carts  within  the  city  :  they  are 
required  to  behave  themselves  civilly  to  all  persons.  That  no 
ne.CTo  or  other  slave  do  drive  anv  carte  within  this  citv,  under  tbe 
penalty  of  tK>s.  to  be  paid  by  the  owner  of  such  slave,  (except 
brewer's  drays  or  carriages  lor  beer.)  None  but  such  as  are  free  of 
the  citv  allowed  to  sell  anv  wares,  etc.  bv  retail.  No  ^rbase  to 
be  thrown  in  the  streets.  A  cord  of  wood  to  contain  eight  feet  in 
length,  four  in  height,  and  tour  in  breadth  :  places  are  appointed 
where  wood  is  to  be  brou::ht  and  corded  :  tiie  porters  of  the  city  to 
be  the  corders,  and  receive  4d.  tiie  cord  from  the  seller.  No  per- 
son to  countenance  or  entenain  anv  ne^rro  or  Indian  slave,  or  sell 
or  deliver  to  them  any  stronc  liquor,  without  liberty  from  his  mas- 
ter, or  recei\e  from  them  any  money  or  goods  :  but,  upon  any  oflhr 
made  bv  a  siave.  to  reveal  the  same  to  the  owner,  or  to  the  mavor. 
under  penalty  of  £o.  Tuesdays.  Thursday s«  and  Saturdays,  ap* 
pointed  market  days  :  but  fish,  butter,  cheese,  eggs,  poultry*,  fruit, 
and  roots  mav  be  sold  ever\'  dav.  Foresuliin^  forbidden.  The 
isstie  of  bread  to  be  established  everv  three  months. 

17th. — Regulations  respecting  boulting  flour,  etc.  Tbe  mak- 
ing of  flour  prohibited  in  any  place  within  this  province  but 
in  this  city  only,  nor  noe  flower  or  bread  to  be  imported  into  this 
city  from  any  other  part  of  the  province,  under  penalty  of  forfeiture. 
They  pray  the  govemour  to  confirm  these  laws :  and  thej  were 
approved. 

d9th. — Fil'teen  cannen  refuse  to  obey  the  laws,  and  are  dis- 
chareed  firom  being  any  longer  carmen ;  and  all  persons*  skfes 
excepted,  allowed  to  act  as  cannen. 

April  6th. — Three  of  the  rebellious  carmen  submit,  and  are  par* 
doned  and  restored,  on  acknowledging  their  fault  and  paying  a  fine 

ofSs. 

The  corporation  edbice  their  ieq[oest  for  the  monopolT  of  torn 


CZXZIT  APPENDIX. 

and  bread,  makinz  use  of  such  arzuments  as.  that  die  proqiencT  d 
the  citT  depends  on  iu  and  it  will  take  oodiia^  trom  oiber  pLaccs 
in  the  province. 

1655  March  23J- — The   govercoar  prohibits  the  cxrr^'c^  d 
concealed  weapons. 

April  30th. — A  while  loaf,  weiyiiin::  12oz..  to  be  sold  i>r  *a 
stivers  warapuin.  James  II.  prohibits  all  Lis  subiecis,  excepc  l» 
East  India  Company,  trading  \\\iS\  the  Kast  Indies.  Dated  ;be 
Ist  day  of  April.  Isi  y*ar  of  his  reijn :  and  a  like  proolblioa  u 
trade  within  tiie  liiriiis  assigned  to  the  Roval  African  Coni:«nT. 

Atigust  Oih. — The  govern  our  proclaims,  tiiai  all  informers  sMiii 
repair  to  him.  and  to  no  other  person  wi;h  inlormatioa  re^pecdm 
illegal  trade.  e;c.     Giien  under  ills  hand  at  Fort  James. 

The  assembly  dissolved  by  proclamation  of  the  2:oveniocr.  L 
had  met  the  17th  day  of  <.>c;ober  the  previous  year. 

September  l:?ih. — At  a  common  council  ••  the  petition  of  Sii 
Browne,  recommended  by  the  govemourf  was  read,  and  cocjKi7i 
opinion  endorsed  titereupon.  was.  that  tf-<  Jtr  oujht  to  seli  by 
retail  within  tiie  city  :  but  i:uy  by  wholesale,  ii'tiie  ^ovemour  thisk 
fitt  to  permit  tlie  same." 

14th. — The  }>or!ers  appearing  and  refusing  to  comply  with  cbc 
orders  made  about  co.'-dinj  wood,  were  dismissed  from  beiR;  a:iT 
looser  porters. 

The  valuaiion  brouj!::  in  by  ilie  assessors  of  the  property  of  the 
citv:  it  amounted  lo  t.7-j.»3J4. 

Tiie  pe;ition  of:::'.-  J-j  v-  in  t:>?  jov^rtiour  for  liber  y  ;o  ex^nrlse  tl«e:r 
lelizion.  beir.^-  bv  ::\::\  rvcor".:r.-:-ndv.:  lo  the  mavor  zr.d  zlctrzz-rz, 
was  read  in  cu:T^:::«>n  cour.cil,  and  ".iitv  returned  "Jitrir  opinion  ir.c«- 
npoo.  that  noo  pi:M: ;  :v  «.:•:*':. in  I-  t-jit-raivd  by  act  of  ass-rcioiy. 
but  those  that  pn.fesse  f^it:!  in  C.":.*-:^:.  a::d  :'::  ere  fore,  the  Jews  wor- 
ship not  ;o  be  allo'.ved. 

1656  The  bakers  of  the  citv  are  at  this  time  24  in  number,  aad 
they  are    di^iiie-i  i:.:o  six  cia.*ses.  and  one  class  apjoLafied 

to  each  dav  of  the  six  working  liavs  of  t::e  week. 

April  loth. — T:ie  jovcrr.o-^r  ny  pri.»c:ai nation,  re-ews  the  jvo- 
hibition  to  harbour  or  ir^de  wi:h  Lr.'iiaLS. 

24th. — The  common  co^iicii  ajree  :«j  pav  tiie  jrnverooar  oo  ci* 
Bgnio^  the  chaner  xi'iKt.  and  dve  i:::n  security  lor  jtluO  mote 
in  six  months. 

May  11th. — The  mayor  reports,  ti.at  he  has  paid  =£300  tor  ire 
patent,  and  £24  to  the  secret^rv- :  ar^d  a  comuiittee  b  appointed  tt> 
raise  the  sum. 

December  2:W. — In  the  second  year  ofhis  majesty's  reisn.WIi- 
liani  Butler  is  appointrd  chi.ijney-swecpor  to  the  city,  and  onkred 
"to  pass  through  ali  the  streets,  lanes,  and  passalzes,  with  soco 
or  err*  as  may  discover  you  to  the  bhabitants  thereof  to  be 


UISCCLLANSOrS  MATTKK.  CXUT 

the  person  for  iliat  employiueui  appointed/'     He  miy  demuid  far 
a  chiiuiiey  of  one  ssory  Is. ;  two  stories  or  more.  Is.  6d. 

In  December  this  year.  Andros  arrived  at  Boston  is  govenKHir 
of  all  New  England. 
ldS7  iVriober  1-Jih. — The  constables  of  the  respectire  wards, 
ordered  to  summon  the  inhabitants  to  appear  before  Alderman 
Rouiboult.  Alderman  Vanbleck,  and  Alderman  CortbiDdt,  or  anj 
two  of  them,  to  pve  an  account  of  their  freedoms,  that  i  com- 
loinee  mav  judge  **  who  shall  be  allowed  as  freemen  and  who  shall 
not. ' 

The  province  of  New  York  containeil  not  less  than  20,000  inba- 
bitants.  New  Jersey  10,lKH).  Connecticut  about  1S,000.  Tho 
whole  EuicUsh  colonies  2iHK000. 

Ooveruour  Donc^in  held  a  {>atent  for  a  lar^  landed  estate  oo 
Staten  Island,  fr\>m  the  pn>viiice  or  proprietor  (James  II.)  of  New 
York,  but  bavin;;  some  doubts  of  Staten  Island  belon«:in:g:  to  New 
York«  to  be  doubly  sure«  he  procured  a  patent  for  the  same  land  from 
the  proprietor?  of  East  Jersey.  The  last  of  his  descendants  had 
reduced  himself  by  vice,  to  be  ser^^'ant  of  foot  or  marines  in  17^8- 
99.  The  mansion-house  fell  into  the  McVickar  familv  :  thb  hsi 
Doo^an  and  John  Mc\  ickar  married  sisters  of  the  Moora  &milj 
of  Newton.  Lon^  Island. 

Governour  Don^n  embarked  for  Kns:land.  aud  left  NicholsoQ 
as  James's  lieutenarit-iovernour  under  Andros :  if  he  went  to  En^ 
land,  he  of  course,  found  William  111.  on  the  throne.     I  beliero 
be  returned  to  his  estate  on  Staten  Island.     A  Colonel  Doogan, 
was  wounded  on  Staten  Isbnd  in  August   1777,  and  died,  1st. 
September.     Was  he  a  grandson  of  the  iiovemour?  But  Miller^s 
extract  from  Ebelin^  says,  he  went  to  his  natii^e  country,  IrelaiML 
Thomas  E.  liordon  savs,  p.  i?0,  section  1:?,  of  his  historv  of  New 
York,  that  Colonel  PoajT-m,  the  deputy-goveraour  of  New  lore, 
was  afterwarvl  Earl  of  Limerick,     Acain  p.  i?o,  section  4,  he  says* 
that  James   II.  in    16>S.  commanded  Dongan  to  surrender  New 
York  to  AndroKS,  then  i^>veraour  of  New  England,  by  which  New 
York  merged  b  New  England,  and  Andros  appointed  Nicholsoii 
his  lieuteuani-goveraour,  and  Pongan  "retired  to  hi*  fcrm  on  Loog 
Island:  where  he  remained  uniil  1G9I.''     Chief  Justice  Smith 
says,  (Vol.  1,  p.  i>U  that  Pongan  had  embarked  for  Europe,  aad 
lay  in  the  bay  at  the  time  Leisler  seizeii  tlie  tort,  which  was  in  the 
summer  of  lt>>9.     Smith  likewi5e  savs,  Pon^ran  went  to  Irelaiid* 
and  it  was  said  became  Earl  of  Limerick.  He  resigned  New  l  ork  10 
Nicholson,  who  was  deputed  by  Andros,  then  commissioDed  by 
James  as  goveruour  of  Unh  Now  England  and  New  \  ork. 
16SS         August  1  lih. — In  the  fourth  year  of  James  11.,  Andioa 
idsues  his  proclamation,  saying,  whereas  he  has  annexed  his 
proTioce  of  New  York  **  to  his  territonr  and  domimoQ  of  New  Eng- 


CZZXTI  APFBJIBIX. 

Itnd,  and  to  constitute  him  (Andros)  captain-general  and  gorer- 
nour-in-cbief  of  the  same,''  therefore,  all  officers  are  continiied, 
except  those  particularly  removed,  and  all  rates,  dues,  taxes,  efc^ 
for  his  majesty's  government  are  likewise  continued* 

August  24th. — Proclamation  by  the  same  for  a  general  thanksgiring 
for  the  birth  of  a  prince,  to  be  obsened  on  the  2d  of  September. 

November  2d. — The  assessors  bring  in  the  valuation  as  follows. 
The  West  ward,  ^£9,600,  North   ward,    ^7,625,    South   ward, 
j£29,254.  East  ward,    jC9,64S,  Dock  ward,  ^16,241,  Harlem, 
jei,723,  Bowrye,  ^4,140.     Total,  ^£78,231. 

1690         January  4th. — Ordered,  by  the  common  couocfl  of 

New  York,  as  there  is  no  provision  for  the  assistance  of 

the  poor,  that  each  constable  in  his  ward  make  a  collection  "  of  a 

free  gift"   from  the  inhabitants   and   render   an   account  to  the 

mayor. 
1691  April  1st. — ^Resolved,  that  there  be  **  but  one  botcher's 
shamble  within  this  city,  and  that  it  be  still  dayly  kept  at 
the  green  before  the  Sort  untill  further  order,  and  all  botcher's 
meat  to  be  brought  to  the  said  shamble  for  sayle,  and  no  other 
place." 

Received  a  petition  of  Conradus  Vanderbeck  for  to  invite  to 
funeral  Is,  the  consideration  whereof  is  referred  till  next  court. 

A  6ne  of  3s.  to  be  imposed  on  members  for  absence  withoot 
excuse,  1.  6d.  of  which  for  the  benefit  of  the  common  counciL 

ISth. — Ordered,  *'  that  Conradus  Vanderbeck  be  appointed  and 
confirmed  in  the  j)lace  of  inviter  to  the  buvriall  of  deceased  per- 
sons." To  be  licensed  by  tlie  mayor,  and  pay  "  the  city  9s.  be- 
sides fees,  and  to  be  renewed  vearlv." 

A  committee  that  bad  been  appointed  to  regulate  markets  report 
"  that  there  be  two  markets  for  flesh  kept,  the  one  in  the  Broadway 
over  against  the  ffort,  the  other  under  the  trees  by  the  slip,  and 
that  the  butchers  shall  be  obliged  to  keep  flesh  in  both  places,* 
and  that  the  countr}'  people  shall  bring  flesh  to  either  of  the  two 
places,  suiting  their  best  convenience,  and  that  no  butcher's  meat 
be  killed  within  the  city  gates."  Eegs,  butter  and  poultry  to  be 
brought  to  the  said  places.  **  That  fish  be  brought  to  the  dock 
over  against  the  City-hall,  or  the  house  that  Lf/ngMary  formerly 
lived  in  ; — likewise  hearbes,  fruite,  roots,  etc."  Tuesdays,  Thon- 
days  and  Saturdays  the  market  days ;  but  in  case  ^'  by  t}'deSv 
weather,  or  any  other  accident,"  all  these  articles  may  be  sold  oo 
other  days  in  the  market  places.  No  hucksters  to  buy  any  thing 
to  sell  again  until  it  has  been  in  the  market  two  hours.     Any  per- 


*  We  know  by  thif  that  Uierc  wm  bot  one  dip.  and  that  of  eoone  wm  th« 
Coeaiiee. 


MISCELLANBOUS  MATTBH.  CZZXfll 

son  that  buycs  or  cheapens  any  flesh,  6shy  etc.,  etc.,  and  coining  to 
the  market  to  forfeit  Gs.  None  of  these  articles  to  be  sold  else- 
where. The  clerk  of  the  market  to  receive  Is.  per  head  for  cattle 
killed  for  the  market,  and  <kl.  for  hoggs,  and  2d.  for  calves  and 
sheep ;  but  tlie  country  people  to  pay  notliing  for  those  brought 
ready  killed. 

Orders  for  cording  wood,  and  reguladng  carmen  and  captains 
appointed  for  the  canncn  :  6s.  for  a  carman's  license.  No  cariiitn 
to  ride  on  his  cart.  The  carmen  obliged  to  carry  away  the  dirt ; 
if  they  load  it  to  have  3d.  a  load.  The  carmen  shall  be  obliged 
to  carry  loads  to  the  court  as  customary.  That  they  shall  be  obe- 
dient to  their  captains,  who  are  to  keep  the  number  of  twenty-four ; 
which  are  to  be  divided,  one  half  to  tend  the  water  side,  and  one 
half  to  tend  the  city.  No  boys  or  negroes  to  drive  carts.  Every 
carman  to  drive  his  own  cart.  All  cannen  shall  be  obliged  to 
leave  all  employs  to  attend  to  the  riding  up  of  wheate  or  fflowert 
or  any  other  merchandize  subject  to  damage,  upon  penalty  of  3s* 
for  each  default  for  the  use  of  the  city. 

22d. — ^Ordered  in  common  council,  that  each  alderman  in  his 
ward,  make  a  return  of  poor,  requiring  charity,  and  in  the  mean 
time  supply  them. 

That  ^*  no  person  within  this  city,  shall  entertain  any  strangers 
for  a  longer  time  than  seven  days,  without  giving  information  to 
the  mayor,  of  their  names,  and  whence  they  came,  upon  pain  of 
40s.  fine.''  And  masters  of  vessels  and  boats,  are  ordered  withio 
24  hours  after  arrival,  to  report  their  passengers. 

Richard  Chapman  is  appointed  to  act  with  C.  Vander  Beck  as 
inviter  to  funerals.  And  they  are  to  give  their  attendance  gratis 
on  the  poor. 

2£>th. — All  persons  are  forbid  to  trust  "saylors,"  under  the 
penalty  of  forfeiting  the  same,  as  it  shall  not  be  recoverable  hj 
law. 

No  sale  of  rum  to  be  made  to  an  Indian  under  15  gallons. 
Ordered,  that  no  person  harbour  any  negro  or  Indian  slave  in  their 
bouse  or  otherwise,  or  sell  any  strong  liquor  to  tliem,  without  per- 
mission from  their  master,  or  to  take  any  money  from  them  on 
any  account,  [a  repetition  of  former  laws.] 

July  7ih. — Ordered,  that  the  poisonous  and  sunking  weeds  be- 
fore every  one's  hou:iie  be  plucked  up,  under  3s.  penalty. 

All  flour  not  bolted  within  the  city,  to  be  seized. 

Three  lawyers  to  be  retained  in  behalf  of  die  city. 

Ordered,  that  the  widdow  Langley  be  provided  for,  and  that 
2s.  Gd.  per  week  be  allowed  for  her  maintenance. 

The  whiirfe  is  mentioned  as  "lying  upon  the  water  side,  between 
the  Stadt-houso  and  the  bridge." 

R 


CXXXfin  APPENDIX. 

A  half  penny  per  pound,  ordered  to  be  assessed  on  the  inhibt- 
tants,  to  pay  the  city  debts. 

9tb. — ^A  committee  appointed  by  the  common  counciU  to  buiU 
a  market-bouse  ^'  at  tlie  end  of  the  Heergraft  street,*'  [Broad 
street  ?]  *^  for  all  but  butcher's  meat."  Aiid  a  committee  to  by 
out  said  street  to  the  water  side. 

September  17th. — Another  widow  is  provided  for  at  3s.  the 
week  :  and  ordered,.  ^^  that  Arthur  Strangwich  be  provided  fbr,  at 
•an  object  of  chaiity,  and  that  3$.  per  week  be  paiid  unto  his  wife 
for  his  maintenance." 

*^  Ordered,  that  two  women  and  two  children,  without  the  gale 
of  the  house  of  John  de  La  Vail,  the  one  called  Top  Knott  Betty, 
the  other  one  StillwolFs  wife,  widi  the  children,  be  provided  for:** 
4s.  a  week  are  allowed  them  for  one  month. 

A  piece  of  land  lying  beyond  the  Smith's  Fly,  at  the  foot  of  tiw 
hill,  [Golden  Hill]  is  leased  to  a  man  and  his  wife  for  their  natB* 
ral  lives,  for  Gs.  per  year  ;  he  leaving  a  convenient  road  between 
his  house  and  the  high  water  mark ;  and  to  construct  a  building  to 
be  the  city's  at  dieir  decease. 

**  Ordered,  that  the  lotts  belonging  to  the  city,  from  Burgers  path, 
to  the  foot  of  the  hill,  by  Mr.  Beekman's,  [from  Smith  street,  now 
William,  south  of  Wall,  to  tlie  foot  of  Golden  Hill]  be  exposed 
to  sayle." 

^^  Ordered,  that  the  treasurer  lett  Searbancb  have  a  new  suit,  and 
assist  him  in  what's  wanting." 

December  oih. — Ordered,  that  the  lotts  between  the  Burger*8 
path  and  Block-house,  be  divided  into  thirteen,  and  "  exposed  lo 
sayle,'*  liie  purchasers  bein^  obliged  to  (ill  up  *'  the  front  of  the  said 
land  with  one  entire  house,"  [i.  e.  each  lot  a  house,  of  the  breadth 
of  the  lot.]  '^  which  shall  be  two  stories  hi<rh  above  the  srouud,  and 
the  front  to  the  street,  to  be  eitlier  brick  or  stone,  and  that  the  same 
form  of  buildings  shall  be  likewise  obsened  in  the  street  next  the  sea- 
ward— and  if  any  other  sort  of  buildings  are  erected  fronting  to 
either  street,  they  shall  be  pulled  down." 

Sth. — The  ministers,  elders,  deacons,  and  congregation  of 
the  Dutch  refonned  church,  petition  for  a  vacant  piece  of 
ground,  situated  to  the  northward  of  the  dwelling  house  of  Corne- 
lius Pluveer,  to  build  a  church.  Ordered,  that  a  grant  be  given 
accordingly. 

17th. — The  committee  appointed  for  the  purpose,  report — 
diat  the  tract  of  land  lying  in  Garden  street,  contains  on  the 
aofth  aide  175  feet,  English  measure :  on  the  south  ISO  feet, 
••  inore  or  less,  wluch  land  is  ordered  for  ihe  Dutch  church ;  they 
paying  ISO  curreni  pieces  of  eight — Gs.  to  be  paid  upon  sealing  the 
patents,  ihe  o/ry  sxUi/ig  their  right  and  jyrojKrty.    On  behalf  of  the 


MlSCKXJJtXEOrS  MATTSm.  csxuz 

Dutch  church  this  was  aacreed  tcs  ami  accepted  by  Aldennan 
JoliaDnes  Kipp  and  Brandt  :>chuTler. 

February  >ih, — ••  Colonel  Bayard  making  appUcatioo  to 
Mr.  Mavor.  as  sc^nt  frv>:n  the  ^^vemour  and  council,  as  be 
•  about  re^iairhr^  the  fortldcations  around  the  cittey***  it  was 
pcoposed  to  the  boarvl.  who  answereii*  **  that  it  in  no  wars  beloi^ed 
to  the  c:tty«  and  tiiat  they  were  incapable  of  detrayins:  the  chaises 
thereof:  but  thev  were  readv  to  «:tve  their  labour***  »$  usod. 
It  was  propok^ed  tiiac  the  citry  ^ve  ^':^)  or  £diO  lor  the  abore  par- 
pose*  but  rejecteil. 

19th. — A  deed  was  si;cncd  bv  •'  the  mavor  to  Mr.  Samuel 
Bavard*  and  his  bond    taken  for  ^'100.  that  the  said  Samuel 

m 

Bayard,  and  bis  heir^  shall  only  employ  the  said  lott  or  totit  of 
grwind*  towards  the  buildin:^  a  church,  or  houses  for  pious  and 
charitable  uses  atoresaid.  and  not  assi^m  the  same  to  anv  other 
person  or  persons  whatever  :  but  ou  the  tenour  thnt  the  same  be 
employed  by  them  towarvls  the  buiKtii^c  of  a  church,  or  houses  for 
|MOus  or  charitable  uses.**  The  church  was  buUt :  and  in  1791 
burnt. 

*•  i'Wered.  that  there  be  a  pillory,  ca^.  and  ducking  stool  fortk- 
widi  buitu*' 

A  committee  appointed  to  view  the  fortidcatioos  with  CohMiel 
Bavard  and  other  mllitar\~  ottioers  bv  hiui  chosen,  and  to  see  what 
the  chai^:es  of  rejviirs  may  aiuount  to. 

±Wi. — Bv  recouituendacioa  of  the  commander-in-chief,  a  com- 
mittee  appointed  to  calculate  ti^e  expense  of  materials  for  the 
same.  [The  Colonel  Bayard  above  named,  is  Nicholas— the  tn»- 
or  purchaser  for  the  church,  is  Samuel.] 

March  1-lth. — The  re^K»rt  of  cost  lor  the  lortidcations.  is  ^"dOO, 

besides  ^reat  cunns.  powder,  a::d  ball.'* 

30th. — ^-^  The  reconler  having  read  an  address  of  the  mayor, 

.***  to  their  majesties :  the  irayor  "  objected  a^nst  the  saow 
oo  cocfc^ideration  that  it  is  said  therein,  that  Leisler  hath  not 
paid  the  soldiers  he  iiad  :l:.x':%  Jtrvt  hiu  to  nrwtr.  The  recorder, 
and  the  rest  of  the  common  council,  i^^ere  willins:  to  si^n.  At  pre- 
sent it  is  layd  aside."  The  mayor,  was  Captain  Abraham  Do 
Perster  :  the  recorder.  PLuhonie.  one  of  Slourfiter's  cotmcil* 

April  2d. — All  [>ersons  not  ••  listed  in  the  train  bands^*^  ordered 
to  wock  on  the  tbrtidcations.  under  penalty  of  3s.  lor  each  de&uh. 
This  fes  re<]uired.  as  the  fortidcacions  have  pxie  to  rtiin.  and  danger 
apprehended  tirom  the  enemy. 

May  tkh. — ••  i.>rdered.  that  all  the  land  in  firoot  of  the  Fly> 
from  the  block-house,  unto  the  hill  next  Mr.  Beekman's  be  ex- 
p€««d  foe  sayle."  That  »  as  I  supimse  from  the  block-house,  nev 
the  foot  of  the  wall,  now  Wail  street,  to  iiolden  HilU  whiek  was 
all  a  swamp,  uniil  Maideo  Lane  was  hfoujfat  down  throogfa  it*  lo 


CZL  APPENDIX. 

the  CooDtess^s  Slip  in  Bellaraont's  time,  when  the  FIj  Market  aP 
terwards  was  builL  Part  of  this  land  Is  valued  at  24>s.,  and  pan  at 
18d.  and  153.  per  foou  The  inhabitants  refuse  to  buy  this  land  ai 
valued,  because  the  lotts  are  *'  unequally  laid  out  in  oDcertaia 
breadths."  A  committee  is  appointed  to  sell  by  outcry  or  other- 
wise :  and  ^^  the  former  streets  of  King  street,  Greene  Lane,  and 
Mr.  Van  Clifit's,  be  left  open  to  tlie  low  water." 

A  letter  is  ordered  to  be  written  to  Colonel  Dongan,  notifying 
him,  that  the  city  claim  a  lott  of  land  by  the  bridge,  to  which  he 
makes  pretensions ;  but  as  he  is  absent,  they  respite  the  sayle  to  give 
him  time  to  make  his  claim  appear. 

August  11th. — The  common  council  resolve  to  sell  the  lott  fiv- 
merly  claimed  by  Dongan,  behind  the  Weigli-house,  next  the  dock. 
This  is  exchanged  for  another  lott  and  becomes  Mr.  Spratt*s. 

Laws  are  renewed  to  monopolize  to  die  citty  the  bolting  of  flower 
and  making  bread  for  sale,  etc. :  as  being  the  source  of  the  city's 
prosperity. 

Colonel  Bayard  being  questioned,  says,  that  Dongan  applied  to 
him,  when  he.  Bayard,  was  mayor,  for  a  grant  of  the  lott  above 
named,  and  he  refused  the  same — and  the  govemour  said,  if  Bay* 
ard  would  not  sign  the  patent,  he  would  sign  it  himself:  and  that 
Dongan  applied  to  the  person  of  whom  tlie  citty  bought  said  lott,  to 
draw  him  a  patent  for  it.  The  man  said,  he  had  already  sold  it, 
and  could  not  have  any  title  to  it.  Dongan  replied,  **  What's  that 
to  you  ? — Draw  you  the  patent  r"  uj>on  which  he  answered,  ••  be 
would  draw  him  100  if  he  would,  but  they  would  do  him  no  good,'' 
and  accordingly,  engrossed  one  for  liirn. 

30ih. — "  Agreed,  that  there  be  a  treat  made  to  welcome  his 
Excellency  Benjamin  Fletcher,  now  arrived,  by  the  citty,  to  the 
value  of  £20,  or  thereaboutis." 

Graham,  who  drew  the  patent  of  the  lot  for  Dongan,  says,  that 
about  a  twelve  month  rnsuini^  the  grant  of  the  charter,  he  was  very 
much  importuned  by  Colonel  Dongan  to  draw  him  a  patent  for  the 
above  lott. 

September  1st. — ^James  Graham  is  restored  to  the  office  of  re- 
corder, nem.  con.  *'  pursuant  to  the  rcroininendation  of  the  lords  of 
the  board  of  trade  and  [)lantations,"  hi<  discontinuance  in  Colonel 
Sloughter^s  time  in  any  ways  notwlihstandinz-     For  this  purpose 

Benjamin  Fletcher  trives  Iiis  warrant,  ^September  3d. 
1693  Februarj'  4th. — An  address  to  Governour  Fletcher, 
praying  that  he  apply  to  their  majesties  for  a  confirmatioB 
of  the  charter,  and  that  the  mayor  be  Clerk  of  the  market.  Water 
Bayley,  and  Coroner,  and  that  the  boulting  of  flower  and  baking  of 
bread  for  transportation  be  confined  to  the  citty  only,  as  formeriy. 

9ih. — The  mayor,  etc.  wait  upon  tlie  governour  with  an  address 
saying,  that  ^'  greater  blcising  could  not  come  to  this  late  languish- 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  OXU 

ing  province  tliaii  that  most  gracious  favour  of  hid  inajc3^*8»  in 
constituting  your  excellency  tlieir  lieutenant  here.  The  inhabit- 
ants of  this,  their  nmjesties'  ciity,  were  induced,  with  incessant 
labour,  great  chari^e  and  expcnce,  to  enrich  this  barren  soil.  But 
tliis  citty  no  sooner  be<^an  to  make  a  fi;i;:ure  in  trade,  etc.  but  it  b^ 
came  liie  envy  of  our  adjacent  neighbours,  who  did  not  cease  by  all 
their  little  artifices,  to  interrupt  our  trade,  but  also  did  reproach  us 
with  many  false  8u<;i^estions,  etc.  which  did  procure  considerable 
branches  of  the  govermnent  to  be  lopped  off,  and  still  not  contented 
with  tlie  devastation  were  restless  until  we  were  swallowed  up  by 
that  unhappy  annexation  to  New  England,  whereby  our  traffique 
not  only  drooped,  but  all  that  was  dear  and  valuable  amongst  us 
wholly  destroyed."  This  extravaii:unce  is  all  in  complaint  of  flour 
being  sold  without  the  city — the  staple  on  which  the  province  de- 
pended— and  the  address  ends  thus :  *'  We,  widi  all  humility,  pre- 
sume to  prostrate  ourselves  and  suj)plicate  your  excellency  that  as 
you  are  their  majesties'  vicc-gerant  here,  and  thereby  the  fountain 
of  justice,  goodness,  and  equity,  that  your  excellency  would  be 
pleased  to  take  the  decaying  state  of  this  afflicted  citty  into  your 
favourable  consideration,  and  become  their  eifectual  patron  and 
protector,  under  whose  influence  it  can  only  flourish."  And  all 
this  servility  for  the  monopoly  of  the  bolting  of  flour  and  baking 
of  biscuit  for  transportation  ! 

Ordered,  that  the  recorder  draw  up  an  address  to  their  majesties, 
representing  the  steps  his  excellency  has  made  for  the  quiet  of  the 
government,  since  his  arrival. 

The  humble  address  of  the  mayor,  etc.  to  the  king,  is  in  the 
same  slavish  and  fulsome  style  as  that  to  the  governour. — In  the 
dee|>est  sense  of  the  manifold  blessings  and  mercies  upon  our  nation 
by  the  Almighty  (>od,  who  hath  only  raised  your  most  sacred  ma- 
jesty to  be  his  glorious  instrument  for  the  redemption  of  your  peo- 
ple, who  were  lately  groaning  under  tlie  yoke  of  popery  and  the 
growth  of  French  tyranny.  Ilis  majesty's  gracious  care  and 
princely  notice,  in  constituting  Fletcher,  a  gentleman  of  pious 
life,  to  be  your  majesty's  governour  over  us,  etc.  He  found  great 
division  amongst  us,  occasioned  by  frivolous  heats;  he  speedily 
allayed  them ;  he  preferred  persons  of  moderate  spirits  to  the  chief- 
est  stations,  which  produced  an  increase  of  unity,  etc.  When  on 
a  sudden,  a  spark  of  fire  broke  out  likely  to  reduce  your  majesty's 
gOFemment  to  confusion  again.  Many  of  the  late  disturbers  be- 
ginning to  fall  back  and  cool  in  their  aflections  to  your  majesty's 
interest,  his  excellency's  vigilance  did  soon  discover  the  cause,  and 
found  die  coals  of  dissention  were  blown  up  by  Sir  William  Phipps, 
a  person  who  ought  to  have  had  more  regard  to  the  dignity  of  the 
character  he  bears  by  your  majesty's  favour;  but  laying  that 
duty  aside*  degenerates  from  his  allegiance,  and  setts  his  emissa- 


I 


CXLU  APPENDIX. 

ries  at  work  to  alienate  the  atTectiona  of  ynur  majesty '4 
from  their  «liiiy  to  your  majesty,  rerfectinff  upon  your  iiiaje«tr'« 
ffovemmeiU  estahl'miiefi  iiere  i}v  voiir  maie£»tv-.-?  authoritv.  ainf  i»- 
ainiiatinq  by  the  \ihe\n  -wnt  amoiiL'^t  tlie  iLrnorant  peopie.  'iiat  » 
legal  proceedinff?  made  l)y  your  majesTy'"!  authority  in  this  provire. 
were  of  no  forre,  and  that  other  tumiihiioiis  act*  woiiiii  be  jus- 
tified bv  voiir  maientv.  borrowini:  voiir  maiesfv*«  ^acred  name  v? 
cover  his  turtiuient  desi^rnH,  th;it  Ik;  miirlit  with  tjie  greater  eve 
blow  the  (^oais  ot'  rebellion  imon^^^t  voiir  majestv- »  dominion*  om 
thtfl  main  of  America.  They  tii  ere  fore  jiip  plicate  his  maje^n^*; 
captain-general  to  lay  dieir  hiimhie  iiidr^s^  at  his  majesrj'?  M. 
etc.  etc.,  as!>unnii  tliat  their  ilve.s  and  ionunes  shall  be.  etc.  eir^ 
for  hifl  majesty. 

Jiilv  lith- — The  recorder  irf  ordered  totirawan  address  of  coe- 
grata  lation  to  the  orovemour  on  Ills  -fafe  ret  urn  from  Albany,  zni.  a 
"Clip  of  joKl.  value  £1<)0.  to  be  pres»ented  to  his  exceilencT  » 
tteaiimonv  of  the  citiv"-?  irniirside  for  hi.s  care  of  its  ■•ecunrr.'* 

20ih. — Reponeil.  that  'JUoz.  of  10 Id  hatii  been  bon^hc  of  Pear 
Marcufl,  for  a  cup  to  be  pre:-ented.  etc.  They  order  xl<36  to  he 
paid,  and  the  revenr.e  of  the  Ferr}*  to  be  appropriated  tberefcrr. 

20th. — The  humble  addrejia  of  the  mavor  to  his  excelleacr. 
Benjamin  F'letcher.  jovemour  aril  comraacder-in-chief  of  fak 
majesty's  province  of  .V?w  \oc\\,  province  of  Pencsy I vania.coan- 
trv  of  .Vew  Ca.-tlo.  territon-  nnii  imcrs  of  land  depecdinr  tbereoc. 
etc.  Thi.-a  i*  to  prnii^e  and  rl.iniv  hira  for  the  dar;:?r5  he  has  in- 
curred in  hi*  late  ^ovi  %:•  ro  Aib-rr.  and  for  red-cir.j  the  Indiatis  lo 
an  union  wirh  hi*  xri?.\f:^'\'^  in'^^rr-t. e'.c.  wherebv  iLe  fronders  are  ?e- 
cu red .  e tc .  A  i  1 1 i j i -  i-  o  a  i :  _-  to : h^i : n e -ft: cna ble  v Ir: ije.  prudence,  ixxi 
pioiJ.^  condiKt  of  hi-  e\ •"•:-! i-=:r.cy.  Ti..?y  pn-y  iiis  escelieccv.  sav- 
inif,  tJiey  wi.ah  him  lo  I^xA  Into  our  ciity.  ••  rirA  yow  wiii  and  that  our 
in  ha  bi  f  a  n  L-  a  r e  d  a  V 1 V  e  r ec :  i :.  _-  v.\  r»  t.  'j  n\  e  n  l*  to  Den>e  lu  ate  l  he  memorv 
of  your  exr^rjien'-y'ri  vir':e."  crc.  and  with  many  other  prayers  for 
the  kinrr,  queen,  and  Iji*  txc'.:!e::cy.  ::.»:-y  present  tiiis  famous  cup 
of  c^old. 

Autru.M  1 1th. — A?f-e«soi-?  appoir/.ed  to  rai^e  a72o,  beine  one 
moiety  to  be  paid  by  the  ciny,  according  to  act  of  assembly,  for 
raining  X0,000  for  the  payment  of  •*iOii  \0lun1eer5  to  be  employed 
in  rein forcf? men t  of  the  frontiers  ot  thi;?  province  att  Aii*afnj,  from 
the  InX  of  .May  next,  1004. 

SIbL^AH  Indians,  neirrfjes,  and  others  not  **  listed  in  the  roili- 
Ija/*  arc  ordcn;d  to  work  on  tJie  fortifications  for  repairing  the 
Munev  to  be  under  the  command  of  the  captains  of  the  wards  ihey 
inhabit.     And  XI 00  to  be  raiscil  for  the  fortifications. 

October  lOih. — The  co\ernour  and  council,  in  consequence  of 
ftctuni  war  between  the  king  and  queen  on  one  pan,  and  the  French, 


MISCKLULNSOCS  MATTSB*  CZUn 

mad  the  knowled^  that  a  $<]iiadix>n  of  ships  are  ondered  to  ioTide 
llit»  citty,  oi\ler  that  a  platform  be  made  upon  tlie  outmost  poiol  of 
tbe  n^cks  under  the  fon«  \vhcnN^n«  as  the  ^vernour  5str»,  **  I  in- 
teod  lo  build  a  baiierv  to  command  both  rivers  f*  thienefone  be 
nH|uires  the  cor|K>ntion  to  order  tlie  inhabiunts  of  the  Out  ward  of 
the  cinv  and  Manulac  and  Baroe*$  IsiauiU  to  cut  down  eirhiv* 
conk  of  stockades  of  twelve  feet  m  leogth^and  to  havethera  in  i 
dioess  at  the  water  side  to  be  conveved  to  New  York,  at  the  charigo 

of  tlte  cin\'  and  countw 
16M  Januan'  loth. — The  common  council  a^n  addnfes  dio 
covernour  witli  compilmeniss  as  before.  They  thank  him 
far  orderinc  the  plaUorm  and  l>atier\*  on  the  point  of  the  rocks  on* 
der  the  fort — *^  a  work  ahsoUuely  needfuK  and  of  so  great  coDtii-' 
Tuice  that  no  doubt  (bv  uie  assisunce  of  i«od«  tout  esLcellencT^s 
indeiaii^blediilip^nce.)  e;i\«  the  province  for  the  future  will  be  in 
peilect  security^  and  tlie  rumour  therei>f  make  ihe  enemy  change 
hk  measure  and  not  aiiack  the  cinv/* 

19tlk — The  common  council  receive  the  answer  to  their  ie<|iiesl 
to  the  coveraoun  for  his  opinion  redirecting  their  power  to 
tax  the  inhabiunts.  lie  in  ct^uncil  answers  in  the  affinnatiTe.  **  It 
is  a  power  natural  to  ever)'  Uviy  (xilitique  by  the  very  act  of  iocor* 
poiatioQ  to  do  all  those  reasonable  acts  that  ate  necessary  to  die 

continuance  of  tiiat  beinc*** 
16d5         Januarr  loth. — l>rviert^d«  that  no  merchant  or  handicnft 

m 

tradesman  shall  take  any  apprentice*  without  being  bound 
by  indenture  before  ihe  mayor*  recorder*  or  ooe  of  the  aldennen. 
Such  apprentice  to  be  bound  for  iH>t  less  titan  four  years  ;  and  at 
the  expirnttion*  if  he  has  truly  sv r\  cil.  to  be  made  free  of  the  citr^- 
lecisterinj:  the  same,  and  the  master  oavinc  ^^ 

Julv  Sth.— <Vxler  is  received  fix>m  the  j^tvemour  to  summons 
all  the  treemen  of  this  ciiv.  wIm  bv  themseh-es  or  servants  arv  to  be 
immediately  employeii  in  the  re^^air  of  the  tortifications,  bulwarksi 
danker^  and  banories  thereof,  and  to  see  tliat  all  the  guns  are 
mounted  and  ready  for  use :  jKiwder*  balls*  and  gunners  proper 
and  fit  to  defend  the  citi\ . 

November  IMu — x>iU  los.  to  be  raised  for  ^*  paying  and  main- 
taining a  com(\any  of  fiisileer^i^  employed  on  the  frontier  alt  pre- 
sent under  tlie  command  of  Major  Schuyler*** 
169G         In  this  year  the  general  assembly  pass  an  act  making  it 
lawful  for  every  place  in  tlie  province  to  bolt  dour  for  ex- 
poftaiion  ;  by  which  the  mono}>oly  of  the  ciiy  is  broken  up* 

The  cit}*  by  this  time  had  increased  to  od-l  houses*  and  had 
(says  the  common  counciU)  60  shi|is«  40  boats,  and  6d  sloop»— * 
kitted  4,000  ^*  beefes***  and  Unds  had  adranced  to  ten  times  dieir 
ibrmer  value*     All  which  prosperity  is  attribuied  to  the  dty^s  poe* 


GXLIV  APPByDIX. 

sessing  the  exclusive  privilege  of  bolting  flour  and  baking  biscutfar 
transportation  ;  and  all  is  lost  by  the  Bolting  Act,  as  the  cooh 
mon  council  sav. 

During  this  year  Trinity  Church  was  begun :  it  was  opened  far 
worship  by  the  Rev.  .Mr.  Vescy,  in  the  year  1697.  This  buiMiDg 
was  enlarged  in  1735-0,  and  burnt  down  in  1776,  and  anodier 
building  erected  in  l7bS.  It  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Prevost, 
in  1791.  The  last  has  in  its  turn  (1S:39,)  been  demolished,  with 
the  intention  of  erecting  a  third  Trinity.  The  cemeteiy  of  this 
church  was  granted  by  the  common  council  gratuitously  to  the 
vestry,  in  1703,  on  condition  that  it  be  neatly  fenced,  and  that  the 
fees  for  burial  be  limited  to  3s.  Gd.  for  ^rown  persons,  and  Is.  6d. 
for  tliose  under  twelve  years  of  age.  By  the  records,  it  appeals 
that  this  cenietery  had  received  more  than  160,000  bodies  before 
the  conflagration  of  1776. 

May  12th. — ^'  U[)on  consideration  of  building  a  new  Cittjr 
Hall,  it  is  ordered  that  Alderman  Cortlandt,  Alderman  Daw- 
kins  and  Alderman  Boelen,  Mr.  De  Peyster,  Mr.  Kip  Van  Dam, 
and  Mr.  Erwalye,  together  with  Captain  Clarke,  Mr.  Luiting 
and  Captain  Kip,  be  a  committee  to  make  a  draft  of  the  Cilf 
Hall,  and  the  conveniences  that  thereunto  may  be  needfully  and 
compute  and  estimate  what  the  building  thereof  may  cost ;  and 
likewise  how  much  the  Citty  Hall  and  ground  and  the  land  under 
the  trees  by  Burgcr\s  ]^nth  will  sell  for,  and  make  report  thereof 
in  fourteen  (Liys  to  the  Clerk's  ofiice." 

June  23d. — A  warrant  is  ordered  *'  for  payment  of  ^41  current 
money  of  New  York,  to  Captain  Brandt  ^^chuyler,  for  his  service 
as  a  representative  of  tliis  chty  to  the  breaking  up  of  the  last  ses- 
sions of  assembly." 

2Gth. — "  By  a  majority  of  votes,  itt  is  agreed  that  a  Citty  Hall 
be  built."  A  warrant  ordered  for  paying  to  Mr.  Lawrence  Keade 
^*41,  '*  for  his  salar}'  as  one  of  the  representatives  of  tlie  citty  in 
general  assembly." 

The  **  easiest  and  best  way  for  building  a  Citty  Hall,  powder- 
house,  etc.  etc.,  is  to  mortirage  the  rent  of  the  Ferr)*  for  fifteen 
years ;  to  sell  the  present  Town  Hall  and  ground  thereunto  be- 
longing, and  the  ground  concluded  to  be  sold  in  the  rear  of  the 
Dock  street,  at  J)d.  per  foot.  The  new  Citty  Hall  to  be  built  and 
covered  by  liie  1st  of  November  next  come  twelve  mondis."  L  e. 
November  1G97. 

October  17ih. — Captain  Tennis  Dekay  {)etiuons  "that  a  cart- 
way may  be  made  leading  out  of  the  Broad  street  to  the  street  that 
runs  by  the  pyc-woman's,  leadin*,'  to  the  commons  of  the  citty." 
The  petitioner  undertakes  to  do  the  same,  provided  he  may  haTO 
the  soyle. 


I 


MI$CELULXEOr$  MATTER.  CXLV 

The  inhaWtant>  complain  ihat  there  i>  no  broad  lo  bo  boudit. 
The  bakers  beini:  summoned.  •'  complain  that  ihey  have  no  come, 
i»ej;her  can  rei  any  lo  purchase  at  a  reask^nable  rate  whereby  to 
occupy  iheir  iraiie>,  in  onler  to  supply  theinhabirani?  with  bread.'* 
Aldermen  are  orderfnl  to  inquire  in  iheir  ii"ards  whai  flour,  wheat, 
and  bread  are  therein,  and  report, 

5od. — A  comminee  appointed  to  device  mean?  to  cause  corne 
m  be  broucht  to  tlw  cittv  lor  the  relict"  ol"  the  inhabitants, 

November  1  lih. — .i  10  ordered  to  be  paid  Jtimts  <i?-.7//<7)ia,  [l?e- 
corder]  beinc  in  l"iil!  for  his  salarj"  as  fi*",ihy  ol'the  h  *v<i*  -'fTft^t^ 
«r»7<77/rrv,  and  a  member  lor  this  ci:v.  endinc  the  third  dav  of  this 
present  Norember. 

x:?!  4s.  is  one  vear's  salarv  of  the  clerk  of  ihe  mavor's  court. 

I7ih- — rpon  In  quirk",  it  is  found  that  there  is  mdi  more  than 
seven  hundri\i  bushtls  of  corn  within  the  ciiv.  and  the  number  of 
inhabitants  Ivinc  com puied  six  thousand  or  more,  therefore  found 
liiai  the  sTix^k  o\  coni  would  not  K"'  suiTicient  tor  a  week's  mainte- 
nance. The  cause  assici"tcd  bv  \\\e  common  council  for  this  scar- 
cirr,  is  ••  the  libenv  and  L^tiiude  that  even-  planter  had  latelv  taken, 
ol"  making  his  house  or  larme  a  market  for  his  wheat,  or  converting 
the  same  into  flour  by  bohinir  c\\  in.  and  that  under  pretence 
of  a  pri>:lece  thev  concei\e  tbev  have  obtained,  bv  virtue  of 
a  law  of  the    ceneml   assemblv.    entitled   an   act  airainst  unlaw- 

-  * 

fti]  bv-!aws."  whik*^h  had  deprivcil  the  cittv  of  ihe  monor^olv  for- 
meriv  erioved.  Tiie  mtivor  craves  advice  to  remove  this  intolera- 
ble  rrieiance,  that  the  citty  r:iay  be  restored  to  its  richts  and  priri- 
lerTfts  :  xhey  rect'»mmond  an  address  to  his  majesty  tor  the  n"^]x^al  of 
said  law,  and  a  co:^i:':':i:!ee  is  accord  in  irlv  ap;M>inied.  An  assize  of 
rye  bread  agreed  on — •'  a  Kv.f  wei^hin^  t:ve  ]X*unds  for  4Jd. — 

IJye  beini  ?.:  ;^>.  -^d.  the  busliel." 
16?7  iVtobor  Cd. — TiiC   max  or,  Wi.iiam  Merriti,   informed 

the  bv>ard  'Mi: a:  on  Tui-sdny  nevt  the  supreme  conn  of 
the  province  wo u'id  >'.::.  :.i  y^l.'.ch  s:"ier,-.l  c: :;:-:: nals  would  be  iried, 
TO  w hie h  it  i s  s r. '.^ "Oi^si^d  i ri^ at  n  i: r/.  Se rs  o  f  :^e ;^ ;^  1  e  w oul d  ri^son ,  in- 
sorauch  that  it  is  for.red  ;l:e  C::y  Hr.il  vi'.l  rot  be  oi  suincient 
sireniTih  to  contain  ihcm  :"  \x:-;-;rc'.r.v>n  cottfiin  canvniersand  brick- 
layers  are  ordervd  to  xicw  nn^i  rtpor;  ihinN>n.  ar.i  uhat  txIII  be 
wajiiini:  to  sec;** re  the  same.  TiiC}  n^jM^ned  t^at  •'  s'.v  studs  and 
a  plank  will  scr.irt^  the  sa:r.i:  from  arx  c.nr.prr  of  lalii^i:."  The 
same  are  ordered  accord Ipc'v- 

4ih. — The  mayor  produced  a  ]c::-:r  :roTA  the  jr.dces  of  the  six- 
prenie  court,  stating  that  iijrors  arid  o:;::'rs  sr.r.-.moned  to  ap'jVar, 
declare  that  in  consequcn.'c  of  d.i:":^i'r  from  the  condition  of  the 
Cirr  Hall,  ibev  cannot  anend  o*i  \\m'-  cc::n  :  iherefort^  the  mads- 
tmes  are  required  in  his  majesty's  name  "  to  appoint  and  prepare 
some  oiber  place."     Signed,  William  Smith,  \Villiam  rinhorne. 


CXLn  APPENDIX. 

Ordered,  that  this  letter  be  answered,  informlnz  the  j-ox??  '^ 
measures  had  beea  taken  '*  for  makln  j  the  Ciity  Ha'.l  =-e<:  — -^  rr:-= 
(ailing 
streneth 


and  others.  Resolved,  in  consequence  of  the  nil  sous  sIi-^cLol  I 
the  City  Hall,  that  the  common  council  sit  at  the  ho:;?€  of  Ge.:f^ 
Reparreck.  adjoining  to  the  City  Hall,  until  the  I3ih  of  OcjjSfS 
next,  and  that  he  be  paid  for  the  same  £12. 

20th. — An  order  from  the  governour  read,  absolving  tie  ndii 
from  the  dutv  of  nl::ht  zuard  bv  a  mlli'^rv  watch,  untii  the  iJ/z. 
of  March  next,  provided  '•  the  nr*2rlsira:e5  of  said  cl::y  oc-r  i>- 
point  a  bellman  or  some  other  civil  watch  to  zo  rouzd  ti-e  chry  i- 
the  nizbt  time  to  prevent  irrejrularities  tiia:  may  b2pj*vn.  or  ire-"" 
etc-  Whereupon  the  board  resolve,  that  fojr  soLrer.  hones-  z>r3 
be  appointed  to  keep  a  watch  in  this  ciin"  evor^-  ni^rht  until  t:-r  zi-y^ 
of  March  next,  and  tliat  thev  hourlv  zo  through  the  severe!  waris 
of  the  city  during  the  said  time  to  prevent  irrejL;!2r'.i:e>.* 

23d. — Unanimoiislv  arrceJ.  :ha:  a  new  Ciiv  Hall  i--  ae^ressirr- 

•     _  .  . 

•'  Id  consideration  of  the  ::rea:  iaconveniencv  tL:*:  aivz-z^  il^ls  "zlrr, 
being  a  trading  place,  for  wan:  of  hivir.j  li::his  \v\  tl.r  c^rk  '.line  of 
the  moon  in  the  winter  s-:a-on.  ordered,  li-at  all  and  ever^  b»>iT  .;< 
the  house  keepers  within  ti;is  ci::y  shall  putOLit  !■«:.>  L"  tl.eLr  win- 
dows fronting  rhe  re-peciive  streets."  accordirj  as  tie  may  or  ar.d 
two  aldermen  ar*d  t-.vo  g^sir-tint*  si.iil  direct. 

Decem'oer2d. — Ke-ioivod.  ti^it  t::-?  n:o«!e  of  i!.:.:!rj  'J:-:  city  ':-e 
that  '"d-iring  the  .i^rl-i  ti:r.e  of  tl.e  r:,oj:\  xiwW  ti.e  trOt:.  of  M^r:- 
next,  ever\'  seve:i:!:  hojse!..»i'^er  ri  i^e  a  !i:::i.or:^  £r..i  cii'.o!-:-  to  ■:•* 
hunr  oat  on  a  poie  e»ery  ni/.,t."  T:;e  expen*:-  to  le  ilivii^-i 
equally  betweer.  :::e  s*-\e::.  Tl.e  tiderrr.er.  are  cl^arjcd  lo  s^e  t>J* 
done. 

2Sth. — Four  barrois  of  powder  orilered   for   salutizr  tl:e  Eiri 
of  lieliair.ont  on   hi-  arrive!. 
1695  April  iJ. — I>eii2::;ont's  comr/ission  t^a^.  as  rove.Tio::--. 

and  Nar.fanV.  as  iie-j  ten  ">;;;- cove  mo  jr. 

4th. — The  address  to  the  ^uvemour  re  "id  arid  approved.  It  i* 
full  of  humility,  professio.':-^  of  o'oedier.co,  limentatioi^s  of  dissec- 
tions amon^  themselves,  and  prayer  for  his  induecce  to  heal  the 
same. 

11th. — Resolved,  that  a  dir.r.orbe  proposed  at  the  charge  of  the 
corporation  for  the  en:ert."inr::er.t  of  his  excellency.  Kichird.  Earl 
of  Bellamont.  capiain-^-enera!,  etc.  etc.,  and  a  committee  appointed 


*  la  the  jear  1537,  ilw  nuxber  of  wa-.chsntc  i*  l.«V4.    Ta«  cm:  ^45  4i^}  5* 
per  aoBiuu. 


to  mr.kf  aM!]  tM'uro.  (:wo  aliii^rmon  and  two  aisisifTaniSs)  **and  tbtt 
lor  :.'>.^  cr\v:i;.^l  iloiii^  thrnroK  thev  call  lo  ihch  a^i>uince  such 
Ctv-k?  a>  i:u^^  s:;:i]i  liiink  nOiV>>:tn-  to  ai^x  i«o/' 

Mav  0-*.i. — No  pors^'^n  Rh>cnt  iwolre  monilif^  consiJered  a  free- 
man unless  he  koop  nro  and  candle. 

Jnnel4ih. — Aliicr.nan  riovi»>i  and  Mr,  Duvkink  ippointed 
TO  take  care  thai  ihe  puMick  house  of  oince  on  ihe  dock  be  cleaned 
and  pu:  in  repair,  and  a  }vers<^n  nppointiN]  dailr  to  keep  the  same 
clea n .  A  c o ni m  1 1 : ee  a r* :v» i nicii  t o  rex  ise  i !>e  laws.  Th U5  the  pis- 
5 J on  for  Ci>*l  i  n c .":  t i  i**  it  ?.  -. ^ ; v r»  r>  i o  Iv  o f  e arl v  d  a!e. 

tNiii. — All  the  inhalti:an:s  of  the  city,  ••their  apprentices  and 
children  ;ha:  ircre  here  at  iJie  lime  the  chaner  was  panted/*  be 
deen-jcd  frec'i'ien :  ihey  lY-iisterini:  iheir  name*,  (l>ut  none  under 
•  1  years. ^  and  the  oaih  adminisiered  lo  all  who  come  to  be  re^b- 
lered. 

An  address  ordered  to  •'  my  lord,"  pra\ini:  that  ihe  «>le  bohing 
of  tioiir  and  baking  of  t'lscuit  for  irans^xirratioxi  l>e  restored  to  this 
cin\ 

i*,^h. — The  addivss  read.  It  complains  of**  that  jcrievoiis  law'' 
w  hicn  iix>k  an  n\  this  monoiv^iv  from  them  and  •*  placed  at  ererr 
pitrtier's  door  the  pn\ilei:x"» — ^ihai  the  assembly  hath  deprired  the 
clny  of  its  r;ch:s.  etc-  and  the}  pray."  etc.  etc, 

"  It  is  considered  ihsi  the  s.im  of  a%'>0  sterling  be  rtbed 
rr»i"^n  t^ic  T\-ord  of  i'::o  c!:v.  to  be  employed  bv  an  a^nl  at 
home  in  Kndand  for  tlie  rc;^rcser.:ini:  ihe  state  of  this  citv  unto  his 
m^'i^ty  r»:id  the  lords  com ::iis> loners  of  trade  and  plantaiionfs  in 
order  to  the  re-veaiinc  t!:e  said  act,"  i.  e.  llie  Act  abolis^hin^  the 
cir^V  monoj>ivy. 

J.:'v  7!!i. — Sexeml  -.-^npfrs  re 'r. line  to  the  wished  for  repealing 
of  the  boliin'  act.  Tne  prMle^e  of  bohin-:.  iliev  sav,  was  coo- 
nrmf.^  l\  Por^-.i:T.  a:ii^  Civoved  til!  liV.*4  :  when,  bv  act  of  assem- 
b  v.  every  jvJar.a  r's  house  w,-;S  made  a  maikei.  The  calamity  haifa 
prod.ieer.  anareh\  in  :':ie  proxince,  :>nd  destroys  the  repisiaiioD  of 
Sew  York  rioiir.  W:.en  the  K^^.'i'c  V  yi "  in  1^7>,  theiv  were  only 
;^4-'i  hoiises:  in  1?>;  T^.  ->'.»4.  The  revinne  in  167<-:^  and  >1\  not 
exceeding  t:-J.iV»0  i:i  the  yenr  :  If^ST.  .io.iVO.  The holtinir  being 
remvM-ed,  ihc  ri"ve:v.:e  deereased.  In  ilie  year  lt^7>,  thexe  were 
o  shins.  7  K^ats.  and  >  slixv^is :  in  the  year  1694,  there  wej>e  60 
^hi:is*.  40  b.v*:s.  CC  sloops.  Since  which,  a  decnease.  In  the  rear 
167>,  New  York  killed  400  bix^ves :  in  lt>i>4,  near  4.000.  Lands 
had  advanced  ten  times  in  their  >-alue.  If  this  act  continues  iher 
av,  rr.anv  families  in  New  York  mitsi  perish*  and  besides  ibey  emi- 
ir: f  ra ;e  man}  e;her  e \ lis. 

The  recorder,  in  a  lener  to  the  committee  appointed  to  address 
ibe  kinir,  states  :  He  is  sieved  ••  for  the  great  heats"  he  -— 
aiiMMg  them  ai  the  last  meeting.    When  the  great  cooccrn  m 


CXLVIU  APPE^TDIZ* 

is  con*I<Jerefl,  "  no  le?*  thaji  the  livelihood  of  all  ibe  iiibuihas  v 
New  York/'     He  reminds  them  of  the  scarciiv  of  con^  ^rzaa.  '.hl-t 

m 

PC-veil  hundred  s^hj^ff  were  found  in  the  citv — ocr  svSrri^K.  is 
broad  for  a  week :  tiiat  thiif  was  the  con*equeDoe  of  iice  h.^^c 
Act ;  that  the  i;:ijiiuiiant-  canriOt  be  supplied  with  bread  mdeBoe 
monopoly  is  re-toro'l  ;  tiiai  tiie  inhabiiants  must  either 
transprjrt  thern.r'rlv*.-*  elsewhere.  Accord in^rlT,  be  had  » 
eemed  the  isia::er  to  hi*  maie«tv.  *■  Now,  ::en:lerrien-'"  be 
ue-,  *•  this  be!;j  J  I'lie  iruiij.  where  i«  the  d^-fect  :  What  i?  the  am 
of  :*■:<' h  fieais  :  Yf:a.  :'.*.- re  i*  c'-M^-i  :  vour  siile  is  defecdre:  £« 
not  Ijiliin_'*^av:  !-irj_'i ;;._'•■  i-jit  i-  u-jed  :  therefore  altar  r«ir  bei& 
and  I  wiii  both  \  ]:.»::'::•€  liie  Ja!i.';je;i'e  and  save  the  EOverTsianc 
from  arrdi_'i:riien:.  a*  K.i:^e!v  -».::j<:ited."  He  «iaie«  ibe  ob"*ri*: 
words  to  be  •*  a:^i  i:i  \'.\:  LTO-\!r:j  and  flourishing  5l&ie  i:  ukL 
continued,  if  v.,:r  ::.'":-*..%  :•-!■:  b'.-r.ijn  favours  anf  i^rCK- 
tioa  to  vojr  ii.}':<\'-  * :::  c!:v  ;/.;:  :.o:  been  iniemirtie*:  r"  e 
uiiacf;o:i;ii-ihle  L.'j  :  ru^^  ;  :.  :-:.ojr  ::.:-•.  -iei zed  upon  ibe  asj-err/!*  *.' 
*•  S:;:jil  Wi-  ri-"-:  :..■_•  'r.\:.^  v*  :e,.v-/.  -i  liw  ij/clie  with  due  c*-ll:^ir 
tion  r"  H-:  ^rt./.e*  li.-:  bv?:.;.  jjc:.  -.'"mi  50-;^  in  New  Yori  l-* 
d rxi m e d  to  ] *••  r".  - « i  it > r  v.  a ;  1 :  o f  b r '.-  l -i .  i o  i-! v e  j  •: e  r* ! y  to  1  .->X'  ii;  ^e 
couijtrv. T:.".*  l-  o.  x-.'/.-r  of  i.-.'i.jv  !i5s::e«.  and  i*  foi^owrC  :*t 

Seve.'l  or    f.-lj:.'.   ;■:_'•:•  O!    /'.*•■'.  *  c    r»:';ri  f.i   r/«'    r»V'''^    ''R'i    :*»7T> 

his*"'!  ■"-•'■i   '■-•-■*   I.;-' ur:.- .V*  01    -r'jrreri-ier  to  Co-onel  NicoLs  i:? 
;:iv*::i  i:i   u..!. 

No  v.. -lb* .-  1 1::.. — 'I'.,v  i:;ivor  i-re'e'.'>  ;i  '.eT:er  fror?.  Lord  Bel-i- 

tl. 'I. >■:    ...  :  .•:    .^  ,  . ..  ev  -  _  J  .»  -   -J.-f!   .«• .  ..   sUL-'eCtS  iZu  Ijr 

1 0 O'J  ]■'  •: :, ;  ,.  r -.■:.'  i . — '1* : . e  F ».  r r.*  i  -  :  e :  f«  -r  ••- ve rj  vears,  oo  rocyf  r 

.  •  . 

I wf •  J r ■-. a:  ij* J :i •  -  r ,:  ^r., V.  -  f. ,-.;:: ; .. .  ^ v- .  & • ; . ;  f.v o  * r^ . i  !  bo2Ls  for  715.*- 
.s*  ''-'jr*.  fi:,«:  r>:  *.-.':;. '.}  \f:  i-.vjii  o:i  •- :' ::  -!:e.  Tiic!  ::re  f  !:v  b-..-r  i 
^^:rr^-:.'•^;-.;  ;>/:.;  .  ti.v  :'r-:  v.:::r  of  ::.e  le  :?e.  T:.e  fire  ^:t^  «  *.:> 
i:l ;  ^''.T'O.i  >  :*>:■.  ;  :.\  ^tjf-*  .ff-  •-.  -/.  .11  .  •*  ...  '.^- .»  *  -  *•  ■..->.--' '^^. 
If  a  tijiiiji^nv  rr«;-«  lijj'.ri.er.  eiv:.  :o  j-:-.  :'■•:.-  -'iv^r-  in  w^c.r.r:. 
or  a  *i.-.».-r  ji*i;':v:  bui  after  s  ,:i-re:.  •;'•.■.!'.•  iV-r.-lsre.  A  ->-'? 
hor.-e.  Is.  ;  ^ever^l  v\  company  r».l. ;  a  roii.  :;,j. :  .|  .v,,o'.  the  -^^ne 
as  a  ru^rlf  j^  r^r. ;  a  -j/e^  p.  h^]f :  a  bir:».i  i>f  i;  .  ;!  ;.  :;.;. :  sn  e':.:.:y 
barrel,  lour  sliver*  in  wainpurij.  or  a  siUer  ;i«-'.ry  :  a  h-e^?:'*  :.;":*. 
do. ;  a  firkin  m  tub  of  b-itt^r.  two  ?»iiver-  :-.  v. :;::.;.. .rr. :  a  rvi-.-!  of 
com.   half;    a   ho-^head  of  tobacco,    .'.i.     'ii^e    re^i    t^r   ^^-ir. 

May  S.jih. — rnqni-no-i-rly  re^i-^ve]  -  :o  b  li'd  a  new  Ci-y  HL'. 
at  the  upper  end  of  iirnad  street,  ari'i  t;  '•  •.  .-•:»  riv*  of  the  oil  C:::v 
Hail  be  exposed  to  say!e,  aiid  the  gro-jnd  boionjneio  the  saxxM  10 


MISCBLLAXBOI78  MATTSR.  CXUSt 

be  lett  to  farmo  for  the  term  of  ninetr-nine  rears  ;**  and  a  committee 
appi^intod  to  manage  the  same.  The  same  advertised  by  putdag 
up  pliicariis. 

Augii<t  \Hh, — OnloreiK  the  old  Citty  Hall  and  all  belonging  to 
it,  the  belK  kin!:*s  arin>.  niul  iron  works  belonsrinr:  to  the  pnson 
excepted,  bo  soKi  at  pul^lick  outer}* :  the  purchaser  to  par  at 
three  payments.  That  ilie  eaire,  pillor}\  and  stocks  standing  be- 
fore the  same  he  roiuo\  ed  within  the  space  of  twelve  months  ;  the 
ilip  fronting  tlie  saiil  Citty  Hall  shall  remain,  continue,  and  abide 
for  ever  a  publiek  slip  t'or  the  publick  use  and  benefit  of  the  citty. 
That  the  citty  have  the  liberty  and  benefit  of  the  jail  within  the 
saud  Hall  tor  tlio  space  of  one  month  next  ensuins:. 

*•  John  Koilinan.  of  the  City  of  New  York,  merchant,  hath  by 
publick  outcry  and  veiulue  purchased  the  said  Citir  Hall  with  the 
cniund  and  appurtenances,  tor  the  sum  of -£050  current  money  of 
»w  York/* 

About  this  time  Dntryinnt.  wriiinir  of  the  American  colo* 
Dies,  says : — '•  Tlie  stronger  and  srreater  they  grow,  the  more 
this  crtiwn  and  kin::dom  \\ill  cet  bv  them«  and  nothinc:  but  such 
an  arbitrar}'  power  as  siiall  make  them  des|>erate,  can  bring 
them  to  rebel."  Tiiis  man,  in  the  seventeenth  centur\',  saw 
clearly  the  true  policy  of  (Ireat  Britain,  and  her  statesmen,  in  the 
eiixhteenth,  wen*  alio^etluT  blind  to  it.  Liberal  as  Davenant  was, 
he  warned  Kncland  oi  ilie  danerer  that  would  threaten  her  com- 
merce, if  Ameriea  should  he  allowed  '•  to  set  up  manufactures,  and 
clothe  as  well  as  feed  their neivrhbours :'*  but  bethought  thiswotdd 
not  Ih*  attempted  under  three  or  tour  hundred  years.  He  insinu- 
ates that  the  Kn^Iish  trovernment  does  not  think  tlie  colonists  hare 
the  same  rii^hts  as  their  tellow-subiects  in  Knj^land,  but  advises  a 
confirmation  of  their  liberties,  keeping  their  charter?  free  from  rio- 
ladon :  and  declaring  •'  that  Englishmen  have  right  to  all  the  laws 
of  Kndand,  while  they  remain  in  countries  subject  to  the  dominion 
of  this  kinirdoin."  But  Lord  Chatham,  the  tVtend  of  America,  in 
rul::ar  estimation,  ihou^rht  othenvise :  and  declared  Uiat  England 
had  a  riiht  to  tax  the  eolonisis  without  their  consent,  and  that  she 
was  •*  sovereign  over  the  colonies  in  all  cases  whatsoever.'' 

Nicholson,  who  as  lieutenant-:rovemour  of  New  York,  fled  firom 
Leisler.  was  now  coveniour  of  \irginia,  and  proposed  to  the  as- 
sembly of  Virginia  to  assist  in  the  delence  of  New  York,  for  the 
security  of  \'ir::inia,  by  building  a  fort  on  the  New  York  frontiers, 
but  they  refused.     William  IlL  seconded  Nicholson's  views;  but 

the  X'inrinians  still  retused. 
1700         April  9ih. — The  ill  dis|K)seil  of  die  city  are  charged  with 
■  *'  a  eommon  practice  of  emptying  lubbs  of  oilotir  and  naati- 
ness"  in  the  streets,  and  therefore  ordered,  that  a  fine  not  exceeding 
40s.  be  inflicted  for  the  oflfence. 


CL  AFPENDLX. 

In  the  year  100^,  Nicholson,  the  former  lieaienam-irorercoarof 
New  York,  uiiJer  James  II.  and  i-'iveriioiirof  Viriihjia  under  Wii- 
liam  III.,  savs  in  a  letier  to  the  hoiirii  of  ira<ie  in  Hnzland.  ihai  macT 
people  in  all  the  colooieir  think  no  law  of  KDL"!and  ouzbt  to  he 
bindincroD  ihem  witljoui  liifir  consen!.  because  ihev  are  not  repre- 
sented  in  Parliament.  In  1701,  the  board  of  trade  directed  Lord 
Bellamont  to  curb  this  humour,  ant]  added  *Mhe  intiejteridaocy  tbey 
thirst  after  is  so  notorious''  that  w'lih  oilier  obiections  to  tLese  cokr 

Dies,  it  should  be  laid  before  parliamtrnu 
1701  March  20ih. — ^Salan'  of  William  .Sharpe,  clerk  of  the 
common  council,  is  paiii  for  half  a  yenr.  ^r.d  for  lirawin  j.  c!>- 
grossing,  and  record  in  :r  a  deed  to  John  lioJ:ii;in.  for  the  old  City 
Hall,  and  a  lease  of  ilie  Ferry.  -lI-j  iis.  Jolirinucs  Depey-sier.  and 
David  Provoost,  receive  each  aU4  10s.,  for  tlieir service  in  irenerai 
assemblv,  from  1st  October,  to  2d  November  following. 

In  this  year  New  Vork,  and  Massachusetts,  passed  laws  pro- 
scribing Roman  Catholick  priests.  It  is  acknowlediied  by  \Vaish« 
(a  Roman  Catholick)  that  these  laws  were  political  and  not  reilp- 
oils:  that  the  law  makers  '-^  UlnroL  that  those  priests  laboured 
uniformly  to  excite  the  Indians  to  hostilities  az'tiiHt  the  Anjlo- 
Americans  :"  Mr.  Walsh  mii^hi  have  said,  that  the  v  kufic  \u  The 
Jesuit  Charlevoix,  ::lves  us  ample  testimony  on  that  head. 

The  Earl  of  Bellamont,  as  we  have  seen,*  die-d  on  the  -5tii  of 
March  in  this  year.  (TiiC  lii=h  peerai'e.  si^ys  he  died  in  17 W.) 
Nanfan,  the  lieuienant-L'-overnour,  wai=  at  the  tirie  cbstnt  at  Bar- 
badoes.  This  RiciiHrd  L?.rl  of  Bcllaniont.  wa*  of  i::e  family  of 
Coole,  and  the  second  Lord  Cuioonv.  He  was  crc3:-?J  an  Earl, 
in  169G:  his  fulh'jr  had  been  err  a:ed  an  Earl,  in  th.*  firs:  of  Wil- 
liam and  Marv.  The  Earl  of  I>L-l:.i!noni  uiio  w?.s  jovernowr  of 
New  Vork.  married  C-iiiarin?.  daui'hier  and  heir  to  Bridges  Nai>- 
fan,  Esq..  and  she  dictl  in  17:37.  By  her,  B?i::iiriOnt  had  two 
sons  :  the  fir^t  was  born  befnre  hi-  mother  was  twelve  years  of 
age,  and  he  succeeded  hi-  fat  lie  r  as  Earl  of  Bel  1. 1  mom.  John 
Kanfan,  the  lieutenant- governour,  was  related  to  tije  Earl  as  a  con- 
nexion of  the  countess. 
1702  Mav  12ih. — In  the  conrratiilntorv  address  of  the  com- 
mon  council  to  Edwani  Lord  Cornbiirv-,  they  say:  he  is  to 

1  their  divisions — secure  them  ajainst  the  enemy— be  an  ex- 

ple  of  piety,  etc. 

All  the  soldiers  of  his  mnje-ty's  I'arrijon  of  Fort  William,  are  to 
be  made  freemen  if  natural  born  subjccL*.  irratis.  This  made 
them  electors  or  voters. 

-With- — Samson  .She! ton  Brou^hion  produces  his  majesty's  com- 


•  Se*  Vol.  1.  p.343. 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CLI 

mission  as  recorder.  His  excellency  and  council,  order  the  num- 
bering of  the  men,  women,  children,  and  slaves,  that  are  within 
the  city  and  county,  and  the  number  of  men  from  sixteen  to  sixty. 
The  dock  and  slips  of  the  city  are  farmed  to  James  Spencer,  car- 
penter, for  £'2f> — he  to  clean  the  dock  and  slips,  and  keep  them 
clean  and  build  a  wharf  enclosing  the  dock,  and  give  security  for 
performance.  Resolved,  diat  when  the  court  of  common  council 
shall  be  equally  divided,  that  part  shall  be  considered  prevalent,  on 
which  the  mayor  gives  his  vote.  The  salary  of  the  clerk  of  the 
common  council,  is  ^20  per  year.  Resolved,  to  compliment 
Lord  Cornbury  with  the  freedom  of  the  city,  '*  covered  with  a  gold 
box."  And  all  the  governour's  suite  (liridges,  Millwood,  Con- 
greve,  Rich,  Rookeby,  Lovel,  Freeman,  etc.,  etc.,  and  such 
other  of  the  household,  as  came  into  the  province  with  his  excel- 
lency,) are  made  freemen  of  the  city,  gratis.  All  his  majesty's  na- 
tural born  subjects  residing  in  the  city,  and  too  poor  to  purchase 
their  freedom,  shall  be  made  freemen  gratis. 

Whereas,  there  is  an  act  of  general  assembly,  for  encouragement 
of  a  free  grammer  school  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  the  court 
being  of  the  opinion,  that  there  is  not  any  person  within  the  citty, 
(with  whose  convenience  it  would  be  agreeable,)  proper  and  duly 
qualified  for  the  ofiice  of  school-master,  think  it  necessary  that  this 
want  be  represented  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  and  he  be  requested 
to  send  over  a  person  of  good  learning  and  pious  life  and  conver* 
sation,  of  English  extract,  and  good  and  mild  temper  for  this  oJSce  : 
and  that  the  court  petition  Lord  Cornbury,  to  recommend  this  to 
the  bishop  ;  and  recommend  said  school  to  the  society  for  propa- 
gating the  gospel  in  foreign  parts :  and  likewise,  to  her  sacred  ma- 
jesty, to  appropriate  part  of  the  farm,  commonly  called  the  king's 
farm,  for  ehcouraging  this  school :  and  the  recorder  to  draw  up  the 
petition. 

December  23d — At  a  common  council  held  at  the  City  Hall,  pre- 
sent, Philip  French,  mayor  :  Samson  Shelton  Broughton,  recorder  f 
Jacobus  Van  Cortlandt,  John  Corbctt,  William  Smith,  aldermen.. 
Ordered,  that  the  arms  of  the  late  governour,  the  Earlof  Bellamont, 
and  Captain  Nanfan,  which  are  fastened  in  the  wall  of  the  City  Hall,. 
be  by  the  marshal  of  this  city,  forthwith  pulled  down,  and  broken  ; 
that  the  wall  be  filled  up,  and  that  the  mayor  issue  his  warrant  ta 
the  treasurer,  for  the  payment  of  the  charge  thereof.  On  his  arri- 
val a  salute  was  ordered  by  the  corporation  :  and  four  barrels  of 
powder  appropriated.  His  commission  was  published  2d  of  Aprils 
1698,  and  tire  commission  of  John  Nanfan,  lieutenant-governour.. 
It  was  on  the  29th  of  March,  1701,  that  the  *'  court  agreed  with 
William  Mumford,  stone-cutter,  to  find  stones,  and  to  carve  there* 
upon,  the  king's  arms,  the  Earl  of  Bellamont's  arms,  and  the  lieu- 
tenant-governour's  arms,  according  to  the  dimensions  of  the  sere- 


CLU  APPENDIX. 

ral  squares  left  in  the  front  of  the  City  Hall.'*  This  is  ordered  \o 
be  done  within  the  space  of  six  months.  The  cost  uas  to  be 
^£41  4s.,  current  money  of  New  York.  Therefore,  it  is  probable 
that  the  EarKs  arms,  and  those  of  Nanfan's,  were  put  up  in  Septem- 
ber, 1701,  and  taken  down  and  broken,  in  December,  17u:2.  Ti^ 
was  occasioned  by  the  [lart  Bella  raont  and  Xanfan  took  aplnst 
the  aristocratick  party,  of  which  Nicliolas  Bayard  was  one  o:  :i^ 
leaders,  and  when  Cornbury  arrived,  the  party  of  the  Dutch,  or 'J:e 
people,  was  put  down,  and  the  arms  of  their  leaders  dis^raceu  :/ 
being  taken  from  the  front  of  the  New  Cit}-  Hall,  in  Wall  s*j>?tu 
finished  during  Bellamont's  administration,  and  broken.  Tje 
king's  arms  remained  until  17iG,  when  on  the  reading  of  the  De- 
claration of  Independence,  some  of  the  citizens  threw  tljem  doirs. 
and  broke  the  tablet  to  pieces. 

1703  Januar}-  loth. — The  common  council  humbly  bee  Lord 
Cornbury,  to  help  on  the  work  of  j)rocuring  a  schooI-zuaT- 

ter  for  the  free  school. 

Philip  French,  the  mayor,  paid  j£19  10s.,  for  tliirty  day"*  ^e^ 
vice  in  the  general  as.<embly,  as  representative  of  the  city. 

Februar}*  15th. — The  treasurer  ordered  to  repay  tlie  mayor 
^9  IGs.  ;)d.,  paid  by  him  for  a  bonfire,  beer,  and  wine,  on  her  ma- 
jesty's birth  day,  6ih  February. 

A  petition  from  the  rector,  wardens,  and  vestrj-,  of  Trinity  Church- 
praying  the  grant  of  ''  the  burial  place  of  this  city"  for  ever,  to  bt» 
so  appropriated ;  the  rector,  etc.,  keeping  the  fence  in  repair,  aud 
only  taking  for  each  person  from  I'J  years  of  ane  ami  upwards,  as. 
for  breaking  the  ground,  and  for  a  cliild  Is.  Od. — Liranted  accor- 
dindv. 

24th. — Ordered,  "  that  a  publick  bonfire  be  made  iliis  ni^riu," 
at  the  usual  place  in  tiiis  city,  and  ten  gallons  of  wine,  and  a  bar- 
rel of  beer,  be  provided,  at  the  ex  pence  of  the  ciiy,  on  account  of 
the  success  of  his  majesiv's  arms  at  Vesro  and  in  Flanders :  and 
the  house-keepers  ordered  to  illuminate. 

November  1st. — itesolved,  that  a  ca-re,  whippinc-post,  pillory, 
and  stocks,  be  forthwith  erected  A* /■'';<.  ///«■  Clfu  ILi/I  "/"  r/ii<  t'i.\, 
(in  Wall  street.)  And  Mr.  Vosey  i.s  paid  a-5,  as  usual,  for  the 
corporation  sermon. 

1704  January    (iih. — Captains  Claver  and    Dewitt    •'  sayled 
a  privateerinij'' 

February  Gih. — Her  majesty's  hinh-day  celebrated,  with  healths 
drank  of  the  Princess  ri^ophia.  Prince  Cieorge,  Duke  of  Marlbo- 
rough, etc.  and  illuminations. 

17th. — Ordered,  that  the  sherilF  have  the  iraol  of  this  city  made 
sufficient  "  for  the  holding:  of  felons,"  and  likewise  a  convenient  and 
sufficient  prison  for  debtors  on  the  i/jfjKr  story  of  the  City  Hall,  at 
the  east  end  thereof. 


Tr**-  ^ — V.  ;  jcvl".  u  :.:'.-!  '^  •  •:  ..-.iM  i:  br-.x^'xriver!.  lie  W3s 
*'  :.>:  ■!-<:     :"  n«?r  T"!aJ.'<'   '-i  ;;    ■:"■/' 

M*.  \^  i:i  \"c-:  .  .■'.*";'»^  A  -^T^  ^M-;.  !  :  ■•-.'oi'.  i' '^  *':hoolfor 
K". -.•;  >r  v.  i-s  v'^ae^j. ::;  N  :\v  Y..;!v.     I-'rui".  -:".:u  we  jj.'.  ; :  e  "ime  of 

C  •:•-•:.  ■  ■ : '  V^ "/ .  ^  ->,  I: v  c ■.!  on  Sri >:  ■  •  I ^^ "  .■  r,  \  o  ■?  r*os!  -.x*  P-- r:h  Ana- 
boy.  i".:.   ■:■■.■:  >■.   •  ^*  ■•.::^ ■*•-'•  K.ir:v;r  :.vv  ■.'..;  "J"::*  a[*«.i  estate, 

A  iv:-r "■;■'••  :  .<  "  :  ,.v  ■■-:  ••■■:■  ;■.*  a  :-J  <t*tr'j-..i  i:  N?»^ burrh. 
T'^tf  "^rs:  ■■ .  •,  ^  ^  T  •  ■  -;  ::,',•  >  V  • ;;  ;u. :  •  •  Ne'.v>!  -.'Ctt*.-,  wis  oublL^b- 
eii  I".  V^  >■-    ■  .'T  .*■.•■.  :•   ■"luvi-v*- v.i-^-:  *."«  --.^se tlud^^r Samuel 

T'--'  "^-s: .;:  \\->>     .:. '<  >: .:  :   ;  I.?-./  of  AtIL  of  :   :>  y-;jir.  oa 

a  ji  ■*  <  ■  ;•.  •  ■'  ••  ;-«i:  ■■.:■'•-/*  L^iU  ?:■•*»■::•  '■  ■;<  'oi::''Ui''.:  t«.^  1776w 
I:  'VIS  >}  •  • .-':"-;  J  'J  :  v.*  ■ ;  " '.  \  i  >.*OiCr.:!' .'.  '.  "'  ■ .  ■*  J<**  ltt»* 
:ory  ..:"  -:  •*.  .:  ^.-w.  ■.  v  "J  ■  •:'  A'T'.'.  wj.-;  :"-;  -'-s: :  buc  I  end  • 
pj  ..-.-  .:  •■.  :  A  :•-•'.:  l  .  Li.  ...  t.  jr  .•'t.:  vy  b.  t.i-;c  \  i5  above,  oa 
oce  'r.i.{  *  "-iv:.  v.vy  ".t^f^  :  ::   <  -r  :!:.»  N.v  V.::'v  Civ*  l.ivnrv, 

H  ■'/•:!  y  ■'  .:v  e .?..:'  I  /!  •..;  -i  : . .  <  y  ;•  .•  -.  i  ^  -■  {  <  4^  w '.  -  'ou  br! "  ^  s  ::  is  birth 

!•: ■:i? rw .:z  ' -^  - "  -^ •     v. -:  •: c .^ • :  L* •.* : . :  :'.: :  <im-f  \ eax  uiiiC  :  1". t'  l^ricaa 
.    .       .J- 

1  de  t  rv  •;  '.  I  ■"■..>.: ':  /  :  •■:  :  -  ;. .:  >:.  ^<•;: :.  v-jj^  built  la 
w:m: '.vi.>  i -.:?r.v.i-f.>  j-    .  i  T.  •;  :?:rv:",   "::  :  •;'  vei;  IT04*  br  the 

rerj^et's  *••.•»•:  :''j  v-.i :•.-  -i-i-.s,  !.•:  "•;o<c'  irtv"  :i:em  bv  Aw 

pevoca::.^'  ;f :  ■;  b'."  ;:  o'N  ■  :'=.  Wr^":';.^  v.i<  'jrf.-'.orii'.ed  ia  th© 
Freiio  :  !i  '^v.  i^:'.  T  •.'^  ^  H ••,:•.:■:.•  t'-.-c*  w-?v>  <c'::\'i.:  a:  W^':*:  Che*- 
tier  i:x:  o c "^ e -:  -j  .■  ■: e>  .\ rr  :.  '■[  N -•  ^v  Yor i^ •  fo r  a  "...::;?  rtf^T : :z vi  :o  this 
place  !o-  :"f'*  J.:vo::..v'i.  ;\;:.*""i^<. 

V.V 'X- -: •f r  l  -fc :. : .  —  V.  :     •  "  ^: : .    \ ^  .   "  i : :i  F ,*  i :•- r-: -.•.  a : ' i .:  a ! d e rtuen, 

sworn   : r    w ' :" :   : / ■:    v. s  ■  ■ '    ■,'•; :v . ■ : -.v » '   :    Mr.   ^  -;s»:' y    :; re ic  i : :i ^   ac 

l' "T  .7  i  r.'  C  *  :  rv .:  .'♦•.*.■>  .'  i ■« »  •  .*  i : .  '■ .  *: • .;  :^*o  j ; *  Ll: ^  .4.* -3  <?ach  Jay  h© 

•>»>    J  -•'■•■      ♦   <  •        ;*     i  ■•;■     I       »'«-      "'•  -•        ■.-.■_. -r-r-r*  •»!,?■  ••r        "tTCD       fav       the 

COfporiiioii   :o  l.o*'.    C"  ■".  .:rv  ••  o.:  .L^irr:'.  i!  .lerv,  uvnx  h»  jo- 

llOo  \?7\     '2  '.'. —  V     .' •■-•i' o  :'.:;.-:'•.:   f-"  rrc  *JoJ,  bein^  the 

fcxi5  oi*  '.V  ■-  "i  '*   :■ '    i ." . :  \   • ; :  n-:- 1  '.! : .     i  ^ .' :  •  •  r*:*-?^  ■  * ;  •<* or:!  ::ou  council 

The  or -Id!  -y'-.r-:  o-r-  r^s.  :  v  ■■  K  '.•.-:  l.-jnlM.:,  John  Tiider, 
P.  Pn?voi;>:.  K:.:ir».i  W.:.::.  K."  o  j -•?.  C.  Pe  IVy^rer,  ecc^ 
ji»tice*  jzd  CO  •_•  "o.:  cou:-;/.  ^v  i!:  :::cir  ijto^riLV'j*.  L?  ia  the 
clerk'*  oifice  oi'  t.'^e  commo:!  co.xv:!.  Taey  jwejir.  rfut:  they 
i»  ZKH  believe   in   cru»ufa«cuicziLaoa.  tAut  the  bread  and  wine 

T 


I 


CUV  AFPEMilX. 

in  the  Lord's  supper  U  not  converted  into  the  body  cD-i  '{/MA 
of  Chriijt,  **  at  or  after  the  consocraiion  thereof,"  and  lis:  j:i>27 
make  thw  declaration  •■  in  the  plain  and  ordinary  ser^-c  of  i:*e 
wordii,  as  thev  are  comrnoiilv  uriderstood  bv  t^Ti^iWu  Z'^jirSr 
anu/'  TIjey  abjure  the  invrxration  of  tiie  \':rria  Mar%--  or  t=y 
other  saint,  and  the  sacrifice  of  the  Mai*— or  the  vlrtLie  of  uj 
dupen?iation  a.s  cranted  by  the  pope,  or  any  o:}:er  person. 

Governour  Cornbury  prohibiLs  the  iniporiauorj  of  "  dipt  r^cctj. 
of  bits  or  double  biti*/' 

Mr.  liyerly  wa*  receiver-general  of  the  province,  and  was  s-:»s:- 
ccded  by  P.  Fauconni'.-r. 

A  thief  la  puuL-hed  by  burning  (or  branding')  •*  In  t!'*e  WIi  ci-rti: 
near  the  no.-e,  with  tlie  leiier  T/'  There  i=  an  tcco-  ;.:  of  cs.  .=.- 
poistor,  who  pretended  to  be  a  Quaktr,  ai.d  liiai  :.e  fa.^L^j  1:;  «".*^ 
a  pirate,  was  wounded  in  the  cheek  ;  it  afierwartL?  prove-i  u*: 
he  was  a  thief,  and  his  scars  were  tl.ore  intiicied  bv  li^L*  la*?.  K^ 
name  wa«  Burch. 

May  14th. — ••  Tije  I'ennsylvania  po-rt  not  yet  come  in,  and  ?up- 
poiM?  the  ihree  day-  of  rainy  wefiiij'.-r  /*/*?  t.;y>A'  ha*  hindered  L.n;^'' 

July  :?-Sd. — **  Tliere  i?  a  prodigious  tooth  broui'hi  hert.  fcp- 
pOHrd  lo  be  the  tooth  of  a  man"  from  :lje  rhape :  "  it  weijiis  4  ->4 
lb*."  It  wasduj  up  on  tlie  -ide  of  a  iiill,  \\i\ny  or  fony  fee:  uiiC« 
ground  **  near  a  plticeciilled  Chviimrk.  bhoxii  thirty  lijiies  ifji?  =-10* 
of  Albanv  :  it  i?  looked  i::»o:i  );•:  r*.-  as  a  :;:ijhtv  worder  "b  i.e:Ler  *^ 
tooth  bf  of  ii::in  or  liia^:/"  <  ^y.f.r  brir.oji  were  duj  l;«  which  crur> 
bled  awnv  f»n  ex:)fi-'.:re  lo  ::.•:  lIt  :  ••  tiit-v  -av  or,eof"iiec3.  wLicb  i* 
thouiiht  to  be  a  liiijij  b'»:;e.  wa-  17  f-et  Iol.--"  Ile.-e  we  Laie.  I 
believe  tiie  fir-t  r!:-  o\i  rvof  it...-  ;;/,i:.;rjo':j  i:;  ovr  courjtn'.  tl^LT 
vcanc  a  fur  ihls  i:.v  Lonr^  f.f  the  _':•;?!:  boas:  were  foi.r.d  i-  Ulr'itr 
CfiiiMtv,  and  C'har!t.5  W-^lir;:;  iV-^lt  ft^ir.icd  bU  skfcl-'.or.,  lor  i-i 
MnM'iini. 

Thi*  vcar  an  act  w^s  ni-i^rd  bv  the  Drid.-rh  parii^rr.er-:  :o  ;»*r>».i 
ihe  exportation  of  Ir!*!.  [!:•.:  clo:;,  :o  :;,v  [•''i:.:c:ior.=.  TLis  w^s  la 
the  fourth  y  t a r  i»f  ll : »   r • '  j  :2  o :  <  ^  .  •. »:  :i  A :. :.  ■:  - 

Au'^ust  l^ith. — T:.:*.v  ;:!■..••:•.>  h:'.:  j  i:.:o  T'Or.  a  r.ch  Sr.£r.l?a 
prize;  *hc  hai!  a  r:  ::..:.'•.:  «..;'  ;  i.r-rtr;. j^..-^,  ir.iir.j  ::.*:.'n.  U-ree  irars. 
She  wa*  a  s^h::)  of  :v.»  :;:v  _-.:*.  :  .-.  v.^f  L  j*-:«:ed  ace  cirrie^i  ":t 
Captain  Claver,  wi:!,  ::...  !.-?  «.f  •.!.:>.►;  r;.vr.. 

ScptvuiUir  H»:;:. — A:!-.:  t  ''"v  :  !-  •.  !:.  ro:;w..\;vr>?e  cf  ?-:'Z:< 
offence  glvtn  by  ihc  r:.*.:!::  :.• :  .-.  :  :!•.  „:.•:.•-:-::.  v:r..::i  I  co  no:  nnd 
iUted.  They  i-^aultti  "i;-.  -;.:;::  ::  v  •:  .:-..;  <  f  :.>  otl  Lvus-e-iad 
beailho4Cwhijcaiiieto:.Li:^^T.:ri-;.v.  T :..'.:..  ^i..-.  ::-',r.zms:r.£,±e 
ttwp»  from  the  !ortar:.i  ^d:!-.:?  f:*^.r-  \.v  W  :€  -*-  -..;p^T%.rrT  care  bed 
agaiiut  theiD.  Th."-  •..-•  l:;  :;>;  ►;►.::;.  _-.  .  .;  :  v:*..f...  :he  ami^tiniea 
encountered  then.  ::..  r:o>.:  i'.;;  :..  v..-.-  :v.  .  ^rrr.y  o5-:ers.  wcom 
ibrjr  auaulufd,  kiiltd  oi;c.  a::d  ;T.j;^L.in.d  ar.u  Lt*:  u-e  cu:er.     Tat 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CLV 

soldiers  and  ssailors  charired  on  the  privateersmen  and  dispersed 
them  :  one  was  killed,  and  several  taken  prisoners,  among  whom 
was  Erasmus  Wilkins,  who  was  tried  and  convicted  of  the  murder 
of  Lieutenant  Featherstonehough.  He  confessed  that  with  the 
sword  taken  from  the  other  ofTicer  he  run  the  lieutenant  through  the 
body.  The  blow  pierced  the  heart.  This  man  was  executed  for 
the  murder,  on  the  2Gth. 

December  25th  is  recorded  as  the  coldest  day  ever  known.    For 
several  days  tlie  Hudson  was  frozen  over. 

1706  January  21st  is  recorded  as  remarkably  warm  :  and  so 
for  some  davs. 

May  8th. — The  common  council  petition  Lord  Combuiy  to 
repair  the  fortifications,  to  repel  any  attacks  of  the  French,  and 
to  mount  the  artillery,  and  to  arm  die  inhabitants.  Presented, 
and  kindly  received. 

13th. — Lord  Cornbur}',  the  governour  of  the  two  provinces 
of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  orders  the  inhabitants  of  New  York 
city,  "  all  persons,"  to  appear  in  arms  on  the  first  alarm.  A  visit 
from  a  French  fleet  was  feared.  The  inhabitants  were  employed 
in  fortifying  the  town.  From  two  to  four  hundred  men  were  daily 
at  work. 

19th — Another  petition  to  Lord  Combury,  for  arming  the  mili- 
tia throughout  the  province,  and  begging  him  to  adjourn  his  visit 
to  New  Jersey. 

July  1st. — By  computation,   between  four  and  five  thousand 

might  be  assembled  in  arms  in  twenty-four  hours,  being  the  militia 

of  New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  the  surrounding  country.     The 

militia  of  the  city  and  the  neighbouring  counties,  of  the  province 

is  estimated  at  three  thousand. 

December  21st.^Rebecca  Van  Schaick,  widow,  appomted 
pound  keeper, 

1707  September  20th. — The  rates  of  ferriage  to  Long  Island  : 
A  single  person,  eight  stivers  in  wampum,  or  a  silver  two- 
pence ;  a  hog,  the  same  as  a  man  :  a  sheep,  half. 

There  are  frequent  notices  of  Indian  slaves  both  in  New  York 
and  Massachusett:^.  I  presume  the  same  in  the  other  colonies.  It 
seems  that  the  good  people  of  the  good  old  times  considered  a  dark 
skin  proof  of  tlie  bearer's  being  made  for  a  while-skin's  beast  of 
burthen,  if  she  or  he  could  be  seized  upon.  I  find,  for  example : 
**  Ranaway  from  her  master,  Nathan  Baker,  of  Boston,  on  the62d 
of  August  last,  a  tall,  lusty,  Carolina  Indian  woman,  having  long, 
strait,  black  hair,''  etc.  Again  :  in  an  encounter  with  a  French 
vessel  oflT  die  harbour  of  New  York,  "they  fired  at  the  pilot-boat, 
and  they  took  an  Indian  slave  that  belonged  to  the  pilot."-^ 
Again  :  Mr.  William  Hallet,  jun.,  of  Newtown,  Long  Island,  his 
Wife,  who  was  big  with  child,  and  five  children,  were  tdl  inhumanlj 


GLVI 

murdered  by  an  Indian  man  and  a  negro  womao,  their  own  slaieSf 
who  are  apprehended,  and  have  confessed  the  fact :  they  said  tbej 
committed  tlie  murder  because  tiiey  were  restrained  from  goin^ 
abroad  on  the  Sabbath. 

Februar}'  lOtii. — ^'  The  Indian  man  and  negro  woman  men- 
tioned in  mv  last,  nho  committed  die  horrible  murder  at  Nev- 
ton,  on  Lon?  Island,  were,  on  Monday  the  2d  insu,  executed 
at  Jamaica  for  the  same,  and  put  to  all  the  torment  possible,  ibr  a 
terrour  to  others/'  <Jn  the  Saturday  following,  two  negro  mea 
*^  were  executed  at  Jamaica  as  accessories,  and  several  othen  arc 
in  custodv.'' 

Here  was  a  little  negro-plot,  preparatory  to  the  great  ploc  of 

1741.    '*  The  chief-justice,  judges,  attorney -general,  are  indeiatigir 

ble  in  the  discovery  of  this  negro-plot  and  bloody  murder.*^ 

170S         The  14th  of  December  called  the  coldest  day  ever  known 

in  New  En^rland. 

The  house  of  assembly  declared  that  it  was  the  nnquesdonable 
right  of  ever}'  freeman  in  the  colony  to  have  a  perfect  and  entire 
property  in  his  goods  and  estate  ;  and  that  the  imposing  and  iefr- 
ing  of  any  moneys  on  the  subjects  of  the  colony,  under  any  pre- 
tence or  colour  whatsoever,  without  their  consent  in  general  aaeem- 

bly,  was  a  {grievance,  and  a  violation  of  right. 
1710  April  1-JiIi. — A  petition  is  presented  by  the  common 
council  of  New  York  to  the  honourable  Gerard  us  Beek- 
man,  president  of  her  majesty's  council,  and  the  rest  of  the  coun- 
cil, showini:,  that  nothiiiic  contributes  more  to  the  happiness  of  a 
people  than  plenty  ;  so  notnin::  is  more  dejtlorable  than  the  want 
of  bread.  Tlie  colony  is  threatened  with  want,  in  consequence  of 
illegal  practices  of  several  inhabitants,  as  well  as  the  agents  of  neigh- 
bouring colonies,  by  their  en.To.^sin:;  and  monopolizing;  wheat  isA 
selling  it  at  unreasoiiaijlu  piice.-r:  and  the  arrival  of  3,400  pala- 
tines from  Cireat  iiritnin  being  dally  expected,  who  must  be  sup- 
ported, will  render  the  danger  ^rreaier :  they  pray  the  council  to 
take  measure,-  to  preveiit  tiiese  e\ii-. 

June  1-iili. — Arioihrr  j-i  I'.iion  to  the  council  mentions  the  arri- 
val of  palatines,  and  inore  (xp^jctt-i!,  \\\\o  ironi  the  lonj;  voyage  are 
grown  very  sickly,  and  iiave  many  ronta::ious  disorders,  as  there 
is  just  cause  to  believe.  Tiw  cominon  council  are  apprehensive, 
should  they  he  permitted  to  land  uithin  this  corporation  *' at  this 
hot  season  of  the  vear,  it  would  endan£:er  the  inliabitants  and  ob- 
struct  trade  ;  tiierefore  tiioy  pray  tht. y  may  not  be  permitted  lo 
come  within  tiiis  ciiv  until  tiicv  siiail  b«»  in  a  full  state  of  health.*^ 

November  -Jd. — Tlio  usual  bonfire  ordereil  for  the  oih.  *'  Or- 
dered, that  the  caze,  pillory,  stocks,  and  whipplnir-post  be  removed 
to   the  upper  end  of  the   Broad  street,  a  little  below  the  City 


MISOHLX^NEOVS  MATTER.  CLVU 

HtIK  tnd  be  pui  up  tliorx^.     Mr.   Recorder  dissents   from   this 
oriior." 

1711  Febn:ar}-  ;^  li . — •  *  \V  i: :"  re  a  s,  evil  ii***}H>sed  inrsons  mike  it 
a  cor.moa  pr.^.^::.\^  :o  ^»>  .i'»^;:i  ;:.o  >:rxv:>  ai  ihe  dead  time 

of  the  nici*"*  bnMki.ic  -^'-^i  iii>::o}ir.c  il^«^  i:!a>>  uinoows,"  &  re- 
varxi  is  onVrt\i  for  i.:o:r  iii?'Oo\crv  ?.::d  oo;n  Iv^ioa.  This  is  an 
insta nee  of  i iu^  low  ssa ;o  o f  o i \  i ! ! .: .u a»:i  a ;  li: a :  ihtIixI .  T iu?  rowdiei 
of  liie  present  day  uo..'.d  r.o:  io  s,i:;sDed  uiiii  mervly  breaking 
vindovrs. 

March  ;vi. — Rcs^vvo*:,  ihr.i  ihe  common  council  do  meet  at  the 
CiiT  H all  at  i^  \\\  ih.o  lorcuKv:  of  t':u^  isrsi  Fridav  of  everv  month* 

April  0>th. — l^rxiertHK  ih.\i  i;;e  irwisurer  forthwith  purr  base  IS 
nish-boiiom  chairs,  and  r.i)  o\  al  iaU:e.  for  i];e  use  of  this  corpo- 
ration. 

Jur:e  1st. — The  ui.'ow  of  A.^;?e::>  Donn.  deceaseil.  is  continued 
scavenger  of  the  Rrxvui  sireoi  w»r  or.e  vear.  at  a"  1 1  the  vear. 

November  80: h. — A  bu  av^vlr:::— a  i^Iace  for  the  more  conre- 
nient  hiring  o\  slaves.  "  Al.  :.i  ,ro  .i-.d  lr..:ian  slaves  that  are  let 
out  to  hire  \vl:h:n  ihi*  ci:v  do  iano  1::^  their  siar.^iini:  in  or\ier  to  be 

m 

hired  at  the  m;irkc:-h.o::>e  at  the  \\\\.;!  sinvt  sliiK  until  such  time  as 
tbev  arv  hired."     Ti-.!s  was  :hi^  easiom  at   Norfolk.   Virdnia,  in 
1>:?0.  and  is  so  proh.^i..!y  sti'/..  as  in  all  towns  whereslareir  is 
prarriisoil. 

1712  No ve ir.lv  r  COd. — 1 1 :; \  ;^o  n  Vander.lvrc.  cr.rman.  in  con- 
sideraiiv^n  of  IW.ily  i;.::rir*I::es.  is  jvnivh;ed  to  ride  on  his 

cart  in  tije  s:ree:,  provivicvi  i.c  i:  no  tinu-  ride  fas:er  than  a  foot 
jxace. 

1713  February  ;>d. — i^r.irrcd.  thit   Francis  HarrisoiK  Esq. 
sherinT.  be  jviivi  £-^o  lv\i.  disiu;rsi  by  him  •'  for  iron  work 

pbbets,  carrai»e.  and  iaiH^r.r?.  tin^wixxi.  and  other  materials  and 
expenses  for  the  e\et";:iion  of  several  no^n>  slaves  for  miuders  by 
tbem  committed  in  April  la?:."  Ti:is  relates  to  what  is  called  a 
necTO-plot.  at  th.at  tir.:o. 

iViober  t?4;h. — Ki.^h.ard  dv-^pcr  is  appointed  piibltck  whipper 
of  the  cit}-.  wi;h  a  s.-.lar\  of  t'^. 

November  ;»d. — Pre -.^ir.*: ions  for  oclebraii;^  the  anniversarv  of 
the  pmjx^wder-plot  by  a  bon:;:e  ar.d  so\en  cations  of  wine  at  the 
expense  of  the  common  ooi:r..'"; :  and  for  the  Queen's  binb-day 
another  bonfire,  and  fo  e  ir-t.lons. 

1714  iX'tober   0:h. — The    cox^rnour   notiiies   the   death  of 
Queen  Anne,  and  iliat  he  shall  prvx^laim  Prince  George 

Kincof  1  treat  Britain.  The  oo:nn'.o:i  eonncil  ordered  seven  or 
eicfat  cords  of  wooil  for  a  bivinre.  a^id  twenty  gallons  of  wine.  The 
inhabitants  ar^  ordentsi  to  i':li::'.iina;e  their  houses,  and  a  daiier  is 
cmploTed  10  mend  the  windows  of  the  City  Hall. 


OL\i:iI  APPENDIX. 

1715  April  7th. — A  bonfire  and  seven  gallons  of  wine  ordered 
by  the  common  council  of  New  York,  it  being  the  day  ap- 
pointed by  the  governour  for  tlianksgiving  on  bis  majesty's  bappy 
accession. 

October  7ih. — Xo  freeman  to  be  obliged  to  serve  twice  as  coBr 
stable.  Resolved,  that  this  corporation  will  pay  £3  to  the  minisler 
that  shall  preach  to  this  corporation  on  the  14tb  inst.,  being  the  an- 
niversar}'  of  swearing  in  the  corporation.  They  used  to  give  Mr. 
Vesey  £5.     The  mayor  is  to  speak  to  a  minister  accordingly. 

December  20th. — An  association  read  and  subscribed  bv  tbe 
common  council,  declaring  the  ri^ht  of  George  I.  alone  to  the 
throne,  and  promising  to  defend  his  right,  against  the  pretender. 
Mr.  Stephen  Delancey,  having  been  paid  the  sum  of  £50^  as  a  re- 
presentative oi  tlic  city  in  the  general  assembly,  presents  the  same 
to  the  corporation. 

1716  Februar)"^  23d. — Mr.  Delancey  having  advised  that  said 
^50  be  laid  out  for  a  clock  for  the  city ;  therefore,  it  was 

ordered  accordingly. 

June  2d. — Inquiry  to  be  made,  whether  Mr.  Coddrington 
did  offer  to  serve  as  assemblyman  gratis. 

July  27th.  A  law  for  regulating  mid-wives  within  the  city  of 
New  York.  No  woman  is  to  exercise  this  office,  before  taking  an 
oath  before  the  mayor  and  common  council,  to  be  diligent  for  poor 
and  rich,  and  not  leave  the  poor  woman  to  go  to  the  rich.  Neither 
to  cause  nor  suifer  any  woman  to  name  or  put  any  other  father  to 
the  child,  but  onlv  him  which  is  the  verv  true  father  of  it  indeed, 
according  to  the  utmost  of  her  power.  Not  to  suffer  any  woman 
to  pretend,  feign,  or  surmize  herseirto  be  delivered  of  a  child,  who 
is  not  indeed  ;  neither  to  claim  anv  other  woman's  child  for  her 
own.  Not  to  suffer  any  woman's  child  to  be  mutilated,  maimed, 
or  otherwise  hurt,  "  as  much  as"  she  "  may."  And  in  case  rf 
danger  to  woman  or  child,  to  send  for  other  mid-wives,  and  advise, 
counsel  and  assist  therein.  Not  to  administer  any  herb,  medicine,  or 
potion,  to  produce  miscarriage.  Not  to  **  enforce  any  woman, 
being  with  ciiild,  by  any  pain,  or  by  any  ungodly  ways,"  to  pay 
more  for  her  ser\*ice  than  she  otherwise  would.  Not  to  affree,  or 
assist  in  bringing  a  child  secretly  into  the  world  "  but  in  tlie  pre- 
sence of  two  or  three  witnesses."  Not  to  speak  of  the  secrets  of 
her  office  before  any  man,  unless  upon  urirent  occasion.  Not  to 
conceal  anv  breach  of  these  ariicles,  but  to  inform  the  mavor,  etc. 
To  conduct  honestly  and  with  propriety  in  her  office,  and  not  per- 
form it  by  deputy.  Not  to  hinder  any  woman  in  labour  from  other 
advice  of  mid-wives.  Not  to  conceal  the  birth  of  any  bastard  child, 
but  to  reveal  the  same  to  the  common  coimcil. 

August  4th. — '*  Ordered,  that  Susannah  Wood  have  a  license 
to  retail  liquors,  gratis,  being  an  object  of  charity." 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CLIZ 

1717         October  1 4th.     Ordered,  tliai  there  be  a  bonfire  and  wine 
"  on  :>u:iJny  iicxi  at  nij:l)i/'  boinj  ilie  anniver^ry  of  the 
coronation. 

December  "JUt. — Tiie  common  council  pay  Xo  17s.  3d.  "for 
expenses  of  this  cori>oruuon*'  at  Parmolie's  house,  on  the  anniver- 

sarv  of  the  coronation. 
171S  April  lOilu — Ciiibcri    Li\in,'sion,   Thomas   Cirant,  Pa- 

trick Macknight.  and  John  Nicolls,  in  behalf  of  themselves 
and  the  con^reinilion  of  disseatintr  oroiesiants.  culled  7V<.x/#iy^  rioHS. 
represent,  that  liiey  have  bought  a  piece  of  ground,  contiguous  to  the 
City  IlalK  or  near  thoreunio.  w  iih  inieni,  speedily,  to  erect  a  meet- 
ing-house lor  publick  worship,  and  iliey  pr.iy  for  the  use  of  the  City 
Il«ll  for  the  same  pu^po^o.   until    tlieir  moetin^'-house  is  finished* 

iiranled  :  but  not  to  inierUTO  uitli  courts. 
1719  April  iJd. — Aldorman  l>!:u^e  aj>pointod  pound  keeper 
in  New  York,  as  Aulorman  l)*licimor  had  been. 
October  14.  Moses  Levy,  merolKint.  refusing  as  constable  of  the 
South  ward,  paid  his  tine  of  £io*  .1o?eph  Latham.  likewise  re- 
fused for  the  Eastward,  and  is  tlned  a  15.  The  common  coun- 
cil's expenses  on  the  anniversary  of  the  king's  coronation,  wero 

£o  lis.  lOAd. 
11 '22         February  'Jd. — Mr.  .Nicholas  Eyre  on  provinsrthat  he  is 
an  anabaptist  preacher,  is  excused  from  serving  as  con- 
stable. 

t^Otli. — A  law  passed  by  the  common  council  of  New  York* 
'*  restraining  slaves,  negroes,  and  Indians  from  gaming  with  mo- 
neys." If  tbund  gamiuiT  with  any  sort  of  money,  "  copper  pennies, 
copper  balf|H.*nce.  or  copper  I'arthincs."  ihcy  shall  be  publickly 
whipped  at  the  publick  whipping-post  of  this  city,  at  the  discretioD 
of  the  inavor,  reconler,  ami  aldermen,  or  anv  one  of  them,  unless 

die  owner  pay  to  the  church-wardens  lor  the  |H>or,  35* 
1723  July  iotli — The  common  council,  in  consiileration  of  the 
ser\  ices  done  by  Captain  1  Vier  Soigard,  of  his  majesty's  ship 
Greyhound,  in  seeking  and  enca-iing  twopyratc  sloops,  commanded 
by  one  Low,  *^  a  notorious  and  inhumane  py  rate.**  oneof  which  sloops 
he  took,  after  a  desperate  resistance,  and  very  much  shattered  the 
othen  who,  by  the  favour  of  the  ni::hi,  escaped — twenty-six  of  which 
pyrates  were  lately  executed  at  lihode  Island — therefore,  ordered 
that  tlie  freedom  of  the  city,  in  a  gold  box.  be  presented  to  him— 
the  arms  of  this  cor|x>ration  to  be  engni  ved  on  one  side  thereof,  and  a 
representation  of  die  engagement  on  the  other,  with  this  motto: 
*'  Quapsitos  Human!  Cieneris  Hostes  debellare  superbum,  10th 
Junii,  17:^3.'^  Charles  Le  Itonx.  goKIsmhh,  is  paid  the  6th  of  Au- 
gust, £23  19s.,  for  the  above  box  and  engraving  the  same.  [This 
Charles  Le  Koux.  appears  at  this  time,  as  an  artist  in  New  York.] 
The  corporation  waited  upon  Captain  Peter  Solgani,  and  pre- 


CLX  APPENDIX. 

172^  V.'.   ;..:..      ■  -:.    ■     -."•■.■  i  i   '■'-.•^-  "  r^^J  -^ 

to  b* -o! :   \v  »;.       •.  ?n"     .  -.        .•-:.L--^r.     T:.>   -n-  "•*  i 


•      *         »    •  ..."  •■ 

tf-; :*.:■:  >:  V  V  ■■:!.::  "^    -  :.^-"  -- '    r*.  Br^'oi  li  i  :.: 

172*i  *•■:     ••:      •--*  rj?"  .. '^r  .  .   :.'.   '      T   }       T  Vr*!:  O.-rt  :/.-r  l-i^ZI  t^- 

T"  •-"•   "  •.-•■.      ■■--",   -^       ^         .'  I '    .*.-    'Ir^    «*"T^    i"*"  -*iiqTTT 

m  m 

...  _  " 

«lav<^*  ft-    •    «j- ••,■"■' "-  i  ■-.-.••.■■  .•    --    — .  ii   5-.  -      ■S',"    •-.   x~'T'*^ 

e'^' tkw     i,."    t      ,'. ,     r.-  -  ■."-•-.  ■      ■.-     -r«-.-.      i^--      --       \fi^- 

I*!"'*.!    #"7  •••'     "j '."'■■    '■" "    ■  '*       -  -  •'   •    i-.TT-  --  "^     -  •'  —  .s.,t.5*»- J, 

■  •Jt      4    1.    .• .  .~'  A       ....-•2'-.  ..' T.a..«  *_'..*T     ^^-&      T« 

01  X  0.  ...   .\  .'.  J".'  • .   i"j  '  -r.  ..*'  -"    .   .   .  .  ;       .  ■   '.':.  •  i i.. -«■_..   -,        I  -oT" 

bcr  hv  tni-:." 

The  roi.-  of  Norl.  .V- .  ■::  ■•  •-.  1  :"  «:  ^Vc^:   Ir^f:!  l.-.'.i-.U.'rm 
vexed  hv  r:."-  ■':-  'i*  •  !-  •'.     .  .1        i;   *:..     A  -Ir^*  r  '-:*»•»'  L:«i- 

fJOtl  W  2.-  ".s  .•.•:.!.  ...-:.-:..:...■.     ::  '■.•....■    i  •  .  : .  rT--.  ■•  .        •'  ._- 

lirrt       r     V     '^i"        ■     -        ".    •      r       '—  •      «    v         •      ~-       '■■  ~  ■  1      "^-^      ""p— •  -  -&*    ""jS-IT- 

res  s^  I  o  f  S  • . : !  J  -  '^ ":  •  -  ■  r- ■ ;.  '-.  'v: :  ■  •:  '•  •■  -   "r.  ■•■  ■.  i  .-^  I » i  ^  r.:  ozi  ^  \ '  r  o  f  "sir. 

b'Jt  h*^  f--f  '••■•    ''.'.'      ,•  '.-■■■      .-":.•    .-1    -  -    •  ^•■-  ,-  — -_      T""^ 

i^f^  /j-  ■•  ,  tV«    •"     ^  '      '■     '      "  •.■--.■■        r,"      I     ■'  •       1  •      -.       -     -n^i      -^i-* 

f  ^»i?.  r  ■•  ■  •  "■        '.  ■    i  r  -  ■  ■    .- .  *      *    - ■    .        - ..  i  -.-.•.-.  -    ^.  ■—.--,-  -'  --- 

fc«*    »         --  .....4..  ..■  _•>■-..•_..     1.'.   .        _.'i 

rr^w  fiT  *■    ■'  'v   ^'  -■' "     '.-'■■■■  "^.   -.      \  -      ■  r.*"  -    ^1  W  ,s^»  T-  •j^ 

William  A*.h.:r:-o.".  v. !.-...     ■.   !   j  -:    -  ■'-:-_--:t  :'.  i   =*:•■■-   !rrrr 

North  Ciroi::\T.  i-  :•  '  v  v.  ■    !  •:  .;"    j  !.  ■;  v-  •  ■  jr  'o  E>>*::-  bv  F.t 
ihe  pirate; .  '^ :.•  i  «:•;*.!.;-:    .......  \    \  :'.;*'•:    : .    .  * i s  :. e  ■: r. ■  ir r*r :<-«l 


son  fofip.'i  5?.  o:-'".:' i..!*v.  v  !:  .  •  ■■  ---.'•':'';  <■:' t'.ree  o'Ji»rr?.  roc- 


into  Bo-'  r.i n  r. : r '  • .  : .  'I '.."-:".;•.'  -.  ! .  i  i  ■  ■  ■  ■-.  "i  \. «-■'•  *  - -.v  il n  r. r  b<ari 
the  K!:/..Tb-!-.. 'if  f;:iT*'j..  « I-  ■  •-  .  - . :  .  ;-r.  i:..:  ha-i.  wi-J:  :ofir 
other*.  Hi  i-.ir; !-;'!.  r..;: :  ■:■  i  t  v  '-•;!.':.  i  :::  :*••.  ari-i  proce^iie^i  to 
a  cruiz'-,  a.-?  i  '• ! r:  v.- .  F' ! "■ .  ':  :  . . ! -  r  . r  r  • :  ■  *'''  m '* *•  ^r  re  zreii 
and  «err.»'- :.'-»••  I  ti,  •  I-.-  ..•.'.■:;.:!:"  '.i  !•:  :.unz  in  chain*,  JiIt 
10th.     In  •»  •/'I'..-.  :'•.•:   :.-■.'.    .ir-v*   '.ivr-i  executed   in  Boetoa 

«  ■ 

1727  At  t:.>   ::..x-.  I'^rr-:  •:  :ir. •!'!•:■-   of  rour/.erfei:  bii}« 


*  Tiwinafl't  hiatorr  cfpnntiixf . 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTEE.  CLXI 

manufactured  in  Dublin,  in  imitation  of  the  New  York  and  New 
Jersey  money,  and  they  were  brought  over  sea  by  emissaries 
employed  for  the  purpose.  Some  of  these  were  apprehended 
while  passing  these  bills,  and  the  plot  confessed  by  them. 

In  this  year  C.  Golden  wrote  the  first  part  of  his  history  of  the 
Five  Nations,  "  on  occasion  of  a  dispute  between  the  government 
of  New  York  and  some  merchants."  This  was  Governour  Bur- 
net's project  of  bringing  the  fur  trade  to  Oswego,  which  opposed 
the  views  o£  English  merchants,  and  their  coiTespondents  in  Al- 
bany, who  supplied  the  French  with  goods  for  the  Indian  trade 
from  Montreal.  Burnet's  views  were  correct :  he  interdicted  this 
trade  with  the  French,  and  partly  succeeded  in  drawing  the  Indians 
to  Oswego  from  the  West.  Burnet  communicated  to  Golden  the 
"  Register  of  Indian  affairs,"  and  Golden,  then  one  of  the  king's 
council,  wrote  and  sent  this  first  part  to  England,  where  it  was 

published. 
1728  May  7th—"  The  ship  Happy  Return  is  lately  arrived  at  the 
city  of  New  York  from  Dublin,  with  men  and  women  ser- 
vants ;  many  of  the  men  are  tradesmen,  as  blacksmiths,  carpenters, 
weavers,  taylors,  cordwainers,  and  other  trades,  which  servants  are  to 
be  seen  on  board  said  vessel,  lying  over  against  Mr.  Read's  wharf, 
"observe,  not  at  the  wharf;  and  to  be  disposed  of  by  John  and 
Joseph  Read,  on  reasonable  terms."* 

Another  cargo  of  the  same,  in  the  ship  George  and  John,  is 
likewise  advertised  to  be  sold,  and  wheat  or  flour  taken  in  pay- 
ment, by  "  Mr.  John  Dunks,  at  the  sign  of  the  Jamaica  Pilot  on 
the  Dock." 

August  9th. — -.The  general  assembly  of  New  York,  among  other 
grants  to  the  king's  government,  give  "  For  every  negro,  and  other 
slave  of  four  years  old  and  upwards,  imported  directly  from  Africa, 
the  sum  of  forty  shillings  current  money  of  this  colony^  The  salary 
of  the  governour  to  be  ^1,560  a  year.  For  the  governour's  voy- 
age to  Albany,  ^150  a  year.  Salary  of  the  chief-justice,  £250  a 
year.  The  secretary,  <£30.  Glerk  of  council,  ^30.  To  a 
searcher  of  the  colony  duties,  ^40.  Land  tyde  waiter,  ^30.  A 
guager,  ^30.  Door-keeper  of  the  council,  £20.  Glerk  of  the 
general  assembly,  12s.  a  day.     Door-keeper,  5s. 

14th. — ^Josiah  Millikin,  of  Musketo  Gove,  perriwig  maker,  de- 
nies the  report  that  he  was  the  informer  who  caused  the  seizure  of 
certain  wines  and  brandies  in  the  cellar  of  Gaptain  Walton,  and 
swears  to  it 

October  16th. — The  common  council  compliment  Gaptain  Govel 
Mayno,  of  his  majesty's  ship  Biddeford,  with  the  freedom  of  the 


*  Bradford'!  N.  Y.  Gazette. 
U 


cUj  in  t  silver  box,  for  hb  service  in  chasing  teom  the  cotft  a 
Spanish  privateer  that  had  landed  men  on  Gardner's  Ishmd.  and 
committed  great  depredations  on  the  inhabitants.     Cost  to  Hr.  Le- 
roux  for  the  box,  £1  29.  9d. 

1729  June  27  th. — The  mayor  notifies  the  common  ooondl 
that  the  speaker  of  the  house  of  assemblj,  at  the  request  of 

the  govemour,  informed  the  house  that  Mr.  David  Hnmpfarers, 
secretary  to  the  society  for  the  propagation  of  the  gospel  in  fomp 
parts,  by  letter  dated  in  London  the  23d  of  September  last,  informed 
the  goremour  that  a  bu-ge  and  valuable  library  of  books,  consisting  sf 
tboui  one  thousand  volumes,  had  been  bequeathed  to  them  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  >ri]ligen ;  and  it  was  desired  to  deposit  them  in  ICev 
York,  with  liberty  for  the  gentlemen  of  Pennsylvania  and  Coonee- 
ticut  to  borrow  diem.  Ordered,  to  consider  of  a  proper  pboe  far 
such  a  library.  Resolved,  to  provide  a  large  room  for  the  reeep- 
tjon  of  these  books. 

1730  March  3d. — Hooks  and  ladders  ordered,  for  the  preven- 
tion of  fires. 

23d. — ^The  corporation  resolved  to  make  applicanon  to  his  ma- 
jesty for  confirmation  of  their  charter. 

In  the  petition  for  renewal  of  the  charter,  the  council  likewise  ask 
the  bounds  of  the  city  to  be  extended  to  four  hundred  feet  below 
low  water  mark  on  Hudson's  River;  the  sole  right  of  appointing 
ferr}'s  round  the  island  ;  the  grant  of  all  docks  and  slips.  That 
the  mayor  and  council  appoint  all  the  officers  of  the  city,  as  ser- 
geants-at-mace,  marshals,  gaolers,  surveyors,  measurers,  porters, 
etc. ;  the  power  to  hold  a  court  of  common  pleas  every  Tuesday; 
to  have  power  to  build  a  house  of  correction  and  other  publick 
buildings ;  to  have  a  patent  (in  confirmation)  of  the  feny  and 
grounds  on  Nassau  Island. 

April  Gth. — The  governour  savs  he  will  refer  the  petition  to  the 
council. 

22d. — ^The  librar>'  from  the  society  for  propagating  the  gospel, 
etc  arrives,  being  1,642  volumes,  to  be  placed  in  the  City  Hall 
until  a  place  be  made  to  receive  them. 

June  2d. — The  books  are  put  in  the  "  assembly  room,  of  which 
Alderman  Philiipse  has  the  kev." 

About  this  period,  the  anniversary*  sermon  on  swearing  in  die 
new  mayor  and  council,  for  which  Mr.  Vesey  used  to  receive  Jf5t 
appears  to  be  discontinued. 

An  act  passed  the  assembly  "  to  prevent  poor  and  impotent  per- 
sons being  imponed  into  this  province/' 

Bradford's  paper  was  one  half  sheet  (or  two  pages,)  and  priaied 
once  a  week.  Afterwards  during  this  year,  Bradford  increased  his 
paper  to  four  pages.  The  news  is  all  European,  except  cuitoa»- 
house  entries. 


MISCBLI«A.NBOUS  MATTER.  CLXIU 

In  October,  tlic  assembly  of  New  York  passes  an  act  <*  for  the 
more  effectual  preventing  and  punishing  the  conspiracy  and  insur- 
rection of  negro  and  other  slaves/' 

December  6ih. — Notice  is  given  that  the  Boston  and  Philadel- 
phia posts  will  set  out  to-morrow  to  perform  the  stages  once  a 
fortnight  during  the  tliree  winter  months. 

"  Whoever  inclines  to  perform  the  foot-post  to  Albany  this  win- 
ter, may  apply  to  Richard  Nichols,  post-master  in  New  York,  and 

agree  for  the  same." 
1731  April  22d. — A  law  for  regulating  negroes  and  slaves  in 
the  night  time.  No  negro,  mulatto,  or  Indian  slave,  above 
the  age  of  fourteen,  shall  presume  to  appear  in  any  of  the  streets, 
or  in  any  other  place  of  this  city  on  the  south  side  of  the  Fresh 
Water,  in  the  niglit  time,  above  an  hour  after  sun-set,  without  a 
lanthom  and  candle  in  it  (unless  in  company  with  his  owner  or 
some  white  belonging  to  die  family.)  I'enalty,  die  watch-house 
that  night ;  next  day  prison,  until  the  owner  pay  4s.,  and  before 
discharge,  the  slave  to  be  whipped  not  exceeding  forty  lashes. 

A  law  to  prevent  strangers  becoming  a  charge.  Constables  to 
inquire  after  inmates  of  all  houses ;  and  fined  for  not  doing  so ; 
and  housekeepers  fined  for  not  reporting  strangers. 

May  6th. — Two  compleat  fire-engines  ordered.  These  are  the 
first  noticed,  and  I  presume  the  first  ordered  for  New  York.  Some 
merchant  to  be  employed  to  send  to  London  for  them. 

June  12th. — Stephen  Delancey  and  John  Moore,  merchants, 
undertake  to  purchase  the  fire-engines,  and  deliver  them  to  the 
council,  at  the  rate  of  120  per  cent  advance  on  tiie  foot  of  the  in- 
voice (exclusive  of  commissions  and  insurance,)  the  money  to  be 
paid  within  nine  months  from  delivery. 

A  report  prevailing  in  the  country  that  the  small-pox  prevails  in 
New  York,  the  common  council  say  there  are  but  two  persons  in 
the  city  having  the  disease. 

November  ISth. — If  more  than  three  negro,  mulatto,  or  Indian 
slaves  assemble  on  Sunday  and  play  or  make  noise,  (or  at  any  other 
time  at  any  place  from  their  master's  service,)  they  are  to  be  pub- 
lickly  whipped  fifteen  lashes  at  die  publick  whipping-post. 

November  29th. — '*  Buried  in  this  city  last  week,  viz :  Church  of 
Eogland,  2  ;  Dutch  church,  1 ;  French  church,  1 ;  and  blacks,  1. 
lo  all  this  week,  6." 

In  the  month  of  August,  the  small-pox  began  to  spread,  and 
from  the  23d  of  August  to  the  Idih  of  November,  478  whites  and 
71  blacks  died.  On  the  Idth  of  November,  the  burials  were  10. 
Thus,  in  two  months  and  three  weeks  the  buriab  were  549,  viz : 
Church  of  England,  229;  Dutch  church,  212;  French  church, 
16 ;  Lutheran  church,  1 ;  Presbyterian,  16 ;  Quakers,  2 ;  Bap- 
tists, 1 ;  Jews,  2.    This  may  show  the  relative  number  of  each 


sect  ia  some  measure.  Durin;  this  prevalence  of  smD-pos.  dierf 
died  in  one  week  of  C)ctober,  70  iihiies,  60  of  tbem  of  small-poi. 
and  9  blacks,  ei::hl  of  iheni  of  ffmall-pox. 

December  Ist. — A  room  ordered  to  be  6tted  up  in  the  C in- 
to secure  the  fire-enjines. 

Mr.  tSilas  Wood  states  the  population  of  the  province  in 
year  to  be  50,291,  and  that  of  Lon^  Island  alone  as  17.S20.  1^':lz 
one  third.  The  citA'  of  Xew  York  contained  S,62S.  Of  the  awe 
population,  7,2-31  were  slaves. 

An  alderman  and  assistant  were  appointed  to  have  the  fire- 
engines  cleaned  ^^  and  the  leathers  oyled**  and  put  into  boxes  to 

be  readv  for  immediate  use. 

« 

1734  Zen^e^^s  Weekly  Journal  was  published  for  3^  per 
quarter  (37-3  cents) — Advertisements  3s.  the  first  week,  and 
Is.  every  week  after. 

The  advertisement  of  Gerard  us  Duvkinck  runs  thus  :  '*Looki»- 
glasses  new  silvered,  and  the  frames  plaine  japaned :  also,  all  son? 
of  picktures  made  and  sold,  and  all  manner  of  paintinsr  work  dooe. 
Also,  lookin-i^lasses,  and  all  sorts  of  painters'  coulers  and  oyl.  sold 
at  reasonable  rates,  bv  Gerardus  Duvkinck.  at  the  sizn  of  the  two 
Cupids,  near  the  (Md  Slip  Market;  where  you  may  have  readv 
roonv  for  old  lookin-zlasses." 

The  forti6cations  that  the  French  were  erecting  at  Louisbore. 
excited  the  af  tention  and  jealousy  of  the  people  of  New  Vork.  and 
two  French  vessels  coming  to  New  York  for  provision,  alarmtd 

1735 

our  eovernour,  arid  it  wa*  called  Gtorvt  A^ttMnf$  R'ahiI  hai- 
t^m^  As  thev  fired  a  salui*?  on  l)ie  ocoa-jion.  a  nim  (an  old  c\tD- 
non)  bur^t,  and  the  pie^c*  killrd  John  .Syms.  hi^'h  sherin.  Mis? 
Courtlandi.  (ViWiUXf.T  of  (.'••:  ;.•.*  I  rounlandi  member  of  die  kind's 
council,  and  a  sou-in  law  of  Al«i«rnnan  Keimer. 

As  t^iis  battery  was  on  the  Wljite-hall  Rocks,  of  course  on  the 
east  side  of  trie  extreme  point,  1  prei=nme  the  Cop>ev  Baiterv  oa 
the  Copsey  Kock,  wr:*  on  tiie  point  snd  a  little  west.  Copsev 
is  the  corruption  of  tl-e  lndir.n  name.  Kir  the  point  of  the  IslarJd  iM' 
Manhadoes  or  MauliMtt^.n.  'i'hey  called  it  Oijtff.  which  pro- 
nounf^ed  by  tl.e  Du:c:j,  v.oiild  in  •-oi.jRd,  to  an  Enirlish  ear,  be 
Copsey. 

1730  March. — The  committee  of  il.e  corporation  on  lliebon?e  of 

correction  and  poor  house,  rejv>i  i.  they  have  chosen  a  keeper 
— and  as  provi-jon  i-  made  for  the  poor,  they  recommend  that  all 
be^srars  in  the  street-,  be  put  to  h«rd  iiboiir.  That  parish  children 
be  relizi^tirly  educated  and  taiiirht  to  read,  write,  and  cast  accounts, 
and  employed  in  spinning,  knitting^.  and  sen  in  j,  to  qualify  them  for 


UISCBLLANSOirS  MATTBft.  OtXT 

being  put  out  apprentices.  That  fetters,  gyves,  shackles,  and  a  con- 
venient pUce,  or  whipping^postt  be  provided  for  the  incorrigible. 
That  a  garden  be  fenced  in  around  the  house  for  the  raising  of  roots 
and  herbs  for  the  poor  in  the  house.  That  the  inhabitants  of  the 
city  have  tree  licence  to  send  to  the  said  house  all  sen*antsand  slaves, 
there  to  be  kept  to  hard  labour,  and  punished  according  to  the  di- 
rections of  any  one  justice,  with  the  consent  of  the  master  or  mis- 
tress. That  the  master  or  mistress  pay  Is.  entrance,  and  Is.  6d. 
for  whipping,  and  for  discharge  Is.,  and  7d.  per  day,  during  con- 
6nement.     Ajzreod  to. 

The  multiplicity  of  gaming  liouses  is  complained  of. 

A  certificate  is  granted,  that  James  Alexander,  has  for  about 
twenty  years  practiced  as  attorney  and  counsel  in  New  York  and 
New  Jersev :  and  has  been  for  fourteen  or  fifteen  vears,  one  of  his 
majesty *s  council,  with  good  reputation.  That  he  was  appointed 
attorney-general  and  advocate-general.  And  that  he  was  appoint- 
ed naval-olKcer  bv  Govemour  Unmet.  That  he  is  of  n^ood  life, 
and  fair  character,  etc.  And  that  he  is  a  true  friend  to  his  ma- 
jesty *s  succession,  (the  protestant  succession.)  This  gendeman 
had  sought  refuge  in  the  countr}%  having  been  connected  with  the 
Scotch  rebellion,  and  when  his  relative,  the  Earl  of  Sterling,  died 
without  male  issue,  was  supposed  to  be  heir  to  the  title  and  estate, 
but  did  not  apply  in  consequence  of  said  connexion — Now,  did  he 
not  seek  and  obtain  diis  ceruticate  when  intending  so  to  apply  ?  His 
son  applied  and  assumed  die  title,  and  was  General  Loixi  Sterling, 
in  1775. 

July  2*2d* — Captain  Garratt  Fanhorn  is  thanked  by  the  common 
council  for  serving  as  a  representative  in  Uie  assembly,  without  re- 
ward or  waffes. 
173S  June  2Sth. — The  mayor  acquaints  the  lieutenant-gover- 
nour  that  the  small-pox  is  feared,  as  it  is  rife  in  South 
Carolina,  and  that  a  purple  or  spotted  fever  began  to  spread  there. 
Ordered,  that  one  of  the  pilots  be  constandy  in  waiung  at  or  near 
Sandy  Hook,  and  board  all  vessels,  and  acquaint  the  masters,  (if 
comine  from  Barbadoes,  Antieua,  or  South  Carolina,)  *^  that  it  is 
the  order  of  this  board,  before  they  come  mto  harbour,  that  they 
anchor  as  near  as  mav  be  to  Bedlow's  Island  ;  and  there  wait  until 
they  are  visited  by  some  of  the  physicians  of  the  city — and  not 
land  goods  or  persons,  or  suder  persons  to  come  on  board,  until 

report  be  made.^* 
1739         The  American  colonies  raised  and  sent  3,000  men  to 
assist  the  English  at  Carthagena;.<»f  these,  many  High- 
landers made  part. 

George  Whitfield  produced  at  diis  time  a  salutary  efect  upon 
the  manners  of  the  colonists  by  his  preaching.  The  house  still 
remains  [1837]  m  William  street.  New  York,  in  which  be  instruct- 


CiaXl  APPBVDIX. 

ed  his  hearers.  Its  peaked  front  and  roof  nmks  hs 
although  it  has  been  modernized.  The  street  was  theo  calsi 
**  Horse  and  Cart  street,"  from  a  sign  of  a  bone  and  cart  at  t 
tavern  door,  opposite  the  house  in  which  WfaiiSeld  dimAmmmi^ 
he  occupying  tlie  upper  storv,  which  was  then  a  aa3  UL 

1740  The  winter  of  1740-1  was  emphatieaUr  called  ^ihi 
hard  wmter,"  and  perhaps  was  entided  to  that 

until  that  of  1779—50.     The  severity  of  '40—1  csontioiied  ^ 
the  middle  of  November  to  the  latter  end  of  March.*'     Soow, 
feet  on  a  leveL     The  Hudson  frozen  at  the  city  of  New  YmL, 

August  26th. — ^A  law  to  prohibit  negroes  and  other  alar^ 
inff  Indian  corn,  peaches,  or  any  other  fruit  within  this  d^. 
**  W  bereas,  of  late  years,  great  numbers  of  negroes,  I'Tfirant, 
mulatto  slaves  have  made  it  a  common  practice  of  buying, 
and  exposing  to  sale,  not  only  in  houses  and  yards  bitt  fikene 
in  the  pubiick  streets,  great  quantities  of  boiled  Indian  com, 
peaches,  apples,  and  other  kinds  of  fruit,  which  pernicious 
is  not  only  detrimental  to  the  roasters,  mistresses,  and  owners,  ■ 
the  slaves  absent  themselves  from  service,  but  productive  of  fciui 
and  other  disorders  among  the  inhabitants ;  therefore  ordained,  dat 
any  negro,"  etc.,  (tl)ose  coming  to  market  from  the  country  or  the 
Out  ward  of  the  citj*  only  excepted)  after  the  23d  of  August 
shall  be  convicted  before  the  mayor  or  aldermen  of  the  above 
tice,  shall  be  publickly  whipped  at  the  whipping-poat,  at  the 
cretion  of  said  mayor,  aldermen,  etc,  imless  tbie  master  pay  six 
shillings." 

In  this  year  Colden  says,  J.  A.,  which  I  presume  to  be  James 
Alexander,  wrote  to  a  M.  P.,  in  London,  from  New  Yoik,  that 
Goveroour  Burnet's  measures  respecting  the  Indian  (or  fur)  trade 
were  successful.  That  he  ''  chiefly  with  his  money,  credit,  and 
risque,  erected  a  trading  house  and  fortification  at  the  mouth  of  the 
(humdagwa  river,  called  Oswego,  where  the  province  of  New  Yoik 
mpports  a  garrison  of  soldiers,  consisting  of  a  lieutenant  and  f  ety 
men,  yeariy  relieved."  He  says,  the  Indian  trade  is  now  divided 
info  one  hundred  hands,  whereas  before  Burnet's  scheme  it  ww 
monopolized  by  a  very  few  merchants  trading  to  Montreal  from 
New  York  and  Albany,  rich,  and  at  their  ease ;  the  others,  young 
men  who  carried  the  goods  to  Oswego,  or  further ;  and  our  aenle> 
ments  are  extending  even  to  the  branches  of  the  Susquebannal^ 
from  whence  to  the  Alleghany,  a  branch  of  the  Mississippi. 

1741  Even  as  early  as  this  year,  as  if  conscious  that  their 
mode  of  ruling  the  colonies  was  unjust  and  onerous,  the 

p;overnour8  of  Great  Britain  intimated,  through  Clarke,  their 
jealousies  of  an  intention  to  becon>e  independent.  Clarke,  in  a 
message  to  the  assembly,  says  that  *'  a  jealousy  for  some  yean  fam 
obtained  in  England,  that  the  plamations  are  not  without  tfaocfghts 


•f  tbrovioj:  off  tbeir  dependance  on  tbecniWD  of  Enghnd.**  The 
It  assured  the  4^venioiir  that  tber  oouM  Touch  that  no  audi 
tettained ;  hot  this  jealoosf  no  doubt  caused  the  wiak 
S  and  like  roanv  propheiick  sarui^  mded  to  biiii|f 
rcomplishiiieot  of  the  predktipg  fear.  Euriand  wua 
of  the  settlers  of  the  AmericaiiooDtiDeou  Tlwywere 
his  mafCisiT^s  plantatioiis  for  a  louf  time — theo  ear  colouaaa; 
xmsideivd  as  a  kind  of  pfopertr  bekMiging  to  Ei^land;  but 
^^  2ice  jfori^,  it  was  property  that  migfat  escape. 
OMober  7th. — Cocninon  council  at  m  house  of  Charles 
The  general  aasemblj  request  the  common  councO  tt 
of  a  bUl  for  the  due  legubtion  and  goTemment  of  negroea, 
heoiderirkeepin^  of  asudkaeiit  iiigfat-watch.  Thejresolrev 
■e  <£M0  on  the  inhabitaniss  to  par  for  twelTe  able  watchmen : 
in  oUige  masters  of  vessels  to  gire  secoritr  for  strangers  and  ser- 
rants  broocfat  br  tfaetn,  that  ther  shall  not  become  chargeable :  far 
the  punishment  of  rooibers  and  reputed  fothers  of  bastard  childran* 

br  fine  of  ;£10  or  corporal  punishmeat. 
174S      *  March  6th. — CMIered,  tittt  die  indentures  of  Maiy  Bur- 
ton be  deliTered  up  to  ber^and  that  she  be  discharged  from 
the  remainder  <»f  her  seritude,  and  £2  paid  her,  to  prmide  ne- 
clothing.      The  common   council   had    purchased  her 
~  Mtt  her  master,  and  had  kept  her  and  them,  until  this 


29d. — X  law  to  restram  n^roes  from  going  to  fetch  water  on 
a  Sundaj,  other  than  to  the  next  well  or  pump  to  the  place  of  their 
abode,  and  frixn  riding  horses  through  die  streets  or  out  of  town 
on  a  Sunday.  The  <^nder  to  be  whipt  at  the  pubBck  whippings 
post,  at  the  discreiioD  of  one  ji»iceof  die  peace,  unless  the  oanai 
par  Ss. 

April  Sih. — ^The  maror  acquainted  the  common  cooncfl,  that 
Ifarr  Burton  applied  to  him  in  the  presence  of  two  witneaaes  far 
riK  payment  of  ^ICM> :  as  being  die  person  that  made  the  fait  dia- 
ry of  the  persons  formerly  concerned  in  selling  fae  to  aoaan 
;  to  which  som«  she  pretended  to  be  entitled,  by  Tiitoe  of 
riK  request  of  this  boards  to  the  lieutenant-gorenKMir,  and  hb  pn»- 
I  hinaiinn  of  the  17th  of  April,  174t.  Whereupon,  ordered,  that 
if  any  person  will  appear  before  this  board,  and  make  k  appear  to 
dw  nuisfeciion  thereof,  that  such  p»son  is  entitled  to  eidierof  the 
lewaiJi  mentioned  in  the  request  and  prodannation,  duit  dKj  will 
pay. 

Ai^ust  d6th. — Ordered,  that  erery  Sunday  morning,  from  dar- 
If^  to  the  selling  of  dw  military  guard,  and  from  fire  o^dock  u 


9t«  TM.  1,  C%  IL 


CLZTIU  APPENDIX. 

the  afternoon,  or  at  the  di?charcre  of  the  militajy  guard  to  the  ereninc 
of  the  same  day,  the  following:  method  be  pursaed,  to  prerem 
the  scandalous  and  iinchrLslian  irres:ularitied,  lately  so  much  prac- 
tised by  neirroes,  children,  and  others,  on  the  sabbatb-day,  viz.: 
that  one  alderman,  one  petty  constable,  and  four  fire-men,  do  valk 
the  streets,  lanes,  whanes,  and  alleys,  during  tlie  time  aforesaid. 
The  officers  taking  turns,  besrinning  with  the  senior  alderman. 

September  2d.  Georcre  Joseph  Moore,  deputy  secreiarr  of 
the  province,  shows  the  board,  that  he  is  appointed  by  tbecounol 
chancery,  guardian  to  Mary  Burton.  Whereupon  are  paid  tor  be: 
use  jCSI,  makin?  with  £19  paid  for  her  freedom  and  necessaries, 
the  whole  j£100,  the  reward  olFered  to  any  wliite  person,  that  sbooid 
discover  any  person  or  persons,  concerned  in  settinir  fire,  etc. 

October  14th. — A  committee  is  appointed  to  wait  on  the  chief 
justice,  and  desire  his  opinion,  whether  any  law  exempts  the  peo- 
ple called  Quakers,  from  sening  as  constables  in  this  cit}*. 

22d. — The  common  council  petition  the  general  assembly,  pray- 
ing, that  the  negroes  executed  for  the  late  conspiracy,  be  paid  tor 

out  of  the  revenue. 
1743  Februar\-  2-5th. — Robert  Browne  havin^r  been  elected 
as  constable  for  Montgomerie  ward,  objected  to  his  Qua- 
kerism :  whereupon,  a::reed,  that  he  desire  the  opinion  of  the 
chief  justice,  whether  or  not,  he  was,  or  is  compellable.  The  com- 
mittee, who  had  been  appointed  on  this  question,  reports,  that  the 
chief  justice  declared  his  opinion,  that  no  Quaker  is  compellable, 
it  being  an  othce  of  trust. 

July  2-3th. — '•  Saturday  last,  the  men  belonging  to  the  Castor  and 
Pollux  privateer,  having  found  that  a  person  who  had  entered  oo 
board  their  vessel  two  or  three  days  before,  in  order  to  go  the 
cruise,  was  a  woman  ;  they  seized  upon  the  unhappy  wretch,  and 
ducked  her  three  times  from  the  vard  arm  ;  aftenvards,  thev  made 
their  negroes  tar  her  all  over  from  head  to  foot,  by  which  cruel 
treatment,  and  the  rope  that  let  her  into  the  water  bavin?  been  indis^ 
erectly  fastened,  die  poor  woman  was  ver}'  much  hurt,  and  con- 
tinues now  ill.*'  I  read  of  no  punishment  inflicted  on  these  naval 
heroes. 

September. — An  address  to  Governour  George  Clinton,  and  the 
freedom  of  the  city  in  a  gold  box.  The  box  to  cost  JC20  and  Le 
Roux  to  make  it. 

This  Admiral  George  Clinton  is  described  by  the  historian 
Smith,  as  easy  in  his  temper,  but  incapable  of  business.  He  im- 
mured himself  in  the  fort  when  in  town,  and  when  at  his  house  in 
Flushing,  amused  himself  with  his  bottle  and  a  circle  of  dependants, 
who  flattered  him  and  played  billiards  with  his  lady,  who  governed 
him  and  prompted  the  schemes  for  makin^r  money  out  of  the  people. 
If  he  was  not  one  of  those  described  in  after  times  by  Col.  Bane, 


UISCELLAXKOUS  MATTBB.  CLXUL 

when  he  said  publickly  in  parliamentvr  debtte»  *  ihit  to  hb  cer* 
tain  kDowledi::^  some  were  promoted  to  the  highest  seii$  of  honour 
in  America,  who  were  £:lad  to  fly  to  a  foreign  country  to  escape  be- 
inc  broujrht  to  the  bar  of  justice  in  their  own/  lie  was  at  least  one 
who«  amon^r  many  others,  embittered  the  minds  of  Americans  to- 
wards their  fellow-subjocts  in  Great  Britain*  and  prepared  them,  as 
pix>d  sometimes  spring  fnun  evil«  to  first  appreciate  duly «  and  then 
reisohre  to  attain*  the  blessincrs  of  self^remment.  He  ruled  ten 
jrears.  and  departed  amidst  the  hootings  of  the  people. 

In  this  year*  Cadwaliader  Colden  sent  to  Linnvus  a  catalogue 
of  the  plants  growing  in  Ulster  county^  New  York. 
1744  January  *JiK — It  is  announced  that  there  is  just  published 
*•  The  American  Ma^axine  and  Historical  Chronicie,  for 
October.  1743: — to  be  continued;  price,  3s.  6d.  per  quarter. — 
N.  B.  TlK>se  gentlemen  who  hare  subscribed  for  tliis  Magazine, 
are  desired  to  send  for  it.*'  It  was  published  by  James  Parker, 
who  printed  and  issued  tlie  Postboy :  the  first  year  of  which  jour* 
nal  was  complotctl  Januar}*  16ih. 

The  mode  of  cleaning  die  streets  of  New  York  at  this  time,  as 
ordered  bv  law.  was.  that  all  householders,  etc.  residing  **  within 
the  six  wanls.  south  of  the  Fresh  water,  should  ererr  Fridar  rake 
and  sweep  together  all  the  din,  filth,  and  soil,  lying  in  the  streets 
before  their  respectire  dwelling^liouses,  upon  heaps,  and  beiore 
Saturday  evening:  cause  tlie  same  to  be  carried  awav,  and  thrown 
into  the  river,  or  some  ci>nvenient  place,**  under  penalt}*  of  6s.  for 
each  oaence  or  noclcct. 

April  16th. — Apj^ears  an  advertisement,  saying  "  A  Journal  of 
the  pncKreding^  against  tlie  conspirators  at  New  Y  ork"*  would  be 
publislied  shortly.  This  was  the  book  of  tlie  Negro  Plot  of  1741 
and  *^.  by  Horsemanden. 

Advertisements  of  this  date  are  mostly  of  pri^-ateers  fined  out 
and  preparing  for  a  cruiie.  and  the  metrs  is  of  captures  and  arrivals. 
Murders  and  accidents  torm  materials  for  the  editorsjof  news- 
papers  then,  as  now.  and  bear  a  just  proportion  to  the  population. 
We  are  told  that  a  man  is  found  munleied  at  his  own  door ;  but 
on  examination  there  is  sutlicient  reason  to  believe  that  he  made 
himself  drunk  and  fell  out  of  the  window.  This  is,  as  it  mifrki  &r, 
DOW ;  but  when  we  are  told  that  **  a  lame  woman  having  some  words 
with  a  soldier,  he  divw  his  sword  and  cut  her  miserably  down 
the  back,*^   we  are   reconciled   to  our  fortune  in  not  living  in 

the  *•  good  old  times.'* 

1745         Cu^ee.  a  necto,  beloneini:  to  James  Alexander,  sen* 

tenced  to  death  for  breaking  open  his  mistresses  sbop«  was 

to  be  executed  on  a  certain  dav«  but  the  hangman  dvinc  the  ere* 

Bing  before,  be  is  respited  until  the  next  Friday.     Thus  death 

T 


CLXZ  AFPBNDU. 

sa^ed  Cufiee  from  dying,  and  be  was  finally  repriered  and  ordoti 
for  transportation  or  exportation ;  i.  e.  to  be  a  slare  elsewhere  aad 
rob  another  master. 

The  steeple  of  the  new  Dutch  Church  was  set  on  fire  br  ligh- 
ning,  but  extinguished  by  persons  breaking  through  the  capola. 

jC5,000  were  given  by  New  York  to  the  Ca[>e  Breton  expedi* 
tion,  and  jC2,000  by  New  Jersey. 

1746  March  3d. — The  govemour  and  council  went  to  the 
assembly-chamber,  at  Greenwich,  and  met  the  memben  of 

that  body ;  when,  among  several  other  acts  passed,  was  one  fat 
raising  money  to  fortify  '^  Schenegtada,"  and  one  ofiering  rewards 
for  such  scalps  and  prisoners  of  tlie  enemy  as  shall  be  taken  by  the 
inhabitants  of  (or  Indians  in  alliance  with)  this  colony.  The 
small-pox  prevailing  at  Greenwich,  the  assembly  adjourned  to  West 
Chester,  and  then  to  Brooklyn. 

June  9th. — The  govemour  embargoes  the  port  of  New  Yoik 
for  one  month.  The  troops  raised  in  New  Jersey  pass  New  Yoik 
in  batteaux  for  Albany. 

October  13th. — Parker,  the  printer  of  the  Postboy,  is  appointed 
keeper  of  the  library  in  the  City  Hall,  witli  liberty  **  to  let  or  hire" 
any  of  the  books.  He  announces  that  he  has  a  printed  catalogue, 
and  that  his  terms  are  fourpence-halfpenny  per  week,  for  every 
book  that  shall  be  taken  out,  and  security  for  its  return.  Attend- 
ance every  Tuesday,  at  four  o'clock  P.  M. 

At  this  time,  the  Indians  committed  depredations  around  Al- 
bany, and  as  far  south  as  Kinderhook. 

23d — A  bill  was  ordered  to  be  brought  in  to  raise  jC2,250  by  lot- 
tery, towards  erecting  a  college.  The  assembly  and  the  gover- 
nour  disagreed,  and  they  adjourned  *'  without  leave."  On  the 
6th  of  November,  the  house,  by  Colonel  Phillips,  Colonel  Morrist 
Colonel  Schuyler,  Mr.  David  Clarkson,  and  Mr.  Henry  Cruger, 
sent  to  the  govemour  a  most  undutiful  representation,  in  which  they 
blamed  all  his  measures  in  fact,  and  particularly  his  patronage  of 
one  Roberts,  (whom  he  commissioned  as  colonel,  from  being  an 
officer  of  one  of  the  independent  companies,  but  who  was  connected 
by  marriage  with  Lord  Hallifax)  and  who  had  acted  illegally  with 
respect  to  publick  stores  at  Albany.  CUnton,  in  his  rcplyv  added 
fuel  to  the  flame,  and  justified  himself  and  his  creatures.  The  boose 
resolved  that  his  answer  was  unsatisfactory,  and  said  they  wotdd 
grant  no  more  supplies,  without  assurances  of  redress.  The  gover- 
nour  was  alarmed,  and  promised  redress.  He  then  made  requisi- 
tions for  various  purposes;  and  among  them,  for  "paying  fer 
female  scalps.'^ 

1747  June  3d. — The  common  council  ordered  a  petitioo  to 
be  prepared  to  the  govemour,  to  ease  the  city  from  tba 

burthen  of  keeping  a  roilitaiy  watch,  which  is  read  ^^^  day ;  by 
whicb  it  appeals  that  the  inhid)itants  kept  night  and  day  watches  m 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CLXXI 

Fort  George.  They  wish  Clinton  to  order  down  one  of  the  inde- 
pendent companies  from.  Albany,  or  one  from  the  new  levies  at 
that  place. 

In  June,  the  governour  by  proclamation  prohibits  inoculation 
for  small-pox  in  the  city  of  New  York  and  county,  fearing  that  in 
the  event  of  an  invasion,  the  country  people  would  not  come  to 
the  assistance  of  the  citizens,  from  the  dread  of  taking  the  disease. 

October  2d. — The  common-council  order  an  Essay  on  the  duty 
of  Vestrymen  to  be  printed  at  their  expense  to  encourage  works  of 

this  kind.     Cost,  £4^  for  fifty  copies. 
1748         August  11th. — Compliment  of  the  freedom  of  the  city  of 
New  York  given  to  William  Shirley,  governour  of  Massa- 
chusetts, for  his  conduct  in  taking  Louisbourg,  and  for  meeting 
Governour  Clinton  at  a  council  of  the  Six  Nations  at  Albany. 

To  show  the  increase  of  the  colonies  from  1720  to  1748, 1  copy 
this  statement  of  the  value  of  imports  from  Great  Britain  to  the 
northern  colonies  in  ten  years,  from  1720  to  '30 ;  and  in  ten  years, 
from  '38  to  '48. 

In  the  first  mentioned  ten :  To  Carolina,  £     394,314 

New  England,  1,747,067 

New  York,  657,998 

Pennsylvania,  321,958 

Virginia  &  Maryland,      1,591,665 

Total,         ^4,712,992 


And  1788  to  '48,  To  Carolina,  ^1,345,091 

New  England,  1,812,894 

New  York,  1,211,243 

Pennsylvania,  704,780 

Virginia  &  Maryland,     2,507,626 

Total,         ^7,481,636 


Here  we  see  that  the  increase  of  New  England  is  only  ^675,837 
While  that  of  New  York,  is  553,246 

The  treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  in  this  year,  although  it  deprived 
America  of  the  advantage  she  had  obtained  by  conquering  Louis- 
bourg, did  not  secure  her  from  the  inroads  and  encroachments' of 
those  enemies  which  that  conquest  would  have  aided  to  protect  her 
from.  The  French  of  Canada  seized  upon  the  disputed  parts  of 
Nova  Scotia  (left  open  to  them  by  this  surrender,)  they  erected 
forts  on  the  western  lakes  and  on  the  Ohio,  and  committed  boetili- 


If  Eorapaaand  ladiiB  faosoadw 
The  wtoaao,  i  iiKrlil  by  ibA  Eaghfc 
Sl  James's  iv  Mdost)  did  not  acack  tfae 


Ol  uW  IHOthPI 
ID  gpOVlDf^th  ■AlUfilJP   bf 

thboM  affile  Eogfidi 
Willii—¥iai,  b  1739r)  «oj.jj,i  m  d 

f  parfiaeict  lo  a  ~ 

nesedlcBidmee  ibr 

EflgliMy  Doc  cbciBimi 
The  anotfCrr  of  1743  rerifed  the  achenie,  ud 
iQob  is  Anerica :  bot  it  was  iboogfaf 

for  Ae  preacuu 
When dtt Gov eraofir  "enlMffb'*  fbrAlinr, 

VjD  KMT  OK  OOOOflBOKMlaSlOB  oUJflOJT 

aad  kb  nfe  irmal  anpoooced  »  a  caooe  of 

Kalm,  at  tins  tifne,  was  ia  America.  He  descri 
of  New  York  as  bandsooie  !  To  be  sora^  beaotf 
taste.  The  bhabitanes  of  Albanj  were  mc  is  Stn 
(see  his  trarels.)  He  cocnplaxos  of  the  Dmch  jtMps  or 
*^  Oatnde  of  the  doors  of  the  booses  here  are  seals  whi 
erenio^  are  covered  with  people  of  both  sexes  ;  bat  dns 
ttouMesofDe,  as  those  who  pass  br  are  okAi^d  to  crcet  evcfr  kodhr^ 
sdcas  dtej  will  shock  tfae  politeness  ot  this  townT^  Tbese 
and  the  eostom  of  sitting  on  them,  particxziarlT  of  a  sommer^s 
nioef  were  freqaent  throoghoat  New  York  city,  in  mr  joaifa.  I 
retnember  tfae  castom  associated  with  pteaaaminHgcsy  aad  have  no 

recoUecdoo  of  ita  troablinz  sot  bod|f  . 
1749         The  British  cabinet  at  tim  period  kad  a  pngecc  fcr 

btrodocing  an  ecclesiastical  eatabfirimieiic  on  ibe  model  af 
that  of  Eadaod,  with  tfae  order  of  Bkbops^  into  the  nrfiinwi 
This  was  to  contral  noo-jarors  and  dissenterst  and  fo  scituedban 
the  rojal  prerogattve.  This  scbeme  was  sosrzested  br  Brikr^ 
Bishop  of  Dorfaam,  and  seconded  br  Seeker,  Archbishop  of  Ca»> 
terfoorr.     The  aocietj  (br  the  propa^tion  of  the  gospd 


8m  3f«4tni  Bmnj,  t«I.  «.,  p.  198,  mI  WwUk,  f.  117, 


MISCELUUSBOUS  UATTBR.  CLXXIIt 

tuted  fts  a  part  of  this  polifiatl  scheme.  As  sooq  as  this  project 
was  announced,  its  consequences  to  civil  and  religious  liberty  ivere 
perceived  in  America  ;  and  their  guardians,  particularly  in  New 
England,  denounced  the  nefarious  plan,  and  warned  the  people  of 
the  dauirer.  After  much  debate,  tlie  champions  of  Episcopacy  gave 
up  their  schemes  for  the  present. 

Although  tliis  engine  for  strengthening  royal  prerogative  waa 
postponed,  I  he  views  res|)ectin£:  colonial  dependency  and  subsen'i* 
ence  to  the  profit,  ease,  and  convenience  of  England,  were  matured. 
It  was  openly  avowed  that  the  colonists  were  to  be  used  for  the 
benefit  of  the  people  of  (ireat  Britain,  and  restricted  from  all  pur- 
suits  and  every  branch  of  industry  which  might  interfere  with  Bri- 
tish merchants  and  manufacturers.  Alreadv  the  maxim,  avowed 
subsequently  by  Lord  Chatham,  that  the  colonists  should  not  be 

Esrmitted  to  manufacture  a  hob-oail,  was  adopted  as  the  policy  of 
ngland.  But  as  iron  abounded,  and  coidd  be  procured  cheaper 
than  from  Sweden,  and  for  British  manufactures  instead  of  money, 
that  article  was  allowed  to  be  imported  in  pigs  and  bani  into  the 
port  of  London  alone.  But  all  mills  or  other  ens::ines  for  slitting 
or  rolling  iron  were  prohibitcil  under  heavy  penalties.  The  Ame- 
ricans had  already  proved  that  they  could  make  nails  and  spikes 
cheaper  than  they  could  import  them  from  England. 

Another  means  of  keeping  the  colonies  in  a  state  of  subserviency 
was  the  introduction  of  nenjo  slaves.  Alreadv,  in  174d,  a  treatise 
appeared  in  London  entitled  "  The  African  Slave  Trade — the 
great  pillar  and  support  of  the  British  plantation  trade  in  America." 

In  this  vear,  Bennins;  Wentworth,  die  kins:  of  Ureat  Britain*8 
govemour  of  New  Hampshire,  made  a  grant  of  a  township  six 
miles  square,  within  the  territory  of  New  York  :  it  was  20  miles 
east  of  Hudson^s  Itiver,  and  six  miles  north  of  the  Massachusetts 
boundary  line.  This  was  the  beginning  of  a  controversy  that 
caused  some  bloodshed  and  much  ill  will  between  the  inhabitants 
of  New  York  and  New  England.  This  town  the  governour  called 
after  himself.  Benninsrton. 

Samuel  Williams,  in  the  preface  to  his  Histor}'  of  Vermont  says 
verj"  justly,  "To  have  expected  New  York  would  voluntarily  give 
up  part  of  her  territor}'  and  dominion  to  her  neighbours,  when  the 
decisions  of  the  king  and  the  law  were  in  her  favour,  was  to  expect 
that  which  is  never  done  by  any  sovereign  or  nation  while  they 
have  the  power  to  prevent  it.'*  But  Wentworth  had  sold  lands  to 
the  people  of  New  Hampshire  and  others,  who  thought  that  a 
governour  must  have  a  right  to  do  whatever  he  did  ;  and  they  re- 
moved upon  and  cleared  and  built  houses  on  what  they  considered 
their  rightful  property.  Therefore,  when  NewY'ork  claimed  these 
lands,  made  valuable  by  the  labour  of  the  settlers,  it  was  not  to  bs 


CLXXIf  APPEXDUU 

expected  ibat  these  sc-nlere  **irou*.'i  s'jbniit.  If  ibejcotlc  rr-:-..!  --' 
as  WiHiams  ju?tiy  osr^ene?- 

Id  November,  aad  il.ro'Ji'hou:  :r.-5  \Tiz\iT,  :Le  Por*.  ::in*  h  -r>a 
Boston  once  a  ^s^eek. 

Id  Januan-  of  i^:*  vesr.  the  Cri::i  of  Colcirl  T:. ::^*l*  ri^u 
tras  aDDOJsce.i.  &.'ed  "ibore  r.Inetv."  He  clri  I-  i^j^rrZi: 
countv  :  bi*  d-ercencir.-s  then  arr.o^i-i'.ei  to  thre^  zizLni,  T'Jt 
death  of  Jacob  Blackwell  U  recorc-i-d.  'srho  ws.=  ='i  f^'e:  :-3o:^::iis 
in  heig'ht,  and  weighed  four  :,u:;drei  £r-d  :Tre-:Y-i.ir.c  roii»i&. 
Bat  be  onlv  lired  :o  lije  tre  of  4-J.  la  We^i  C tester.  Joii.  Hii- 
den  and  Abiii;;,  i.i*  wife,  died  wr.hia  a  fe-x  hocr*  of  es:!.  ^ci»*r. 
bavin?  lived  iovioriv  iore:her  sever.: v  vesjs-     He  died  z:  iitt  iri 

of  96,  acd  she  £t  C-0. 
1751  Crime  was,  in  proporion  to  ;he  L-j.r::ber  of  ;i.hi:liirs. 
wonderftiiiv  prevaleiit-  A  ror-e  a^d  his  wife,  iz  Li-e  ^;ri 
of  New  York,  enixed  a  wrrson  :l:o  a  siiiis'ion  which  =*=«r:ieii  ii 
give  tbe  busband  a  r:j:/i  to  cer."er.d  5a::?faci3o3.  a::d  Lj  waj  :£ 
compromise  he  took  a  Lo:e  of  hacd  for  iOJ.  Bj:  :hed:;pe-  ^:« 
tender  of  Lis  monev  ih^r:  r.is  re:^.:^::^.^.  dl^-lred  :he  lEiL:  i?  i 
magistrate,  and  when  the  rozi^  der::i.-:ced  his  r20=ev.  he  wt*  r»- 
cured  for  exam: Laiio.i,  ►rvcosure.  tr.d  :/jr.lsLc:rLt. 

A  fact  is  mex^:io^.ed  of  a  rni-iwho  hid  Leencoifaed  i:: 'LI.  wio 
on  bis  discharge,  co:  'oeir.i'  alle  :o  :.3v  :he  ^all-fee*,  wis  -s-i-j: 
out/"  to  pav  the  d=^e=-  T;-:s  :=  =o  .i.-er/.loned  a*  :o  iZfZ^n^  i  li-liz 
of  usa^.  Tri€  sellir.z  of  cor. vie ts  fo:  :he  bezefl:  of  G.-e^:  iirluir- 
and  emirranu  (:o  ;>iv  :':.e:r  r-.*i3rri  sr.  i  sliVrs  fn'.ii  Afrlio.  ii»i 
Indian^  who  h^d  Leer*  ^-chh^i  or  c:.-:-i:-r:  cf  ihelr  h-2.1'.r-rr:^cs- 
seems  to  have  hsd  iho  c-iTvc:  of  ill  e.  11  hill*^  -^:'j-  o:r  ii.t'iilii 
ancestor?.  Eve z  r. o.v.  : :. e  -.* : . 1 1 : v  of  r -r  1  zl r. ,•  ;: : < -  4  :« iz .  h-r  li :« 
black,  and  p'j::;r:r  hi:.:  :r.  Jill  o.'  •   ^  -.i      of  ::.e  cr:~r  ::  eiif*- 

vourinz  to  rer^hi  :.:§  ■:i>rr:v.  i^  f>l.  .iv.-: ;  hv  ::.r  i^r^rT  sirxlrr  -.f 

^  -  •  •  • 

sellise  him  (when  he  :.1t  Wj'^-^i  :l-i:  h'?  :.ever  -.ViS  a  slsve.  cr  lii* 

him .  b v  tho.re  w  ho  h s ■ :  1 :. : i :  ■ »; : : : v ■ :  :.  1  .■-  .^ ■: i h  ::i  1  -  .-^  h it  t  .»ef  : 
done  in  tha:  po.^^o:!  of  r-rr.ul.licir..  f:-:-:  America.  whl:h  is  s'Lzei 
by  the  appella::on  of ::.{:  -live  -'i::?. 

The  Ci:v  Hal*  hi  W'-H  stre-i::  t;i?  :l--:r..  a?  here :c fore,  ir.-e  '-il.- 
and  tbe  prisor.ers  :>roc  jre  to  he  r--r/.>:.ed  a  cill  u>jz  ihe  chsrls- 
ble,  savin z.  that  thev  ere  wl:hoj:  dreir.z,  "lo:  hav:r.i:  a  *u-:k  c< 
wood  tobsim.  nor  have  'rr^d  :o:  sevv.-il  cav?."  ar^d  beinz  ••  r»K  of 
tfaem  stranrers  in  tho  ro'jr.tr/,  are  rlevJ:j:e  of  the  r.e*:e*i*rle?  of 
life."  This  25  dated  from  ihe  Cltv  Hall.  Oa.  the  lOis  of  Mir::: 
thev  return  thanks  for  r^ilief. 

In  May.  of  this  y^-^r.  it  ir  rr-tlced  that  ••&*  some  wo.ini-er:  were 
digging  down  Uie  bank  of  :!.*  Nonh  Rl*.  e:. ;  :^:  back  of  the  Lzzlsn 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CLXXT 

Church,  in  order  to  build  a  still-house,  a  stone  wall  was  discovered^ 
between  four  and  five  feet  thick,  near  eight  feet  under  ground,  and  it 
is  supposed  to  have  been  a  breast-work  of  a  battery,  though  we  can't 
learn  that  the  oldest  men  living  among  us,  know  any  thing  of  such 
a  battery  being  there."  So  soon  does  the  memory  of  events  pass 
away.  We  have  seen  that  the  Dutcli  erected  a  battery  to  protect 
their  New  Amsterdam  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  (i.  e.  on  the  ground 
behind  the  present  Trinity  Church,  the  river  occupying  Lumber 
street,)  and  in  the  space  between  1615  and  1751  the  remains 
had  been  buried,  and  the  remembrance  of  such  a  place  of  defence 
passed  away ! 

Houses  in  the  city  of  New  York  not  being  numbered,  the  adver- 
tisements describe  them  by  situation,  or  vicinity  to  some  well 
known  person,  or  the  last  occupant. 

There  appears  at  this  time  an  attack  upon  Benjamin  Woolsey, 
(the  son  of  a  clergyman  of  that  name,  who  lived  and  died  at  Oyster 
Bay)  charging  him  with  injustice  to  the  writer,  Joel  Burroughs,  in 
his  conduct  as  tlie  guardian  of  said  Burroughs's  sister.  The  cha- 
racter of  Mr.  Woolsey  was  above  all  impeachment. 

June  2d. — Mourning  is  ordered  for  the  death  of  Frederick, 
Prince  of  Wales,  (son  of  George  II.  and  father  of  George  III.) 
by  authority.     Some  of  the  churches  were  hung  with  black. 

There  was  an  assembly  at  Albany,  in  1751,  of  commissioners 
from  several  provinces  to  meet  the  chiefs  of  the  Iroquois.  Clin- 
ton, governour  of  New  York,  attended.  The  commissioner  of 
South  Carolina  brought  with  him  several  sachems  of  the  Catawbas, 
between  whom  and  the  Iroquois,  deadly  feuds  had  long  existed. 
The  commissioners  prevailed  on  tlie  hostile  tribes  to  conclude  a 

treaty  of  peace. 
1752         St.  George's  Chapel,  in  New  York,  built ;  that  is,  finished, 
it  being  mentioned  in  1750.     It  was  consecrated  on  Wed- 
nesday, July  1st :  Mr  Barclay  the  preacher  on  the  occasion.* 

Localities — The  Long  Bridge  was  in  Broad  street,  a  planked 
walk  leading  from  the  Exchange  toward  Wall  street,  and  covering 
a  sewer,  the  remains  of  the  creek,  which  formerly  extended  to  Gar- 
den street,  at  the  foot  of  Flattenbarick  Hill.  The  Coffee-house 
Bridge,  was  in  Wall  street,  a  similar  planked  walk  covering  a 
sewer,  between  Queen  street  and  Water  street ;  this  was  a  place 
for  publick  vendues  or  auctions  of  negroes,  horses,  or  any  other 
articles  of  sale  :  but  whether  this  bridge  existed  in  1752,  is  doubt- 
ful. Cart  and  Horse  street  is  described,  as  "  leading  to  Rutgers's 
brewhouse,''  that  is,  from  Maiden  Lane  to  the  present  John  street. 


•  This  was  Henry  Barclay,  rector  of  Trinity  Church.    Thii  building  wai  burnt 
on  the  night  of  the  5tb  of  January,  1814,  and  rebuilt,  so  as  to  be  consecrated  in  1815. 


CLXXVI  APPENDIX* 

and  19  now  part  of  Gold  street.  The  brewbouse  was  bunu  on  tbe 
memorable  2Gth  of  November,  1753,  in  the  evening  of  tbe  dij  :2c 
English  troops  embarked  and  left  tbe  citjr  to  Americansw  Roca 
Koiv,  was  a  slip,  or  inlet,  or  creek  ;  for  in  Januar}',  l7o2.  the  nier 
bein^:  full  of  ice,  the  shipping  was  '^  squeezed  into  Rotten  Row  bt 
shelter,"  and  the  publick  is  congratulated,  that  t/tal  plaee  had  hoc 
been  filled  in. 

January  10th. — The  bay  was  so  frozen,  that  a  ^  luttfbiiir'i 
double  sled^'  passed  to  and  fro  on  the  ice  to  Long  Island  and  inck 
again. 

The  word  now  pronounced  and  printed  "  Bos,''  was  at  this  tiae 
printed  truly  '*  Baas/'  It  is  the  Dutch  for  master.  But  an  ap- 
prentice now  disdains  to  call  any  one  master,  and  Is  uncoosclo^ 
that  he  onlv  uses  another  word  for  the  same  thin^. 

Februar>'  3d. — It  is  announced,  that  *'  several  of  the  glass  lam?* 
put  up  about  this  city,  were  taken  down  by  persons  unknovin,  axMi 
left  whole  in  the  meat  market ;  thought  to  be  done  by  some  dahnz 
rakes." 

The  severity  of  the  winter  continued,  and  at  this  date,  vesseli 
were  frozen  up  in  the  cove,  at  rfandy  Hook. 

In  May,  William  Bradford,  printer,  died,  aged  ninety-four.  Was 
he  the  man  who  establi.shed  the  first  printing-press  in  New  York  io 
1693  c  He  came  to  Philadelphia,  or  rather  to  the  place  where 
Philadelphia  was  laid  out,  about  the  year  1GS2,  from  Enziand, 
where  he  was  born.  He  was  printer  to  the  jovernment  of  New 
York  more  than  fifty  years.  lie  was  conspicuous  for  temperance. 
James  Parker,  who  as  printer  of  the  Gazette  and  Postboy,  gives 
this  account  of  Bradford,  savs,  he  sened  ei^ht  vears  with  Lim  as 
an  apprentice.     His  funeral  took  place  May  2-jth,  17-32. 

July  6th. — A  house  was  hroken  open  near  the  Merchants'  Cof- 
fee-house, and  the  bur^rlar,  K.  Lee,  apprehended  ;  but  on  the  19th 
showed  that  he  could  break  jail  as  well  as  hoiise.  He  escaped  by 
sawinz  off  his  irons,  and  making  bis  wav  to  a  dungeon  below  the 
place  of  his  confinement,  and  from  thence  he  found  little  dificulcy 
in  getting  clear  of  the  City  Hall  and  prison,  which  was  one  build- 
in?,  and  in  Wall  street. 

The  street  now  called  Cortlandt  street,  (and  Ion?  so  called)  ap- 
pears to  have  had  no  name  in  1162,  as  it  is  described  thus :  **'  the 
street  leadini^  from  the  Osweeo market  to  the  river  side.*'    In  1729, 

the  Oswego  market  did  not  exLst. 
17ci3  Doctor  Johnson,  Kpiscopal  minister  at  Straubrd.  in 
Connecticut,  was  invited  to  take  the  president's  chair  of 
the  new  College  instituted  at  Tsew  York,  and  Mr.  Whittlesey,  a 
Presbyterian  minister,  of  New  Haven,  as  second  master  in  the 
new  institution.  The  great  seal  was  put  to  the  chaner  of  the  Col- 
Itge,  by  which  none  but  Episcopalians  were  eligible  as  presidents. 


MI8CBLLANEOUS  MATTER*  CLXXVli 

The  justice  or  propriety  of  tliis  measure  is  questioned  in  the  paper 
of  lliis  time,  called  '*  The  Independent  Ueflector,  or  Weekly  Es- 
says," etc.  printed  in  1763,  "until  tyrannically  suppressed,"  says 
the  title-page.  After  the  province  had  by  lotteries  raised  the  sum 
of  ^3,443  for  the  use  of  a  college,  an  Act  was  passed  the  25th  of 
November,  1751,  to  vest  thit  sum  in  the  eldest  counsellor,  the 
speaker  of  the  general  assembly,  judges  of  the  supreme  court, 
mayor,  etc.  and  virtually  a  college  was  established,  and  placed 
in  the  hands  of  gentlemen  of  the  Church  of  England.  This,  tlie 
Iteflector  combats,  taking  the  ground  that  no  sect  founded  and 
supported  by  priests,  should  have  a  preference  over  Christians 
professing  to  be  guided  by  revelation  alone.  The  author  claims 
the  right  to  expose  the  views  of  men  who  would  exalt  one  sect 
upon  the  ruins  of  all  others. 

It  appears  that  at  this  time,  the  enemies  of  liberty,  (that  is  the 
king's  governour  and  council)  having  engrossed  the  **  New  York 
>rercury,"  another  paper  is  set  up,  entitled  '*  The  Occasional  Re- 
verberator," at  the  new  printing-office,  Beaver  street. 

The  improvements  in  travelling  were  at  this  time  so  great,  that 
a  man  might  (wind  and  weather  and  other  circumstances  favouring) 
arrive  at  Philadelphia  from  New  York,  or  vice-versa,  in  three 
days,  as  the  following  notiGcation  specifies.  '*  A  commodious 
stage-boat  will  attend  at  the  (?ity  Hall  Slip,  near  the  Half-moon 
Battery  to  receive  goods  and  passengers,  on  Saturdays  and  Wednee- 
days  ;  and  on  Mondays  and  Thursdays  will  set  out  for  Perth  Am- 
boy  Ferry ;  there  a  stage-wagon  will  receive  them,  and  set  out  on 
Tuesdays  and  Fridays  in  the  morning,  and  carry  tliem  to  Cran- 
berry ;  and  then  llie  same  day,  with  fresh  horses,  to  Burlington, 
where  a  stage-boat  receives  them,  and  immediately  sets  out  for 
Philadelphia."  That  the  reader  may  judge  of  the  comfort  and 
speed  of  this  travelling,  I  will  state,  that  the  packet-boats  were 
small  sloops,  navigated  by  a  man  and  boy,  or  at  most  by  two  men, 
(a  captain  and  mate;)  and  that,  by  the  "outside  passage,"  that  is, 
through  the  Narrows,  leaving  Sandy  Hook  south,  and  proceeding 
by  the  great  Amboy  Bay,  the  vessel  might  be  driven  (and  I  have 
known  instances)  to  sea  ;  and  when  the  weather  discouraged  the 
crew  or  captain  from  attempting  the  **  outside  passage,"  they  went 
by  the  "  Kills,"  or  Arthur  Kull  sound,  between  Staten  Island  and 
the  main  land ;  which  passage  I  have  known  to  occupy  three  days, 
though  ordinarily  performed  in  one. 

The  improvements  in  travelling  may  as  well  be  summed  up  here, 
as  they  continued  much  the  same  until  after  the  revolution. 

A  second  way  to  Philadelphia  was  by  crossing  die  bay  to  Staten 
Island,  in  a  perriaugur  or  peltyauga,  a  boat  without  keel,  with  two 
masts  and  two  large  sails,  the  lack  of  keel  supplied  by  lee-boarda— - 

w 


OLXXTni  APPENDIX. 

all  these  managed  by  one  man,  who  was  likewise  helmsman,  and 
very  frequently  drunk.  In  a  gale  of  wind  you  confided  to  this 
man  (and  perhaps  an  assistant  boy)  all  your  worldly  hopes — in- 
cluding that  of  reaching  Staten  Island,  which,  if  you  arrived  at, 
you  crossed  to  the  Ferry  at  Arthur  Kull  sound,  and  a  scow  carried 
you  to  the  "  Blazing  Star,"  (the  sign  of  the  Ferry-house  being  a 
comet)  at  Woodbridge ;  from  thence  you  proceeded,  crossing  tbe 
Raritan  in  a  scow  at  Brunswick,  and  the  Delaware  in  another,  at 
Trenton ;  another  river  was  crossed  on  a  floating  bridge  of  planks, 
and  on  the  third  or  fourth  day,  you  might  arrive  at  Penn's  city. 
The  third  and  most  common  route  was  to  cross  the  North  River 
to  Paul  us  Hook  in  a  boat  similar  to  that  above  called  a  perryau- 
gur,  with  the  same  protection  and  guidance,  but  a  shorter  distance 
and  less  time  for  suffering ;  you  then  were  dragged  through  marshes 
to  Hackinsack  river,  and  were  ferried  over  in  a  scow  ;  then  to  Pa- 
saick  river,  and  as  before,  with  no  haste,  ferried  over ;  and  then  as 
above  said,  over  three  more  rivers,  and  in  about  three  davs  voo 
might  be  set  down  at  the  *'  Indian  Queen,"  in  Philadelphia. 

In  June,  this  year,  by  his  advertisement,  we  learn  that  Hugh 
Gaine  had  his  printing-office,  and  issued  the  Weekly  Mercun*, 
opposite  the  Old  Slip  market. 

July  23d. — Gainc's  Mercury  says  :  *'  Last  Monday,  twenty-two 
ladies  of  pleasure,  wlio  were  taken  out  of  several  houses  of  ill  re- 
pute in  this  city,  were  committed  to  the  work-house  ;  and  next  day 
five  of  them  were  condemned  to  receive  fifteen  lashes  each,  at  tbe 
whipping-post,  which  was  performed  accordingly,  before  a  vast 
number  of  spectators,  with  orders  to  depart  the  town." 

October  9ih. — In  common  council,  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  invite  his  majesty's  council,  such  members  of  the  assembly  as 
shall  be  in  town,  the  captain  of  tl)e  man-of-war,  with  such  ^ntle- 
men  as  came  over  with  tlie  governour,  the  treasurer  of  the  colony, 
the  king's  attorney,  Mr.  Uulledire,  Mr.  Gordon,  Mr.  Penn,  and 
Mr.  Oliver  Delancey,  to  dine  with  his  Excellency  Sir  Danvers  Os- 
borne, Bart.,  at  the  house  of  ( Jeorij^e  Burns  ;  and  to  order  a  dinner 
to  bo  prepared,  and  a  bonfire  on  the  commons,  near  the  work- 
house, and  to  procure  three  dozen  of  wine  to  be  sent  to  the  said 
fire  ;  and  that  the  Citv  Hall,  the  Alms-house,  and  the  Ferrv-house 
be  illuminated  ;  that  a  half  barrel  of  cannon-powder  be  provided 
to  discharge   some   cannon  that  lie  on   the  common,   near  the 

bonfire. 
1764         April  Sth. — *'  A  subscription  is  now  on  foot"  to  raise 
money  for  erecting  and  maintaining  a  publick  library-  in  this 
dty.     Seventy  gentlemen  had  subscribed   £o  principal  and  lOs- 
per  annum. 

May  2d. — Trustees  elected  foi  the  City  Librar}'  for  one  year : 
Jimes  De  Lancey,  the  lieutenant-govemour,  James  Aleuoidierv 


MISCKLLANKOVS  MATTBK.  CUUUX 

Jo^j^ii  Murray,  John  Chambor?,  John  \Vati5,  William  WahoOt 
III  I.  Henry  liarclay,  Henjainiii  Nicoll*,  lioWn  U.  LiviiigstoQ,Wil- 
Iia:n  LUiiusion.  Wiliiam  1\  Siniili,  William  Alexander. 

July. — Ai  ;hi5  lir.ie  Whiillcld  preaohe*  in  New  York. 

ik"U>ber  14iii. —  Tiio  tir>i  Un^ks  <eni  for,  lor  liie  New  York  City 
Liliniry.  arriveil  wiuj  Captain  Miller. 

Oi  e rimes  and  puni>li!nent>«  we  notice  that  a  lad  convicted  of 
manslaughter,  is  **  burnt  in  the  hand  accordindv/*  And  a  womaa 
for  stealing  is  whip:  ''ai  t;ic  whippinc-|H>>t  in  this  city.''  She  is 
i'aid  hy  the  reporur.  to  ha\e  attbrded  diversion  to  tlie  Diob  by 
rc-is!.rve  and  o:i;cr\\ise. 

In  iii:?year  liic  govern  me  nt  of  the  province  of  New  York  is  thus 
staud  in  a  puMiok  iiivument.  It  is  *»^<mrt/i«i/f/y  under  die  ^ft>rrni» 
»»/'»;  '•■",•■,(  cT. -;■."».  The  covernour  is  the  representative  of  the 
kin^ :  a  council  and  court  of  indicature  resembling:  in  some  meft- 
sure  ti)e  house  of  lords:  and  a  house  of  representaiives  resembling 
inijH»rfectiy  the  l)ouse  of  commons.  The  o^vernour  is  ap).iointea 
by  liie  kinc ;  has  die  jKwer  o\  calling:,  proroj:uini:.  and  dissolving 
the  assembly,  and  lus  a  ne^nnive  on  all  laws  presented  to  him.  The 
co'.moil  are  appointed  b^  ii)e  kinc*  and  are  assistant  jud£^^$  with  the 
covcrnour.  as  chancellor,  and  in  die  court  of  ap|K\il.  The  general 
assembly,  eltvted  by  t!ie  people,  clux^se  their  own  speaker  and 
otiicers.  pass  bills  to  send  up  to  the  council,  and  claim  a  right  that 
all  inonev  bills  should  originate  with  them.  From  173S  to  the 
present  time,  the  assembly  h.ue  passed  a  bill  yearly,  in  September, 
to  provide  lor  tije  salaries  of  the  covemour,  ludces,  and  other  offi- 
ccrs  for  the  ens  nine  veir.  and  to  discharce  odier  demands. 
17-3-!>  In  diis  year,  the  government  of  New  York  }\assed  a  law 

bv  which  if  one  or  more  slave  or  slaves  above  die  aire  of 
fourteen  shall  in  lime  of  alarm,  or  invasion,  be  tound  a  mile  or  more 
from  his  or  liieir  owner  or  owners,  witliout  a  certificate  fix>m  the 
owner  show  in*:  that  he  or  they  were  authorized  to  be  io  such  place, 
it  should  be  iudjed  fclonv  without  l>encfit  of  clerxrv,  and  making  it 
lawfal  for  any  jx^rson  to  shoot  or  othenvise  destroy  them. 

The  mail  cnrricd  once  a  week  instead  of  once  a  formigfat,  be- 
tw"een  New  York  and  riiitadelphia. 

In  February,  James  liain.  pursuant  to  his  sentence,  stood  in  the 
pillorv-.  near  ilie  City  Hall,  in  dns  city.  (New  York.)  and  was  most 
severely  |vlttd  by  cri^at  numbers  of  die  spectators,  there  being 
some  liiousands  present. 

Mareh  :.Mih. — The  jx^st  o>es  twice  a  week  between  Philadelphia 
and  New  York,  to  sc;  out  at  ten  A.  M.  and  arrive  at  noon,  the  third 
day.  The  order  is  signed  William  Franklin,  by  order  of  the  poiK 
master^gi-'neral,  i.  e.  his  father  Benjamin. 

June  14di. — The  i^ix^rs  are  filled  with  preparations  for  war,  the 
anival  of  trooi^s,  rccruiung,  etc*    ^ear  Kinderhook,  four  whilt 


CLXX3C  APPENDIX* 

men,  two  boys,  and  a  negro,  having  ilieir  fire-arms  near  tliem,  were 
hoeing  corn,  when  six  Indians  and  a  Frenchman  fired  on  them, 
One  while  man  and  a  boy  were  wounded.  The  negro  and  three 
other  men  and  tlic  bov  ran  off;  but  John  Gardner  ran  to  the  load- 
ed  guns,  and  at  two  disciiarges  killed  two  Indians ;  before  he  could 
fire  the  third  gun,  an  Indian  closed  with  him ;  the  Frenchman  ran 
up  at  the  same  time  and  knocked  Gardner  down  ;  and  while  he 
lay  insensible  his  enemies  scalped  him  ;  probably  the  Indian  being 
most  skilful,  performed  the  operation.  As  the  coup  dc  grace  was 
not  given,  Gardner  recovered  from  the  blow,  and  crawled  to  his 
friends,  unconscious  of  having  lost  his  scalp. 

August  25ih. — A  publick  fast,  by  oiderof  Lieutenant-governour 
Delanccy,  on  account  of  the  war. 

September  Sth. — Sir  Charles  Hardy  having  arrived  on  the  2d, 
is  installed  on  the  3d,  as  governour  of  the  province.  The  militia 
are  paraded,  guns  fired,  and  his  commission  read  at  the  City  Hall, 
in  Wall  street.     He  then  returns  to  the  fort. 

Hardy  was  a  sailor,  and  Lieutenant-governour  Delancey  governs 
him,  and  acts  as  chief-justice  at  the  same  time.  Smith  gives  a  dia- 
logue between  him  and  some  lawyers,  in  which  the  governour  says: 
"  I  desired  the  chief-justice  (Delancey)  to  be  here :  I  can't  take 
upon  myself  to  say,  I  understand  the  law.  I  have  been  a  justice 
of  the  peace  in  England  ;  but  I  know  nothing  of  the  laiv.  My 
knowledge,  c^cntlcnicn,  relates  to  the  sea;  that  is  my  sphere.  If 
you  want  to  know  when  the  wind  and  the  tide  suit  for  going  down 
to  Sandy  Hook,  1  can  tell  you  that."  Such  was  the  governour 
sent  by  Enirland  to  rule  the  province  of  New  York  ! 

It  is  said  that  the  first  **  original  article"  that  ever  appeared  in  an 
English  newspaper,  was  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Johnson,  and  came 
out  in  1708,  in  *'  The  i;nivcrsal  Chronicle  and  Weekly  (Jazette," 
published  by  Newbury,  St.  Paul's  Church-yard;  and  that  the  news- 
papers were  a  sinirloloaf,  fjuarto  size,  two  pauses,  each  divided  into 
two  columns.  Iluirh  <iaine\s  paper,  |)ublished  in  New  York, 
17'5o,  was  folio,  and  had  occasional  original  essays.  A  newspaper 
was  published  in  New  York,  called  the  Plebeian,  (whicli  I  have 
not  seen,)  in  17')  I.  (Maine's  Mercury,  175;],  folio.  The  New  York 
Cazclte  and  Postboy  was  in  folio,  and  published  by  James  Par- 
ker, from  174-3  to  J7-3l>;  and  William  Bradford  began  to  publish 
the  first  newspaper  that  was  printed  in  New  York  as  early  as  1725, 
and  that  was  folio  size  ;  therefore  the  above  assertions  respecting 

London  newspapers  is  scarccily  to  be  believed. 
175G  In   tlie   Postboy  of  April    P.nh,  175G,  is  an  account  of 

Owen  Sy  Ilavan,  a  counterfeiter,  many  of  whose  adventures 
are  romaniick.  He  broke  from  guard  on  one  occasion,  seized  a  cut- 
lass, and  made  his  escape,  through  a  crowd,  who  fled  outof  liis  way. 
He  carried  on  his  vocatio?i  in  a  cavern,  the  entrance  to  which 


MISCSLLAXBOrS  MATTER.  CLXXZI 

in  a  5fr«mp«  and  conroaloil  by  i!:o  n^o:*  of  a  iroo.  whii  h  whh  hni>h- 
wocki  artAilIy  plaooil  lor  liu'*  sr.ir.o  iMTpo>i\  lie  couiit  rer.uno. 
He  was  once  disoovon\l  in  a  iu>Io.  r!',ior  tlir  i'.oanh  of  a  ciMiiury 
or  fiuin  hou5e,  iho  onir.u'.co  cov.co;ilci!  i-y  :i  \.cd  on  \\i  ii*ji  a  Ionian 
was  asleep.  Ho  had  a  chimney  in  his  >i.Vior:vini:\n  aboiie  which 
cominunicaied  wiih  iho  one  a!»oM*  hi'n.  Ho  was  couiiin^ncil  in 
April,  and  in  May  n>;^lu\l,  (or  wan:  of  a  hanjn^an. 

Sy|la\-an,  •*  boforo  iu*  w r.s  ''.;''"  ^-^^'-d  ih.it  ho  somo  time 
back  stnick  off  a1'J.0O'»  of  lii:ovlo  Ish^.nii  ir.oncy.  and  pa<:>ed 
above  ;£  1,600  in  ono  *?.iy.  Ho  j^nniod  h'.rjc  >inn?  of  Now  York 
monev,  si;rneil  Oliver  Ho  I,;;\cv.  ^^\\^  Livirjsion,  ar.J  Isaac  I^o 
Pevster.  He  would  not  I  eir.v  l^is  c.^!i:\\;erau  s,  took  "a  larjro  cud 
of  lobacco,  and  lurnir^"  :o  :l.e  pi  o;^\\  sniJ,  •  1  c;\:r.u>;  iulp  sniiiinir, 
as  'lis  ihe  nnturo  of  tl.t*  lf:\s;.'  "  Ho  was  ;:>koii  whr.l  lionomina- 
rion  ihe  bills  ircre.  wi:ich  I'.o  rrn^toil.  of  i!:o  Now  York  cumMicv  : 
**  lou  must  find  that  or.i  1  \  }Oj:r  lcar:\;*j/*  was  liis  answer. 

In  this  year,  the  pt^pr,!a::on  of  ti.o  oii\  of  New  York  was  lO.SSl, 
and  of  the  province.  5M,olh. 

At  the  5T?*jf  r.;«--  .  :;■  i'':.:v^\  tnow  lionio,^  on  iho  roi.io  to 
i^wejo  from  Alhanv.  i::e  K:rneh  and  Inr.ians  s!orined  a  fooble 
carrison  and  cut  them  to  pir  'e<.  The  com  man  dor's  head  was 
found  placed  upon  a  po-t.  an  J.  ::;s  lie  an  thrust  in  the  r.uuah.  This 
is  a  specimen  of  bor^ior  w.ir:/.ro. 

Kobert  Hunter  Morris,  llovornour  of  Ponnsvlvania,  oiFors  to 
pay  for  ever}"  Indian  r.:alo  enemy,  above  iwclvo  years  oi  asre^ 
$1-50  :  tor  the  scalp  of  sr.eh.,  Sl^JO.  For  ovor}"  tomalo  Indian  pri- 
soner, or  boy  under  twelve.  ^l;lO.  For  the  scalp  of  an  Indian 
woman,  $-50. 

June  54th. — John  Conollv  wt.s  nr pre ii ended  bv  a  warrant  from 
Judce Neville,  of  IVrtli  Anibov,  lor  :i;e  mnrdor  of  an  Indian  woman 
called  Kate,  the  wito  of  an  Italian  nair.e^i  Cuor^ro.  bolon^it^::  to  the 
friendiv  Indians,  and  rosiilinj  for  iv.anv  vears  in  Somerset :  ho  had 
nfi^Mered  himself  and  ta:nily.  aceorvriiu  to  liio  jovernour's  procla- 
mation. It  apjH*arod  l»y  so \  oral  depositions  and  by  the  contossion 
of  ihe  prisoner,  that  i:o  a-.ul  throe  o:hers  had  eonibined  to  murder 
George  and  his  la  mi!  v.  an.l  oarrv  their  *ealps  to  ritiladoh.Wiia,  to 
be  delivered  on  oath  as  the  scalps  of  Indian  oien^.ies  killed  in 
Pennsvlvania,  and  ih;;s  obtain  the  reward  oiTorod  bv  t'nat  covom- 
menl  for  Indian  sealps.  For  this  purpose  the  four  herot^s,  armed 
with  runs,  cutlasses,  and.  an  a\o.  n^j^airod  to  lieori??**  domicil, 
near  Pepeck,  in  the  ni^ht,  where  the  family  wore  asleep  under  ihe 
supposed  protection  of  eivili^anon,  law,  and  christiap.ity — broke 
open  the  door,  and  cabled  i;po:i  ;he  man  to  come  out.  As  he  did 
Bol  immediatelv  obov,  Chosn.n-  tired  his  musket  into  the  build inc, 
m  hot  of  one  apartment,  or  wigwam.  Cieor^ro,  unarmed  and  tri£:ht- 
*  bj  iIm  ruffians,  ded  by  an  aperture  in  the  back  of  bis 


CLXXXII  APPENDIX. 

dwellinir*  escaping  two  balls  fired  after  him ;  but,  by  accident 
the  Indian  fell,  which  Conolly  perceiving  by  the  light  of  the 
moon,  hastened  with  his  axe  to  dispatch  him.  George,  however, 
recovered,  and  escaped  by  superiour  swiftness.  Itcturning  to  the 
house,  Conolly  s:iw  the  woman  endeavouring  to  wrench  a  musket 
from  the  hands  of  one^f  the  assassins,  who  had  presented  it  for 
the  purpose  of  shooting  her  while  im|)loring  mercy,  and  with  his 
axe  despatched  her  by  a  blow  on  the  iicad.  After  discharging  the 
contents  of  the  musket  in  the  bosom  of  the  dying  mother,  the 
wretches  proceeded  to  the  murdei  of  the  afiiighted  children,  but 
only  succeeded  in  manfrling  with  wounds  a  girl  of  eleven  years  old, 
and  inflicting  some  gashes  on  two  infants ;  when,  fearing  that  the 
neighbourhood  would  he  roused  by  the  man  who  escaped,  the  con* 
Bcience-stricken  nuirdcrers  fled,  without  scalping  the  victims — all 
of  whom  they  supposed  dead.  The  neighbours  found  this  family 
weltering  in  blood,  when  broun^ht  to  the  scene  by  the  miserable 
husband  and  father  !  The  children  recovered  by  surgical  aid,  but 
the  mother  was  found  lifeless.  We  here  see  a  part  of  the  fruit  of 
the  Pennsylvania  proclamation,  oflering  a  reward  for  scalps. 

August  lOth — Many  accounts  arrive  of  murders  committed  by 
the  Indians,  who  generally  committed  their  depredations  in  safety. 
At  Elizabethtown,  on  the  19(h  of  August,  three  men  made  their 
appearance,  almost  starved,  and  nearly  naked,  having  been  thirty- 
two  days  in  the  woods,  after  niakini;  their  escape  from  the  Indians 
of  Venango,  to  which  [)la('e  they  had  ht'cn  taken  prisoners  in  May, 
and  ke[)t  as  servants  to  the  captors  uutd  they  nuide  their  escape. 
A  farn.or  of  the  name  of  ^^wartwoiit,  was  killed  and  scalped  about 
the  same  time  ;  of  his  children  they  murdered  the  three  youngest, 
and  carried  ofl*  a  boy  of  nine  years  of  age  and  a  girl  of  twelve.  Of 
such  instances,  where  families  who  tlioui^ht  themselves  in  securitv, 
were  in  a  night  swept  away,  the  stories  are  innumerable. 

20th. — Died,  at  Oyster  l>ay,  the  Ifev.  Mr.  Denjamin  Woolsey, 
of  that  place.  He  was  ''a  burnin;x  liichl,"  and  oflicialed  "gra- 
tuitously." lie  died  of  a  i\e])hrilick  disease,  which  he  suffered 
from  for  some  years. 

2-3d. — The  goveriiour  laid  the  first  stone  of  King's  College. 

2-3th. — Albany — **  Yesterday  our  young  men  who  went  out 
with  some  Mohawk  Indians,  arrived  here  ;  they  took  two  scalps 
within  forty  yards  of  the  French  camp,  the  one  a  French  officer 
and  the  other  a  soldier." 

September  4th. — The  account  '^Wcn  by  John  Cox,  a  lad  of  six- 
teen, who  was  a  prisoner  amonuj  the  Indians,  is  descriptive  of  their 
manners  and  warfare.  When  he  arrived,  with  the  party  who  took 
him,  at  an  Indian  villai;o,  he  saw  about  one  hundred  warriours, 
with  their  wives  and  children,  and  fifty  English  prisoners — men 
women,  and  children.     iSoon  after,  two  war  parties  came  in— one 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CLXXXIIX 

with  nine  scalps  and  ten  prisoners,  and  the  other  with  five  prisoners 
and  some  scalps.  Shortly  after,  he  saw  eighteen  warriours  arrive, 
with  seventeen  scalps  affixed  to  a  pole,  with  which  they  proceeded 
to  Fort  Du  Quesne  to  receive  the  reward.  On  one  occasion,  all 
the  prisoners  were  assembled  to  witness  the  tortures  inflicted  upoD 
one  of  their  countrymen,  who  was  doomed  as  a  sacrifice  for  some 
reason  to  Cox  unknown.  During  this  lad's  captivity,  parties  from 
twelve  to  twenty  were  constantly  going  and  returning  with  scalps 
and  prisoners  :  the  latter  they  expected  to  receive  ransoms  for,  and 
the  former  were  paid  for  by  the  French.  At  length  they  felt  the 
pressure  of  a  want  of  food,  and  retired  from  the  frontiers  to  their 
corn-fields.  The  lad,  half  starved,  contrived  his  escape,  and  ar- 
rived at  Philadelphia. 

20th. — "  Thursday,  between  the  hours  of  nine  and  eleven,  Mrs. 
Johanna  Christiana  Young  and  another  lady,  her  associate,  from 
Philadelphia,  being  found  guilty  of  grand  larceny  last  week  at  the 
mayor's  court,  are  to  be  set  on  two  chairs  exalted  on  a  cart,  with 
their  heads  and  faces  uncovered,  and  to  be  carted  from  the  City 
Hall,  (then  the  jail,)  to  that  part  of  the  Broadway  near  the  old 
English  Church,  from  thence  down  Maiden  Lane,  then  down  the 
Fly  to  the  White  Hall,  thence  to  the  church  aforesaid,  and  then  to 
the  whipping-post,  where  each  of  them  are  to  receive  thirty-nine 
lashes,  to  remain  in  jail  for  one  week,  and  then  to  depart  the  city," 

NovemberlOth. — Ordered,  in  common  council,  that  the  maypr 
issue  his  warrant  **  for  the  sum  of  three  pounds,  in  order  to  cloath 
John  Dugan,  the  present  publick  whipper,  now  in  the  poor-house, 
and  his  salary  to  commence  from  this  day,"  viz.  ^12. 

In  this  year  the  New  York  privateers  amounted  to  twenty ; 
the  men,  1,980  ;  guns,  246.  At  Philadelphia,  but  one.  Bos- 
ton, one. 

December  20th. — Lott  and  Low  give  notice  that  after  the  first 
of  next  January,  all  persons  who  wish  to  have  vellum,  parchment, 
or  paper,  legally  stamped,  must  apply  to  them,  at  their  stamp- 
office.  This  stamp  duty  was  laid  by  the  governour,  council,  and 
assembly,  for  one  year. 

Abraham  Linsen  gives  notice  to  all  retailers  of  tea  under  the 
quantity  of  lOOlbs.  weight,  that  they  must  apply  to  him  for  license, 
and  pay  6d.  for  every  pound  retailed,  within  one  year  after  the  first 

of  January  next.  This  tax  was  for  one  year. 
1757  January  10th. — The  governour  of  Massachusetts  calls 
upon  the  house  of  representatives,  to  take  some  steps  to- 
ward settling  the  controversy  with  New  York  concerning  the  boun- 
dary line.  He  tells  them  that  Hardy  had  written  to  him  on  the  subject, 
and  tells  him  that  a  man  had  been  killed,  in  an  affray,  on  the  bor- 
ders by  an  Indian  belonging  to  Sheffield.     "  This  is  the  second 


CUUXIV  APPENDIX. 

person  who  has  lost  his  life  by  means  of  this  UDfortUDate  dispute." 
iSij:ned  .S.  IMiijis. 

31st. — Captain  Ko::tTs  with  a  scoutin-r  party  of  thirty  men,  wiy- 
lald  a  convoy  fur  Crown  1  *oint  of  sixty  slfij:lis,  -39  of  which  he  destroy- 
ed, one  escaj)ed  and  ularmtd  the  irarrison  :  inconsequence  of  which 
the  Frcncii  j»ur.sued  Ko^-ers,  killed  twenty  of  bis  meD,  and  wouDd- 
ed  hiin  in  tlic  wrist.  He  brou:xht  in  *  lirhttin  $ca!p$.  The  scalping 
is  practised  so  universally,  that  it  appears  in  every  newspaper 
column  of  this  time.  Sometimes  the  incidents  are  a  little  varied ;  iat 
example — a  man  iroes  out  on  a  scoutin:r  party  in  PennsylvaDia, 
but  findini;  that  the  party  are  to  lie  out  all  night  in  the  snow,  he 
unluckily  leaves  them  to  <^o  home  to  his  bed  ;  but  one  of  his  in- 
tended victims  is  in  his  way,  shoots  him,  and  takes  his  scalp.  Two 
men  in  a  house  near  by,  at  the  report  of  the  gun,  '^  ran  out  and 
found  the  Indian  huthllniir  his  sail ^/tn'r  kn'tjV^ — being  unarmed  tbcy 
ran  in  arain  and  left  the  operator  uutlisturbed.  Another  account 
of  Rogers'  capture  of  sleighs,  says  that  he  took  only  six  out  of 
seven,  and  brout:ht  in  no  scalps. 

April. — The  New  York  post-master  orders  that  posts  should  go 
twice  a  week  hrlween  New  York  and  Philadelphia. 

May  i-Jth. — Sir  C'.  Hardy  by  proclamation  assures  all  boatmen 
and  marketmen  who  come  to,  or  zo  from,  the  city,  that  they  shall  not 
be  imjjressed  while  briniring  ^^  provisions  and  other  necessaries  to 
the  kings  ships,  or  any  of  the  transports  in  his  majest\'^s  service." 

June  i?d. — Archibald  Kennedy,  in  behalf  of  his  fellows  of  the 
kinirs  council,  sims  a  most  dutiful  and  humble  address  to  Gover- 
nour  Hardy,  previous  to  his  departure,  and  begs  him  when  he 
shall  come  into  the  royal  presence,  to  represent  them  in  a  favoura- 
ble light.  Dated  from  the  council  chamber.  Fort  George,  and  the 
governour's  reply  has  the  same  date. 

2 1st — l*ersonsclaiminir  ariirht  under  Massachusetts,  to  part  of  the 
Livini^ston  Manor,  assembled  within  eii^hieen  miles  of  Hudson's 
River,  at  u  place  called  Tackhanick  ;  and  being  commanded  by 
the  sherilTs  dejnity,  with  an  armed  force,  in  presence  of  a  justice 
of  peace  to  disperse,  instead  of  so  doini;  shut  themselves  in  a 
house  and  fired  upon  the  posse — shots  were  exchanfi:edy  several 
were  wounded  on  both  sides  and  one  killed  :  another  died  of  his 
wounds. 

The  City  of  New  York  was  at  this  time  divided  into  wards,  and 
was  under  the  irovermnent  of  a  mayor,  recorder,  seven  aldermen, 
and  seven  assistant.  The  mayor,  sherilFand  coroner  were  amnu- 
ally  appointeil  by  the  governour.  The  recorder  had  a  patent 
during  pleasure.  The  annual  revenue  of  the  corporation  was 
about  this  time  nearly  t*:>000  or  .3000  (lollars.  The  militia  of  this 
island  amounted  to  :2oOO.  The  number  of  inhabitants  was  15,000, 
at  the  utmost ;  of  whom,  3,000  were  negroes  and  slaves. 


MISCBLUANBOVS  ItATTBm.  dJBXT 

The  north-eastern  part  of  the  island  was  at  this  time  inhabited 
according  to  Smith,  ^^  by  Dutch  &nners,  who  hare  a  small  village 
there  called  Iktrifm. 

November  21st. — On  account  of  "  worthv  Colonel  Peter  Schor- 
ler  s**  happv  return  to  New  York,  several  houses  were  illuminated 
and  an  eie^nt  entertainment  s:iven  at  the  King*s  Anns  ;  and  on  the 
27  th  the  honourable  Colonel  Peter  Schuyler  arrived  at  his  house 
at  Peterborough,  New  Jersey,  and  was  saluted  with  thirteen  can* 
non — in  the  evening  a  bonfire,  and  continued  discharges  of  cannon* 

December  6ih. — The  £:eneral  assemblv  meets  at  the  Out  ward 
of  New  York.  Lieutenant-govemour  De  Lancey  tells  them  of 
the  murders  committed  bv  Indians  in  Ulster  and  Orange — that  he 
had  ordered  a  line  of  block  houses  to  protect  the  inhabitants  of 
that  frontier — barracks  building  in  New  York — immoderate  use  of 
spirituous  liquors  among  the  king's  troops,  and  laws  required  to 
restrain  the  retailer — he  recommends  a  poll  tax  upon  slaves,  and  a 
tonnage  upon  vessels  not  built  in  this  province  or  Great  Britain  ; 
that  iss  on  vessels  of  the  other  provinces  ;  the  first  will  encourage 
the   coming  of   white  servants,   and   the  second  that  of   ship 

builders. 
1T-5S  At  Perth  Amboy.  Samuel  Neville  edited  a  literary  peri- 
odical publication  called  ^^  The  New  American  Magazine.** 
He  chose  to  appear  under  the  signature  of  Sylatmms  Americamus. 
He  was  an  English  gendemen  of  liberal  education,  a  judge  of  the 
supreme  court  of  New  Jersey,  and  had  been  editor  of  the  London 
Evening  Post.  He  resided  at  this  time  on  his  fiirm  within  the 
boundaries  of  the  City  of  Perth  Amboy,  at  the  tennination  of 
Market  street,  as  laid  out  and  opened,  (since  known  as  Coddrin^ 
ton's  Itarm.)  This  siagaiine  was  published  and  prinled  at  Wood* 
bridge,  by  James  Parker,  and  issued  monthly :  price  one  shiUi^ 
per  copy  :  each  number  containing  forty  pages  octavo.  It  wis 
continued  twentv-seven  months.  The  sale  did  not  defray  the 
expenses  of  printing. 

November  14th.— The  common  coimcU  prohibit  the  sale  of  baas 
(or  Twaalft)  during  the  winter  months  in  the  City  of  New  York. 

Arrivab  in  a  week ;  4  schooners,  2  snows,  4  sloopB^  1  brig,  9 

ships* 

17th.— Colonel  Peter  Schuyler,  Dr.  Stakes,  Captain  Martin, 
and  Captain  Putnam  arrived  at  Alhaqr,  being  released  from  their 
captivity  in  Canada.     Putnam  and  others  owed  much  to  Schoykr. 

De^mber  4th. — ^An  mn-keeper  at  New  Utrelcht  b  fined  £6  for 
buying  his  shirt  firom  a  soldier. 

llih. — During  Colonel  Peter  Schuyler's  captinqr  in  Canada, 
hb  beneficence  to  hb  unfortunate  coimtrymen  was  wUbtMit  bounds, 
kb  table  being  ever  free  to  the  dbtiesssd,  and  he  espMded  np- 
vaitb  of  S0,000  livies  in  redeeming 


1759  Hmy  14th. — ^Tbe  New  York  regiment  coopfeited  to 
2500  men  embarked  for  Albany. 

About  this  time  I  obserre  for  the  first  time  that  the  CoDese  of 
New  York  is  caUed  "  King's  CoUege." 

The  advertisements  of  runaway  negroes,  and  indented  acfraBBiy 
are  exceeded  by  those  of  deserted  soldiers. 

New  Jersey  raised  1000  men.  Massachnsette  5000.  Covxe- 
ticot  3600.  New  York  2680.  Pennsylrania  2700.  Viigiici 
1000.  Total  15,9S0.  Connecticut  nused  more  troops  tfan 
New  York. 

Ames's  Almanack  for  1759  maule  an  attempt  to  describe  the 
future  history  of  our  then  colonies,  in  language  which,  tboogh  tbea 
prophetick,  is  now  but  iaintly  histmcal : — 

Eapires  eoBeeir^d.  a  wkilc  m  embfjo  hj : 
Then  tpront  and  groir  and  branfhmg  fpread  awaj. 
Hie  book  of  fate  containf  aO  eardihr  tfcoiga. 
Tlie  Hate  of  JdngdoaM  and  tbe  face  of  h'n%M 
TV  adrefltnrooa  Baae  tfaeae  brazcB  learei  ■nfohfa, 
And  fetare  days  aa  prcKnt  now  beholds. 
When  Pbwwovr'ahais  is  wild  dhordcr  ■loiid. 
With  loftj  vpim.  temples  are  railed  to  God ; 
Ob  BMadcnr  bank,  where  sarafe  pagaas  net, 
Maiertic  haDfl  of  pobiie  joitiee  aet. 


With  eqoaJ  pomp  to  George's  rojal  Ime. 
!■  time  thj  towers  diaD  rie  with  Curoj 
And  crowned  heads  would  gladlf  here 

November  10th: — The  king's  birth-day  kept  with  fire  works 
and  other  rejoicings,  and  the  militia  company  of  grenadiers  mn^ 
tered  at  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Marshall^  at  the  North  Kirer. 
where  they  roasted  an  ox  at  their  own  expense,  and  eat  and  drank 
loyally.  This  company  under  Captain  Vandyke  were  amoor  tbe 
fugitives,  if  not  among  the  fighters,  at  the  battle  of  Brooklyn,  in 
1776. 

The  manner  in  which  tbe  war  was  carried  on  by  the  parties  of 
French  and  their  Indians,  on  the  English  and  their  Indians,  is  hor- 
rible to  recollect,  disgusting  to  bring  to  the  imaeinatioo.  We  have 
aeen  how  a  par^  of  Indians  led  by  the  French  attacked  the  sleep- 
ing inhabitanu  of  Schenectady  in  1690.  In  this  year  Major 
Bogers  an  English  officer,  led  a  party  from  Crown  Point  against 
the  Indian  town  of  St.  Francis.  Ue  had  142  men,  officers  in- 
doded ;  and  after  twenty-two  days  mareh  through  the  wildonen, 
oo  climbing  a  tree  to  reconnoitre,  the  Major  discoTered  that  he  was 
about  three  miles  from  the  Indian  town.  In  the  woods  he  faahed, 
and  taking  two  officers  with  him  on  whose  skill  in  ambuscade  be 
cooU  depend,  be  crept  stealdiily  forward  to  the  town  and  aatkfied 
InaBself  that  the  inhabitanu  were  not  aware  of  any  approaching 
enemy,  but  m  perfoet  security  enjoyini 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CLXXXTU 

He  neiurned  to  his  soldiers,  made  his  disposittoo  for  (ailing  upon 
ihe  iinsuspecnnjT  natives^  and  marched  in  silence  his  columns  upon 
the  dil!ierent  avenues  to  the  village.  Two  hours  before  sunrise 
these  Christian  soldiers  ru:^hed  upon  the  unconscious  inhabitants, 
irho  were  **  all,"  he  says,  *•  fast  asleep.^'  They  were  murdered 
unresisting  and  unarmed — all,  he  says,  except  a  few  who  fled  to 
the  water  for  escape  ;  but  about  forty  of  the  English  followed  and 
**  sunk  both  them  and  their  boau'^  He  then  set  fire  to  the  houses, 
and  in  the  flames  many  poor  creatures  perished  who  bad  concealed 
themselves  in  **  cellars  and  lofts.^^  The  Major  adds,  that  **  having 
killed  upwards  of  2l>0  Indians,  and  taken  20  of  their  women  and 
children/*  he  turned  otT  15  of  them,  of  course  to  perish  in  the 
wotkIs,  as  all  their  shelter  and  food  had  been  destroyed  or  appro- 
priated— to  avoid  a  party  of  French  and  Indians  wluch  he  heard 
were  on  the  alert ;  he  then  dispersed  his  men,  appointing  a  place 

of  rendezvous,  and  finallv  returned  in  safety. 
1760  February  12ih. — As  a  party  of  Major  Rogers^s  men 
(about  twenty-four)  were  escorting  a  sum  of  money  firom 
Ticonderoca  to  Crown  Point,  thev  were  attacked  bv  the  French 
Indians  to  the  amount  of  |>orhaps  a  hundred,  who  killed  fourteen 
of  the  English,  wounded  others,  (who  fled  back  to  the  fort)  and 
carried  otT  the  money,  intended  to  pay  the  garrison  of  Crown 
Point. 

A  ugiist  oth. — The  ship  Minohead,  Captain  Fcnrest,  arrived  at 
Sandy  Hook  from  Lisbon.  A  ship  of  war  **  lying  in  die  road 
sent  a  boat  to  demand  her  men  :  but  on  refusal  of  the  ship^s  com* 
pany,  who  had  seized  all  the  small  anns  and  confined  the  captain 
and  oflicers,**  a  signal  was  made  bv  the  men-of-war^s  men  for  as* 
ststance,  and  three  boats  came,  manned  and  armed  under  the 
Minoheads  stem,  ^*  sometimes  discharging  small  arms  and  de- 
inanding  admitunce.'^  The  crew  refused,  and  notwithstanding 
that  the  ca}>tain  informed  the  na\'al  officers  (from  his  cabin  window) 
that  he  was  in  confinement,  and  his  ofiicers,  and  the  ship  com* 
roanded  by  the  sailors,  tlie  ship  of  war  repeatedly  fired  upon  the 
merehantman  grape-shot,  langrage  and  twelve  pound  balls,  which 
damaged  her  spars  and  sails,  killed  one  man,  and  wounded  anotimw 

September  Sth. — The  inhabitants  of  Montgomeiy  ward  proleat 
against  the  corporation's  taxing  them  for  opening  a  canal  in  Fenj 
ao^et.  They  say,  as  Englishmen,  they  are  not  to  be  taxed  but 
with  their  consent  given  by  their  representatives  in  the  legislatnre, 
and  that  the  corporation  has  no  riglit  to  tax  the  city  or  any  part 
of  it.  without  an  act  of  assembly. 

We  have  seen  in  this  work  specimens  of  the  fruit  produced,  by 
the  offer  of  a  reward  for  every  Indian  scalp,  whether  belonging  to 
man,  woman,  or  child,  that  should  be  brought  to  the  niieia  of 
Peon's  peaceful  province-     In  this  year.  North  Carolina  to  punish 


OLXXXVin  APPENDIX. 

the  Cherokees  for  returning  evil  for  evil,  enacted  a  law,  by  which 
all  Indian  prisoners  should  become  slaves  to  their  captors,  and 
every  inhabitant  should  receive  a  reward  for  producing  an  Indian 
scalp.  But  judging  from  the  Indian  war  in  this  region  at  this  time, 
such  a  law  did  not  tend  to  conciliate  the  ancient  proprietors  of  the 

soil. 

October  10th. — The  common  council  ordered  an  address  to  his 
excellency,  General  Amherst,  for  his  success  in  the  reduction  of 
Canada,  and  the  freedom  of  the  city  in  a  gold  box. 

November  24th. — The  address  to  Amherst  is  read.  It  attributes 
to  him  the  annexing  Canada  to  his  majesty's  dominions ;  and  mil- 
lions yet  unborn,  ''  while  they  reap  the  happy  fruits  of  your  mai^ 
tial  virtues,  will  not  cease  to  bless  the  name  of  Amherst."  They 
detail  the  designs  of  France,  and  the  ill  success  of  the  previous 
efforts  against  Canada,  and  speak  of  the  advantages  wrested  from 
the  French  by  Amherst's  '^  unexampled  conduct,  seconded  by  the 
matchless  heroism  of  the  much  lamented  Wolfe,"  and  in  the  Draft 
of  a  Freedom,  the  common  council  attribute  the  reduction  of  Ca- 
nada *'  to  the  singular  wisdom  and  valour  of  Amherst." 
1761  January  1 1th. — On  Sunday,  the  principal  inhabitants  of 
this  city  entered  into  mpurning  for  the  death  of  the  king, 
(George  II.)  The  churches  were  hung  with  mourning,  and  ser- 
mons preached,  suitable  to  the  occasion.  An  anthem  was  performed 
at  Trinity  Church. 

15th. — The  Narrows  were  frozen  over. 

17th. — George  III.  was  proclaimed  in  New  York.  The  city 
regiment  of  militia,  and  independent  companies,  were  under  arms, 
and  marched  from  the  fort  gate  to  the  City  Hall.  The  indepen- 
dent company  of  Grenadiers  paraded  in  the  fort.  The  king's 
council,  the  mayor,  common  council,  and  clergy,  with  General 
Amherst  and  officers,  attended  at  the  fort  when  the  proclamation 
was  read,  and  the  ceremony  ended  by  three  huzzas,  and  twenty- 
one  guns  from  the  fort.  The  lieutenant-governour  orders  the 
necessary  change  in  the  prayers,  in  all  the  churches  in  the  province. 

May  28th. — Philadelphia — On  Saturday  last  commencement. 
"An  Ode,  sacred  to  the  memory  of  our  late  gracious  sovereign, 
George  II.,  written  and  set  to  musick,  in  a  very  grand  and  masterly 
taste,  by  Francis  Hopkinson,  Esq.,  A.  M.  of  the  College  of  this 
city."*  When  he  was  a  man,  he  wrote  "  The  Battle  of  the 
Kegs." 

September  ISth. — Several  of  the  ex-mayors  claim  to  retain  in 
their  hands  half  the  amount  received  by  them  during  their  mayor- 


•  See  Parker's  Postboy,  of  this  date. 


MISCISLLANEOUS  MATTER.  CLXXXIX 

ilties  for  *'  stalls  and  standinjs^;^'  and  a  committee  advise  to  agren, 
reserving  the  right  to  all  the  monies  proceeding  from  stalls  and 
(landings  in  future,  or  that  jt'lOO  per  annum  be  appropriated  to  the 
major  for  the  time  being,  and  tlie  remainder  to  be  for  the  common 
council. 

October  30th. — An  address  ordered  to  **  his  Excellency  Robert 
Monckton,  captain-ijeneral  and  governour-in-chief  of  the  province 
of  New  York."     Tlie  freedom  of  the  city  with  its  arms  on  the  lid 
of  the  gold  box  containing  it,  is  presented. 

1762  March  7th. — Colonel  l^eter  Schuyler  died,  at  his  seat 
at  Newark,  in  East  Jersey. 

ISth. — Severe  winter  continuing  to  this  date. 

Counterfeiters  abound,  both  of  paper  and  hard  money.  At 
Poughkeepsie,  a  silversmith  (Hamilton)  committed  on  suspicion  of 
making  false  money,  hung  himself. 

A  negro-plot  was  this  year  discovered  at  Schenectady.  Three 
conspirators  in  jail — ten  not  yet  taken.  Another  negro  lately  mur- 
dered his  mistress  and  fled. 

1763  April  ISth. — Dr.Cooperwas  elected  president  of  King's 
College;  Dr.  Johnson  having  resigned. 

May  16th. — King's  College  receives  a  donation  of  1,200  vol- 
umes— left  to  it  by  Dr.  Bristow,  of  England.  At  commencement, 
May  23d,  Messrs.  Depeysler,  Cuyler,  Verplanck,  Livingston, 
Watts,  Bayard,  Wilkins,  Hoffman,  and  Marston,  took  degrees. 
All  these  names  continue  amoncr  the  foremost  in  New  York,  to 
this  day.     Is  not  this  a  proof  of  the  force  of  education  f 

Weyman  publishes  his  Gazette  in  Broad  street,  opposite  Syna- 
gogue alley.  There  being  no  numbers  to  the  houses,  directions 
are  given  in  the  advertisements  by  opposite  to  Mr.  so-and-so,  and 
next  door  to  such  or  such  a  sign. 

Under  date  of  June  6th,  a  record  of  retribution  is  given.  A 
slaver,  or  Guineaman,  from  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  (the  great 
slave-market  for  the  southern  planters,)  was  wrested  from  the  cap- 
tain and  crew  by  the  slaves  they  were  preparing  to  bring  from  their 
friends  and  home,  and  the  officers  and  some  of  the  sailors  were 
put  to  death.  Other  Europeans  or  Americans  endeavoured  to 
regain  the  vessel.  The  Africans  defended  themselves,  but  unused 
to  gunpowder  and  firearms,  blew  up  the  vessel,  and  most  of  them 
perished.  These  scenes  of  murder  were,  and  probably  are,  fre- 
quent. 

November  10th. — There  is  in  Holt's  Gazette  a  long  account  of 
disorderly  people  doing  mischief  and  pilfering  on  Sundays,  in  the 
Bowery,  particularly  that  a  great  number  surrounded  the  orchard 
of  Mr.  Nicholas  Bayard,  where  a  large  quantity  of  apples  'May  on 
heaps  for  making  cider,"  and  Mr.  Bayard  being  firom  home,  the 
overseer  was  abused,  who  then  ordered  a  gun  to  be  brought,  which 


CXC  APPENDIX. 

kept  thera  off  till  dark  ;  when  the  orchard  was  attacked,  and  be 
fired  at  the  legs  of  one,  and  wounded  him.  The  family  sent  ano- 
ther gun,  and  a  reinforcement  of  another  white  man.  The  loafen 
came  on  again,  supposing  the  garrison  out  of  ammonition,  but 
received  another  shot  in  the  leirs  of  one  of  the  party,  who  tbeo 
retreated.  Mr.  Bayard,  on  returning,  kept  watch  with  his  neifb- 
hours  all  night.  All  this  occurred  near  the  present  Grand  street 
and  Bowery. 

17th. — The  asserahly  vote  to  raise  200  men  for  the  defence  of 
Ulster  and  Orange  counties  against  the  Indians. 

I  find  at  this  time  2,000  firkins  of  butter  advertised  as  arrived 
in  one  ship  from  Belfast,  and  a  large  quantity  in  another  (torn 
Cork. 

In  November,  a  negro  who  was  executed  at  Fresh  Water,  (prih 
bably  where  Centre  street  now  strikes  Pearl  street)  was  cut  dona 
from  the  gallows  by  the  mob,  and  dragged  through  the  streets  ontil 
one  gentleman  ''  put  a  stop  to  their  inhumanity  by  seizing  tbe 
corpse  and  ordering  it  to  be  interred."  It  is  thus  that  brutal  vio- 
lence will  oft-times  yield  to  and  bow  before  moral  courage.  Wbr 
is  not  the  name  of  this  gentleman  given  ? 

December. — "  To  be  sold,  a  negro-wench,  now  with  child.'* 
How  forcibly  such  an  advertisement  marks  the  feelings  of  the  time! 
If  it  were  possible  now  to  see  a  fellow-creature  advertised  to  k 
soldy  how  startling  and  atrocious  it  would  appear !  but  what  printer 
in  New  York  would  dare  to  add  the  words  which  mark  the  sex 
and  peculiar  condition  of  the  victim  of  avarice  and  injustice: 
Whitfield  was  preaching  in  New  York  about  this  time. 

23d. — *'  Whereas,  it  hath  this  day  been  represented  to  this 
board  that  John  Carpenter,  butcher,  hath  openly  and  contemp- 
tuously declared  that  he  would  sell  his  beef  for  4^d.  per  lb. 
in  spite  of  all  the  wise  heads  that  made  the  law  could  do,  or  words 
to  that  effect,"  he  is  ordered  to  appear  before  diis  board,  at  tbe 
house  of  Waller  Brock,  inn-keeper,  near  the  City  Hall,  *Moshow 
cause  why  he  should  not  be  disfranchised." 

Jacob  Arden,  another  butcher,  is  complained  of,  for  speaking  in 
a  contemptuous  manner,  and  piiblickly  violating  the  law  for  assizin^ 
all  kinds  of  provisions.  The  board  request  the  mayor  to  remove 
him  out  of  the  markets,  until  he  shall  have  obtained  the  freedom  of 
the  city. 

Carpenter  attended,  and  William  Bayard,  Ksq.  proved  on  oath 
the  charge  against  him.  The  board  ordered  him  to  be  disfran- 
chised. 

The  former  law  of  assizing,  or  fixing  the  price  of  proriaioo,  b 
repealed,  and  another  passed,  fixing  the  price  of  beef  4}d.  per  lb., 
pork  6i  per  lb.,  veal,  the  hind  quarter  Gd.,  the  fore  quarter  4^6.^ 
mutton  4^d.y  butter  16d.  per  lb.,  milk  G  coppers  the  quart* 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CXCI 

1764         January  12th. — ^For  a  long  time,  there  appears  to  have 
been  no  publick  whipper,  but  now  James  0'J3rien  is  paid 
£5  for  a  quarter's  salary. 

The  New  York  Gazette  or  Weekly  Postboy  is  printed  in  Broad 
street,  near  the  Exchange,  by  John  Holt,  who  had  been  concerned 
with  James  Parker,  but  now  has  sole  control.  *'  Advertisements  of 
moderate  length,  5s.  for  four  weeks,  and  Is.  for  each  week  after." 

19th. — On  Sunday  night  last,  (January  15tii,)  the  city  of  New 
York  was  alarmed  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  cry  of  fire,  arising 
from  the  riotous  attack  of  a  party  of  soldiers  upon  the  jail,  (new 
jail,  now  the  record  office.)  Tliey  broke  in,  (the  front  door  was 
open)  with  guns  and  axes,  shouting  Major  Rogers  !  who  was  con- 
fined for  debt.  They  demanded  the  keys  of  Mr.  Mills,  who  re- 
fused :  in  their  attempts  to  force  them  from  him,  he  was  wounded. 
The  lights  were  extinguished,  and  they  fired  three  shots  through 
the  grate  of  the  inner  door.  A  ball  grazed  the  eyebrow  of  the 
man  they  came  to  set  free.  They  forced  the  door,  and  demanded 
the  Major;  he  said,  "Here  I  am."  One  of  them  said,  "You  are 
ray  prisoner.  He  said,  "  I  am  afraid,  gentlemen,  you  will  ruio 
me."  They  told  the  debtors  they  would  set  them  all  tree.  The 
prisoners  did  not  choose  to  be  forced  into  liberty,  and  the  sol- 
diers seemed  to  be  determined  to  give  them  death  or  liberty.  The 
militia  arrived  in  force,  and  the  riot  was  quelled.  On  the  trial  of 
the  soldiers,  they  said,  that  Rogers  was  privy  to  the  attempt. 

February  10th. — The  Exchange  is  let  for  ^80  per  year.  The 
"  committee  of  the  new  jail"  are  empowered  to  cause  to  be 
erected  opposite  the  said  new  jail  a  publick  whipping-post,  stocksi 
cage,  and  pillory. 

People  begin  to  think  of  looking  for  coal  in  America. 

May  Commencement  held  at  St.  George's  Chapel.  General 
Gage  and  his  majesty's  council,  etc.,  present.  Richard  Harrisooy 
seventeen  years  of  age,  delivered  the  salutatory  oration — John  Jay, 
a  dissertation  on  the  blessings  of  peace. 

In  May,  a  gold  medal  was  adjudged,  at  Edinburgh,  to  Samuel 
Bard,  of  New  York,  student  of  medicine,  "  by  Dr.  Hope,  for  pro- 
moting the  study  of  Botany." 

June  18th. — "  The  New  York  Light-house  erected  at  Sandy 
Hook,  was  lighted  for  the  first  time.  The  long  wished  for  ferry, 
is  now  established,  from  the  place  called  Powless's  Hook,  to  the 
city  of  New  York.  The  landing  on  the  New  York  side  is  fixed  at 
the  dock,  commonly  called  Miesier's  Dock,"  opposite  "  Powless'a 
Hook,"  distance  three  quarters  of  a  mile.  Also  a  ferry  established 
across  the  "  Kill  Van  KuU,"  from  Staten  Island  to  Bergen. 

August  6th. — Alderman  John  Lawrence,  of  New  York,  died. 
Rev.  Mr.  Whitfield  preached  his  funeral  sermon,  and  he  was  bu- 
ried in  Lord  Stirling's  vault,  at  Trinity  Church. 


CXCII  APPENDIX. 

-[4th. — Alexander  Forbes,  "  the  present  keeper  or  orer- 
seer  of  tlie  work  house  or  alms  house  and  house  of  correction, 
having  petitioned  for  more  salary,  ordered,  the  sum  of  ^20  be  given 
hiro,  in  consideration  of  the  many  perquisites  he  has  lost,  occasioned 
by  the  said  house  of  correction  being  without  any  whipper  for  a 
considerable  time." 

September  4th. — A  question  is  raised.  In  the  common  council 
whether  '*  the  people  residing  on  that  part  of  New  Jersey  called 
Powle's  Hook,  have  any  right  of  ferriage  to  and  from  this  city." 
1765  January  10th. — A  traveller  passing  from  Albany  to 
Boston,  put  up  at  a  tavern  and  gave  his  bags  with  money 
in  charge  of  the  landlord.  Next  day  proceeding,  he  found  his 
horse  lame  and  sto])ped  at  a  blacksmith's,  who  found  the  horse  had 
been  cut  just  above  one  of  his  hoofs,  and  some  of  the  hair  drawn 
through  the  wound.  He  inquired  where  the  traveller  lodged  last 
night,  and  being  told,  shook  his  head  and  advised  him  not  to  pur- 
sue his  journey  through  the  woods  alone.  "  I  have  good  pistols !" 
'*  Examine  them  !"  He  did,  and  found  that  the  charge  had  been 
drawn,  and  supplied  with  dirt.  This  confirmed  suspicion,  and  the 
blacksmith  advised  him  not  to  go  on.  The  traveller  persisted, 
and  cleaning  and  reloading  bis  pistols,  pursued  his  way.  The 
blacksmith,  anxious  for  his  safety,  mounted  his  Iiorse  and  followed. 
Before  he  overtook  the  traveller,  he  heard  two  pistols  discharged, 
and  soon  met  the  traveller  returning,  who  said,  **  I  have  done  the 
business  for  two  of  lliein  !"  It  being  near  night,  he  returned  to  the 
blacksmith's  and  remained  until  morning,  when  they  both  entered 
the  wood,  and  found  the  landlord  and  his  son  dead — the  victims 
of  their  own  plot  to  rob  the  wayfarer. 

24th. — The  grand  jury  return  thanks  to  the  judges,  for  deciding 
that  it  is  illegal  to  appeal  from  a  verdict  of  a  jury,  to  the  govemour 
and  council.     This  was  one  of  the  struggles  of  the  governours  for 

arbitrary  power. 
17GG  At  different   periods,  mobs  assembled  upon  the  eastern 

part  of  the  manor  of  Hensselaer.  They  called  at  his 
house,  and  left  a  message  for  him,  that  if  he  did  not  appear  at  their 
place  of  rendezvous,  they  would  come  to  him. 

On  the  2(>th  of  June,  the  sherifT  of  Albany,  with  105  men,  went 
to  a  house  on  the  manor  to  disperse  the  rioters,  of  whom  there  were 
about  00.  On  the  sheriff's  approach  to  the  house,  they  fired  upon 
him  and  shot  off  his  hat  and  wig,  without  injuring  him.  Several 
shots  were  exchanged,  and  Mr.  Cornelius  Tenbrook,  of  Claverack, 
was  killed,  and  seven  others  of  the  militia  wounded.  Three  of 
the  rioters  were  killed,  and  many  wounded  :  among  the  latter. 
Captain  Noble,  one  of  the  leaders.  They  retreated  to  Noble's 
house,  where  they  formed  a  breastwork  and  kept  their  ground  until 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CrCUl 

the  sheriff  and  his  party  left  the  place.  On  another  day  the  rioters, 
or  Pendergrast's  party  had  a  skirmish  wiili  a  party  of  regulars,  with 
some  loss. 

July  15th. — Gage  writes  from  New  York,  to  Conway,  that  the 
28th  Regiment  had  been  ordered  into  Duchess  county  to  assist  in 
executing  the  laws,  and  to  quell  riots ;  that  a  small  body  of  Light 
Infantry  had  been  fired  upon  by  the  rioters,  and  three  wounded  ; 
the  fire  returned,  some  of  the  rioters  wounded ;  all  pursued  and 
dispersed.  That  in  Albany  county  a  skirmish  took  place  between 
the  sheriff  and  his  followers,  200,  and  a  party  of  rioters ;  some 
killed  and  wounded  on  both  sides,  but  the  sheriff 's  party  was  put  to 
flight.    . 

Permission  given  by  the  king  to  the  colony  of  New  York  to  issue 
paper  bills  to  the  amount  of  ^260,000,  their  currency. 

2Sth. — Pendergrast,  the  rioter,  having  been  taken,  whh  others, 
Chief-justice  Horsemanden  embarked  for  Duchess  county  to  try 
them.  Pendergrast  was  tried  for  high  treason,  and  sentenced  ac- 
cordingly. 

At  tlie  trial  of  Pendergrast,  mentioned  above,  the  court,  besides 
the  chief-justice,  consisted  of  Messrs.  John  Watts,  William  Wal- 
ton, Oliver  Delancey,  Joseph  Reade,  William  Smith,  jun.,  John 
Morin  Scott,  and  Whitehead  Hicks.  The  usual  barbarous  sentence 
against  traitors  was  pronounced,  and  it  is  stated  that  the  prisoner  be- 
haved very  penitent.  He  was  to  be  executed  in  September.  Fifty 
or  sixty  others  were  fined,  imprisoned,  or  pilloried.  "  Any  person 
inclining  to  assist  at  the  execution  of  Pendergrast,  by  applying  to 
James  Livingston,  the  sheriff  of  Duchess  county,  will  meet  with  a 
good  reward  ;  he  shall  be  disguised  so  as  not  to  be  known,  and  se- 
cured from  insults." 

August  11th. — ^Depositions  taken  before  the  magistrates,  state 
that  on  the  11th  August,  when  the  people  had  assembled  to  "erect 
a  post  that  had  been  taken  down  the  night  before,"  (the  liberty-pole 
in  the  fields)  a  party  of  soldiers  with  their  bayonets  in  their  hands, 
some  unsheathed,  and  others  in  the  act  of  unsheathing,  attacked  the 
people,  cutting  and  slashing  every  one  that  fell  in  their  way — the 
people  retreating,  pursued  to  Chapel  street,  (Beekman)  and  that 
among  the  persons  cut  and  wounded,  were  Captain  Sears  and 
John  Berrien.  To  these  facts,  sworn  before  John  Cruger  and 
Nicholas  Roosevelt,  we  have  the  names  of  Theophilus  Harden- 
brook,  Peter  Vandervoort,  Isaac  Sears,  John  Berrien,  Cornelius 
Berrien,  Philip  Will,  and  Ephraim  Brasher.  Major  Brown,  of  the 
28th  Regiment,  to  which  the  soldiers  belonged,  said,  on  reading 
the  affidavit,  that  he  would  "  prove  every  word  of  it  to  be  false," 
and  Hardenbrook  and  Vandervooit  threaten  to  prosecute  him  for 
his  assertion. 

September. — Sir  H.  Moore  reprieves  Pendergrast  until  bisf  ma- 

y 


CXOnr  APPENDIX* 

jestj'g  pleasure  be  known.     Lady  Moore  releases,  by  pajnng  tbek 
debts,  all  the  prisoners  at  Albany^  confined  for  less  than  jC30. 

November  17th. — Sir  H.  Moore  sent  a  message  to  ihe  New 
York  assembly  respecting  the  quartering  of  troops  and  findiog 
necessaries,  and  they  tell  him  that  in  providing  for  two  batialioDS 
and  a  company  of  artillery,  that  had  burthened  their  consthuenti 
beyond  other  colonies,  they  thought  themselves  entitled  to  com- 
mendation rather  than  censure  from  England  ;  that  they  coo- 
sidered  it  their  duty,  to  provide  for  troops  on  a  march,  and 
that  by  providing  for  them  permanently  and  for  an  indefinite 
number,  the  burthen  would  be  beyond  tiieir  power. 

18th. — Govemour  Moore  lays  before  the  assembly  of  New 
York  Lord  8helbume*s  letter,  in  which  he  says,  ''I  am  or- 
dered to  signify  to  you  by  the  king,  tliat  it  is  the  indispensable  duty 
of  his  subjects  in  America  to  obey  the  acts  of  the  legislature  of 
Great  Britain,  the  king  both  expects  and  requires  a  due  and  cheer- 
ful obedience  to  the  same."  He  therefore  requires  a  compliaDce 
with  the  Act  '^  for  quartering  his  majesty's  troops,  in  the  full  ex- 
tent and  meaning  of  the  act."  The  govemour  adds,  ^'  that  he 
flatters  himself  no  difficulties  can  possibly  arise,  or  the  least  objec- 
tion be  made  to  the  provision  for  the  troops  as  required  by  the  act 
of  parliament." 

December  18th. — Govemour  Franklin  writes  from  Burlington, 
New  Jersey,  that  he  had  endeavoured  to  make  his  legislature  do 
all  required  by  his  majesty  for  finding  tlie  troops,  but  tliey  would 
only  do  as  has  been  done  before. 

A  sloop  bound  from  New  York  to  Fayal,  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain Harrison,  became  a  wreck  on  the  sea,  from  a  storm,  and  the 
people  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  casting  lots  for  life,  or  to  become 
the  food  of  the  living.  A  negro  was  killed  and  eaten  :  this  lasted 
seven  days.  Another  man  drew  the  lot  of  death,  and  became  mad; 
but  before  he  was  killed,  a  sail  appeared,  and  discovering  diem, 
although  they  had  no  canvass  to  hoist,  relieved  them. 

The  boundary  line  between  New  York  and  Canada  is  fixed  at 
Lat.  45,  which  crosses  Lake  Champlain  about  two  and  a  half  miles 
nordi  of  Windmill  Point,  and  is  marked  by  openings  made  on 
each  side  of  the  lake,  where  several  trees  are  girdled,  and  square 
posts  set  up,  marked  with  the  letters  Y.  and  Q.  (York  and  Quebec.) 
Sir  H.  Moore  and  General  Carleton  were  present.  While  Moore 
was  at  Windmill  Point,  several  Canadian  gentlemen  waited  upoQ 
him  and  preferred  their  claims  to  lands  on  both  sides  of  the  lake, 
founded  on  grants  from  the  French  king,  as  far  south  as  Crown 
Point.  They  were  informed  tliat  tliese  claims  must  be  referred  to 
the  king  and  council. 

The  first  Methodist  church  in  America  was  erected  tliis  year,  in 
John  streeti  New  York. 


ItATTBK*  CXCT 

1767  JinutrT  17th. — ^There  was  t  pliii  in  acitauoii  to 

establish  br  suhscripcioo  i  publick  leademT  in  New  Yoik 
fcr  the  study  of  architeciure,  scul|>ture,  and  paintiDs:.* 

May  loth. — A  bill  was  brought  in  parliament  and  passed»  to 
punish  New  York  for  disobedience,  in  not  complying  with  the  or- 
ders lor  quartering  troops,  (as  specified  by  his  majesty)  by  prohi- 
biting  the  passing  of  any  law  whatsoever  in  the  colony. 

Goremour  Bernard  and  his  assembly  of  Massachusetts  qnanrd 
about  the  expenses  of  quartering  troops,  etc  This  subject  causes 
dbcoidtent  all  through  the  colonies. 

A  petition  from  the  merchants  of  New  York  was  presented  to 
pariiamentt  pointing  out  grievances  under  which  their  commerce 
lay,  and  praying  such  redress  as  would  be  beneficial  to  both  coun- 
tries.    It  was  laid  on  the  table  and  not  noticed. 

September  3d. — A  soldier  of  the  16th  Raiment  drunky  and  in 
company  with  two  prostitutes,  fell  off  the  ramparts  of  the  battery, 
and  was  drowned,  although  in  shoal  water;  the  women  were 
ordered  to  be  whipped  at  the  workhouse.  The  accounts  of  crimes 
are  great,  in  proportion  to  the  population ;  but  most  are  commit- 
ted.  as  now,  by  £uro{)eans. 

Professors  at  King*s  College — Samuel  Clossr,  of  Anatomy ; 
Peter  Middleton,  Theory  of  Physick  ;  John  Jones,  Surgery ; 
James  Smith.  Chem.  and  Mat.  Med. :  John  Tenant,  Midwifery ; 
Samuel  Bard.  Practice  of  Phvsick.     Dr.  Jones  extracted  a  stone 

m 

from  the  bladder  of  a  boy,  between  four  and  five  years  old,  suc- 
cessfully. 

November  17th. — Twenty  negroes  *'  received  the  discipline  of 
the  whip,  at  the  publick  whipping-post,  having  been  detected  the 
Thursday  night  before  in  a  junketting^frolick,  designed  in  a  poor 
white  man^s  house,  in  the  <.>ut  ward  of  thb  city,  where  two  pigs, 
ready  for  the  fire,  and  two  gallons  of  wine  awaited  them ;  aod 
though  the  proo&  were  not  positive,  they  were  sue^  as  left  the 
design  out  of  doubt.  It  is  such  boitses  that  ruin  servants,  as  the 
receiver  is  as  bad  as  the  thief.*' t 

A  bill  was  brought  into  the  house  of  assembly  ^*  to  prevent  the 
unnatural  and  unwarrantable  custom  of  enslaving  mankind,  and  the 
importation  of  slaves  into  this  province.^*  It  was  changed  into  an 
net  ^*  for  laying  an  impost  on  negroes  imported.*'    This  couU  not 

Ethe  govemour  and  council :  and  it  was  afterward  known  diat 
ninr'l.  Wentworth.  the  govemour  of  New  Hampshire  had 
received  instructions  not  to  pass  any  law  "*'  imposing  duties  on 
n^Toes  imported  into  that  province.*'     Hutchinson,  of  Maancho- 


•  S««iIoh*JoiinaI.orihHda». 
t  Weyau'9  Guwot. 


sens,  had  rirr.ilsr  in;:r'.;r.'icn=.     The  rorcmour  and  hl=  ini;«T}'i 
CO  unci]  kn^'.v  liil-  bi  '.'..e  I'.rrje. 

DecerijLer  il?:- — T:.t  .Socktv  for  rro:i3o::nr  Arte  me'-     P:.':^:' 

a  ilax-iiiilj.  e:  rf'jrLtora-  a.'-:!  ;:-■:  ^olIv:/  L^JLcreJ  Lin:  t  rue:;!:,  fii: 

Y       «  «  • 

170S         Jar.u'urv  1-^:. — Ti.v  Presbv.erxns  of  ir.U  c::v.   :&  cjTi- 
njuuioD  u/ih  ibe  e.":i'dijii?i.td  C Mirth  of  .Sco:i=^d.  o;»e:»rc 
iheLr  Erlck  CLurch  kie;v  creeled  on  ii.e  r:et:s-     Pjeciii-:-:-  i'.'- 
Roze  Fs. 

i'^iL — Colonel  Kilb,  (arc-marc-  !^o  tt^'-  Lrr.wa   br  Bc.ro:  1*5 
Kalb.)  v.iih  eiri-i  o::jfc;s  in  c:o-ri: ._'  from  ::  r  LiLz>.j  .^v^-.  >•■» 

Jer»ev,  lo-Siaien  IsIllg.  wu?  li,*:  oi-.v  i.erKin  viio  e^cbr-^j  l:  i- 

•  '  "...  * 

iured.  ih?  re^-t  t-.i.tr  cvl:,:-.  f;or:i  r'^::-::]ri'  t.!  r. '._".:  r*.  i  -^i'^- 
island,  where  ihe  t'ovx  i,..-!;.  r.:  L'fr!*':_'  ir.irt  or  ie-?  fr-'Z*::. :  ^^^t 
lotirji'  loes.  oiLer.-.  :'•.-•::.  L::  Kl.'j.  'cII-zt  Ifi'.r.z  ^^i::-  li  e  rf<:  r*'r- 
cued  flora  iLf  t  f-t :i-:/.r;j  -■:^it!i. :..  i::?:^b'J  of  *!;;".:.r  v.  ]•!_  i:.i::  r-y 
the  fire,  p-ji  hi-  f-.-vi  ejj^'j  --i.--  ]:j  cc^j  'i\r::fr.  mi  loot  so:Le  rtfrt-:- 
meau  ihe n  "^^  e  u :  i o  he  -j .  l  :.  ^  ,•  o i  \. : j  'j  :j  * .  ^^ n  ij v  ; :, e  :"r  ot :.  T  ►:; e  r*-  L" 
1 1  e ma n,  a  M r.  (ifso .-:-.?.  ^ ; f.  i  l v  Vi rr  - u c- :■  o ur  arri v e d.  Ktl'j  c.ei- 
fi^rhiiu:: for  it-e  !!hr:;::-.s  of :!.'.-  ro.r/r-. .  l:  Can-dtE. 

Fehruan-  i*j::j. — T:.e  ::'.-.:. :-:  of  J-:;.'.-^  Del^nr^^v^ol^:'.:  Tc>:e?  for 
hirri,  tiwjoujij  h*:  i-  iri  £;..'.  i-ri-i.  Lr  he  had  declLrtc  he  fore  rc»-L£ 

th  a  I  he  i  n:  e  L;  J  e  u  i  o  i  -j  i  ■  j  :  :j  ^  o'  •:  j  e : .  o  j  jh  to  on"';  r  L: !  m  =•€  i  f  as  £  rt-pre- 

•  ••  .......  . 

d i c i*ie.  o :i d  r-.- f;  •'.--: •  *. : . •;-  fj  w '  r  o :  v ,- ■: t -  l •.  i  \i. :•.  rf--u  L e ';\  ■?  M or- 
ris and  Jo:.::  D-L.i  Mcv  v^:-  \:.^  ct\:t^"'.\-s  r\^:,.^,i^i,:ir:.  f^:  ^Vc^i- 
Chester  ho ro 'j j h  :  l .  :  D v , j : , c  •;  v  t ! ♦: c :e ; :  L v  : ! .ree  v o : v  =•. 

1  -jih. — T;. on  '  -  ^ '.:!•.  w. .  r  ore  :,c  r .  re c  t /.  es-  a 7  i  *  f..  for  '^e 
burial  of  4 i*  ho-^ it-,  f  j r  o :. e  }  •.- c. : .  e :.■:!:  r  1  ? i  J l r. u ar"*' . 

M arc  1 J  iid. — '1' he  f: i e :- .1  s  o f  J l ::.•: a  D t  ■  j Ij : •:  v  a* ? ;, ; e  lie  t ■  - hli c k 
thai  he  ii  corTiin::  ho:  jo. 

Abra ! ; a :n  Te n  U r-  »•:  ■:  k  c :  r,^t-  -  fo .-  i r. r  :. ::: r. or  of  P  e  r.f -€ '.£ *  r. 
Pe:e r  It.  L i i  i u j-i on  f  ..i  :": i •.-  i rj •  -j o:  of  L ] \ ! :. r* - o :; .  ihe  hv ! : . r  £  resi- 
de dt  of  AJb  any.;  Ji'.oh  H.  T-::.  K\'k  tri:  P:j!.:p  .>::.  j\.e:  for 
the  couniy  of  A'ihe.rjy.  Dl:k  I^ri:..  *.er;  .:?  ar.d  Leoz,arc  Vjj 
Kleeck  for  DLche^s  co-i;:v.  fii-orje  L'.!:.:ol  "sva^  ii:e:r.L»€r  for 
Ulster. 

There  "were  a:  v.'is  rirr.e  v.-jr  r. ■:.'?'=  of  :he  supreme  cotir-  rli: 
Daniel  H ors-e rri l ti c  en .  c  : . ! e  f- *  .-::'::  D  c \  i  d  J OLe^.  W h^iaiz:  tj-ilL'^ 
U3d  Itoben  K.  LMr  j-:o  =.  i-.*:::*:r. 

Al  Ne-.Y  York  C';', t.-.^.v'.f-r-.. :::.::  e  v,;;oT;-ir.r  ce  :::■£■  me  .'^  :w:»k 
d^rrree*  :  E e  r / "  :i  rn  1  rj  M  r •-i rt .  u  fi  •.  r^  l :  ■  j  -  h  i  - ; .  f  •  r*.  I  C » ov em  e  u  r  M  ■:•> 
rU.  John  ^teveni=.  Oi:iien  \'^,-j..ci.k.  P'-htn  L:vin:rr:or..  Eri-cr: 
Bensoa — (all  distinguished  hereafter)— J acaes   Ludlow,   Ciiark* 


MI8CELLAXB0US  MATTER.  CXCVII 

Joiighty,  Peter  Van  Schaick,  Rev.  John  Beardsley.  Alessrs. 
»Ioore  and  MorrU  were  presented  with  silver  medals  by  the  Lit' 
an-  Societv. 

Tlie  slate  fwipers  of  ITOS,  of  New  York,  are  by  Chancellor  Kent 
compared  with,  and  thouirht  to  resemble  in  style,  spirit,  and  raat- 
er*  the  resohitions  and  addresses  of  the  first  continental  congress* 
D  1774.*  For  these  praiseworthy  addresses  and  resolutions,  the 
issembly  was  severely  rebuked  In  Sir  Henry  Moore,  and  dissolved. 
Philip  5>chuyler  and  Cieonrc  Clinton  were  anioni;  the  foremost 
leaders  in  these  patriotick  resolutions,  and  continued  to  exert  them- 
selves in  the  same  station,  until  the  termination  of  colonial  lesrisia- 

lion,  in  177-3. 
1763         January  l?7ih. — ^.Tohn  Cruder,  James  Delancey,  Jacob 
Walton  and  James  Jancey,  was  elected  to  the  assembly  for 
ihe  citv  of  New  York.     The  four  successful  members  oo  the  close 
of  the  poll  fruvc  X'^OO/'tr  fftr  inmr. 

April  lOih. — The  assembly  resolved  that  the  thanks  of  the  house 
be  given  to  the  merchants  of  the  city  and  colony  for  their  patriotick 
conduct  in  declininiX  ^he  importation  or  receiving  of  goods  from 
Great  Britain,  until  such  acts  of  parliament  as  the  general  assem- 
bly had  declared  unconstitutional  and  subversive  of  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  the  people  be  repealed. 

The  minority  of  the  assembly,  (and  in  which  minority  were 
Colonel  Schuyler  and  (leorire  Clinton,)  asserted  that  taxable  free- 
hold  estate  in  the  county  or  borouirh,  qualified  a  person  to  be  voted 
br  the  assembly  though  he  did  not  reside  therein.  The  majority 
detennined  to  the  contrary. 

26ih. — The  assembly  resolved,   that  non-resident  freeholders 

m 

had  a  rii;ht  to  vote  for  mem!)ers  of  asseniblv. 

May  Sth. — Major  I{o;jjers  was  acquitted  of  charges  preferred 
against  him  :  but  the  deputy  adjutant-general,  says,  there  was  rea- 
son to  suspect  him  of  improper  correspondence,  and  his  attempt 
to  escape  conBrmed  it. 

lOih. — The  freeholilers  of  the  manor  of  Livingston,  by  peti- 
tion, insisted  that  non-resident  freeholders  of  the  manor  were 
eligible  to  the  assembly — that  it  was  a  sacred  and  incontestable  pri- 
vilege in  the  English  constitution,  and  according  to  usage  in  the 
colony.  But  the  majority  of  the  assembly  held  otherwise,  and 
dismissed  Mr.  Livingston  their  member  for  that  cause. 

17th. — The  assembly  resolved,  that  no  judge  of  the  supreme 
coort  should  have  a  seat  in  their  house. 

July  20th. — Simeon  Cooley  made  his  amende  honorable  to  his 
fellow  citizens  of  New  York,  for  his  opposition  to  the  non-impor- 


*  8—  ClHBMllor  Kem'p  Ducovm  before  tht  Hi*.  Soc  ofN.  T.  p.  16. 


CXCVIII  APPENDIX. 

tation  agreement,  by  begs^'mg  pardon,  and  promising  to  send  tbe 
goods  in  his  possession  to  the  pubUck  stores,  and  never  offend 
again. 

Similar  apologies  were  made  by  traders  in  Philadelphia,  Bos- 
ton, New  Haven,  and  other  places. 

Robert  Murray  of  New  York,  is  reported  to  own  "  more  tons 
of,  and  value  in  shipping,  that  any  house  in  America." 

August  24th. — Tlieophilus  Hardenbrook,  and  other  holl8e-ca^ 
penters,  complain  to  the  common  council,  that  a  number  of  couDtiy 
carpenters  come  into  this  city  in  the  summer  season,  and  follow 
their  trade,  and  in  the  fall,  return  again  to  their  families,  withom 
paying  taxes  or  assessments,  to  the  prejudice  of  the  petitioners. 

November  1st — Celebrated  by  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  as  that  oo 
which  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony  of  New  York,  determined  not 
to  surrender  their  rights  to  arbitrary  power,  "  however  august.^' 

Among  the  toasts — "  The  farmer  of  Pennsylvania — and  tbe 
authors  of  the  Boston  journal  of  occurrences — and  a  total  extinc- 
tion of  implicit  belief." 

22d. — Died,  William  Smith,  (the  historian  of  New  York,)  one 
of  the  justices  of  the  supreme  court,  etc.,  aged  73.  In  1753,  he 
was  made  one  of  his  majesty's  council. 

29th. — The  house  of  assembly  agreed  with  certain  resolutions 
of  the  house  of  burgesses  of  the  colony  and  dominion  of  Virginia, 
passed  the  IGth  of  May,  17G9,  "  that  the  sole  right  of  imposing 
duties  on  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony  and  dominion  of  Virginia, 
is  constitutionally  vested  in  the  house  of  burgesses  with  the  con- 
sent of  the  council  and  the  governour.  1'hat  it  is  the  privilege  of 
the  colony  to  petition  the  king  for  redress  of  grievances,  and  law- 
ful to  procure  the  concurrence  of  the  other  colonies  in  the  same. 
That  all  trials  for  treason  or  felony,  or  any  other  crime  committed 
in  the  colony,  ought  to  be  tried  within  the  colony. 

December  ISth. — The  assembly  voted  that  a  certain  anonvroous 
paper  was  a  false  and  infamous  libel.  It  was  signed  as  by  a  Son  of 
Liberty,  and  was  very  abusive  and  inflammator}-  because  the  as- 
sembly had  voted  4)2000  to  supply  the  king's  troops  witli  neces- 
saries. This  was  said  to  be  betravini]:  their  trust  and  country' :  it 
was  pusillanimous  and  contradictory  to  the  spirit  of  the  Massachu- 
setts and  South  Carolina  assemblies  :  it  represented  a  coalition 
between  the  Golden  and  Delancey  families.  That  the  assembly 
understood  thev  must  be  dissolved  if  thev  refused  the  vote.  The 
writer  recommends  a  meeting  in  the  fields.  The  money  was 
granted  by  twelve  to  eleven,  so  nearly  was  the  house  divided. 

19th. — The  assembly  voted  that  anonymous  papers  and  hand- 
bills reflecting  grossly  on  the  house  for  grantin<r  supplies  for  the 
troops  in  barracks  were  a  false,  scandalous  and  infamous  libel,  and 
requested  the  governour  to  offer  a  reward  for  the  author. 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CXCDE 

21st. — Robert  R.  Livingston  returned  a  member  for  the  manor  of 
Livingston,  was  rejected  asdisqualiGed  being  a  judge  of  the  supreme 
court.  Colonel  Schuyler,  Colonel  Woodhull,  George  Clinton, 
were  for  him.  There  were  fourteen  against  and  nine  for  him. 
This  same  point  was  debated  the  25th  of  January,  1771,  and 
Judge  Livingston  excluded. 

Li  this  year,  Samson  Occum,  the  Indian  preacher,  made  a  great 
impression,  perhaps,  from  the  novelty  and  known  difficulty  of  edu- 
cating die  individuals  of  this  people,  or  keeping  them  within  the 
bounds  of  civilized  society. 

The  celebrated  \Vhit6eld,  preached  with  great  effect,  and  was 
the  precursor  of  Wesley's  ambassadors  of  peace  :  and  this  year, 
the  celebrated  Daniel  Boone,  commenced  his  exploring  expedi- 
tions into  the  western  wilderness. 

It  was  in  this  year,  that,  at  the  request  of  a  board  of 
commissioners,  authorized  by  the  legislature  of  New  York  and 
New  Jersey,  the  celebrated  David  llittenhouse  fixed  the  point, 
where  the  parallel,  which  divides  New  York  from  Pennsylvania, 
was  to  be  traced  westward.  The  northern  limit  of  New  Jersey 
upon  Hudson's  river,  is  the  41st  degree  of  latitude.  The  point 
where  this  parallel  intersects  the  shore,  was  fixed  by  the  astrono- 
mer at  this  time.  The  northern  limit  of  both  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jereey,  upon  the  Delaware,  is  the  42d  degree  of  latitude ; 
and  this  parallel  continued  westward,  divides  Pennsylvania  from 
New  York. 

Rittenhouse  was  appointed  by  Pennsylvania,  as  commissioner 
to  meet  a  commissioner  from  New  York,  and  determine  the  place 
where  this  parallel  intersects  the  Delaware. 

In  this  year,  Sir  William  Draper,  better  known  as  an  opponent 
of  Junius,  than  as  conqueror  of  Manilla,  came  to  America,  and 
travelled  from  Carolina  northward,  at  New  York  marrying  Miss 
Delancey.  He  played  racket  or  fives,  with  great  skill,  but  found 
bis  match  in  New  York,  in  a  tin-man,  who  was  the  hero  of  the 
Tennis  court  or  five  alley  in  the  fields,  a  short  distance  from  the 
celebrated  publick  house,  Montagne's  or  Montanye's,  where  the 
Sons  of  Liberty  met ;  the  same  Tennis  court,  where  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  threw  off  his  coat  and  his  dignity,  some  years  later.  The 
tin-man,  no  doubt,  beat  Sir  William  easily,  and  used  to  say,  that 
he  could  have  done  it  with  a  wheelbarrow  tied  to  one  hand.  Sir 
William  bore  this  beating  better  than  that  of  Junius.     The  next 

year,  the  knight  returned  to  England,  carrying  his  bride. 
1770         January  9th. — A   bill   for   electing  representatives   in 
assembly  by  ballot  was  denied  a  second  reading.     For  the 
bill  twelve,  (including  Colonel  Schuyler,  Colonel  Woodhull  and 
George  Clinton,)  against  it  thurteen. 


CC  APPEXDIX. 

llih. — A  bii)  was  intro  3uced  hv  Mr.  Thotn«  lo  iirah  »  c^r^ 
ral  asseraliiv  of  the  colon v  lo  t'lree  vear?  from  ererr  cssk»jl-j^»l 

Februa n-  2d. — I  '^  co  rn  -no  n  r- :, :,','.;. .  ••  M  r.  M  s  v or  coidtl  ei/ jchic: 
to  lijis  board,  thai  he  ici-riv  7K"i:\\*:'\  a  jf'rr  c:rcc:*:C  7o  iia  :i  "Ji 
words  folio winz  :  To  l.^e  Wor^r -];..\i  \\'u\\f::iir-ii  U>ik.r.  E*-'^ 
Mai'orof  ibe  Chv  of  Ntw  Vork  :  -Sir. — A  vtr-.-  it*-*:  z-zriyj^  '/ 
the  inbabiianl?  are  de^frrri.l'.t'i  to  ereci  a-iO;:.er  :Jber:v  riok-  »  i 
memorial  of  ihe  lerj-r'dl  of  ::j*r  rr:<jrrM»  A'.i :  TJ*ev  cjir^ri^er  EfO«:-:jr* 
so  proper  for  ii  '«  •:i--i  orj  v. ;:]':,  T*.e  f.::,er  ;y>!e  •Toofi  :  bo:  if  •■:»> 
in  r\'  I  o  a  11  ex  pec  tatio  u  i :  j  fr  *.  o :  ;«of3 !  1  o  rj  *  J .  o  -  -  'i  liOi  be  ci-  :<'=*c  '.: 
give  leave  lo  b  a  ve  il  ra  i  v:  ■  i  :  ■  j  ei  e.  v.  e  c  a :-  r-o:  '.  o:.  i  e  J  v  e  i  \aci  zit^  tn: 
hare  anv  obiectior.-  to  i:^  bei.M-Tixeo  oriyK^-i'.e  Mr.  V-di  I>tr  £>e*r"-  * 
near  Su  Pasji's  ci-ur'-ij,  a  jfri.i.j  i.i^-tv.ve  frorrj  ■vTj.f-re  u«  two  y**c* 
meet,  which  we  h^ve  r-r=»ro:i  to  -Ji'V-o-e  -.«!..  rex!  ro  n*  oiur 
place  be  mo*i  ar-cepiib.e.  If  :.v:  ^r-eri  *ro-jii  r>o:  LrJrk  trtc**^ 
to  grant  liberty  for  iir  tre'::io:;  o'i  :.*:'a:i':T  of  irje  cVj-ke  i:j«t**-  fc« 
io  that  ca*e  r;o  rnoii  u ': .  *r  - :  of  f:  -:  ■- ;  •  n  "s^  i . :  ?  ■  :  »e  s  r  i .t  "  "^  fir*-  ■  j«. 
(the  raoijt  fi  lib  J ;  rk  [» 1  a  .-  ei  i  ::e  p ':  ■»  'j '.  ■-  i  :■:  r^-?  o  ]  v  e  i  lo  proKi  jr*  -  i 
place  in  tLe  iV;!  :*  orj  j».']voVr  z-'O';;.  ^  ?s:.'i  ^.^  v.e  pole  wiL  i^e  12- 
isbed  in  a  f-tw  ^^av*.  wk  &:*:  a:.:'..!r/i»:  i  a  cor-M:.l::ee  to  «-«J:  c^i  tt-l 
to  req'jesl  ib&l  vo  j  vi!]  be  jjit^Tfr^il  10  oi;:ckerj  hn  arj^wer  iroiri/  iii? 
corporati on  orj  t ; j " •  ^  .  v ^f :.  \S" e  a .-«=• .  W orr i . i pf u. U  :!r  1  r.  to-j r  L = =r 
ble  senrantr.  Jscvjus  \"<»t  Z'.'.  i:.  I^iac  Sei.>.  Jofeifii  Bull  Jo- 
Sep;:  DrssK'.-.  A!v  ■.c.  :■.:  M'.  IJ'    _•... 

•  •  W J. if :.  j t:  • : t  r  'j*.- ! :  r  r  -.•  1 . : .  i  . .  ♦: :.  i :  •.-  \ '•  *:  re  ■: : ^o n  2  ros^.  w'oe : ber  ti-^ 
reqye*!  ::-:v:e::i  :ri;v  r  -■..:  :,-:  ::rz:.'-:  :.  a:,«j  ::/•:  c^e-rior  ir:.zz 
put  ihiereoT).  1:  "c-r  r-:::]*:  :  :-.  :■•:  -  ;v:^:!ve  Irj  !;.r:  rr.o'-.er  fv.i^'a  ir. 
/'^yr  f ^>^  7'>'2r'^- •  •  ^'. — Mr.  J ( -  -  or . ■.- r.  <  'J " • .  j' . * ^  J o '. e^  •  M « •»"*.  F . . i_: - 
Deir bro^-re-i.  ('r^'.'.'. -.-r .  IJ : ■-  /  "  , :, .  ]j  *■  •-  c .  J «cob  B : t "^ r rxi* .  H  -r- 
pt,  an d  \'a  rj  W  &  -  „ ; ..- ; .  /' , r  :>  •■.  i  -^r  ,*y.  ,> y  — M  0 •  - r=^.  <"» -r:  •  :* 
fjre wenor..  I>1 .:-  r •;  -  J-  *■/. :.  A :.  ■':  ■.- . .  <'."  .::'.-/■.  ^ .  g  -: d  \  a ":  ^  s  .-i :  t. 
Ordered  i:;e :•.- fo r ■:  V-.w  '...-:  i •. o •.  e  t ; « -  i;-: c : ! o r.  :^-r  r'. ' r c :e d.  Lie  utt 
same  U  acorji  :•;•'." 

Mr.  Van  Vcr!:*!  rr.o*.  o  :  ::.c:  the  door*  of  :".e  comr.on  cc-j---^ 
be  left  open  ci:r.s  -'::'-.r-.  v. ..!  •.  v.  r-  ^i-.:-^:  eicre'  !o  f'r- 
Eiia?  De ? b: o*  re  •-  A :. '. :  •:  r.  <  j  ^ .  •. ;  o  r.  J  o:-  r,  D  _  ■■  i:  rr, ir.  ai,d  M  e"-lje» 
Bu vr e  V oii :  r  i "i  ' ". e  ;  - :\''. \  -.- . 

1 0 :  :j . — 'i' -.s  o  !  i  •  J V  c  . .: " '  r  '-  •  1 '-  - -:  ■:  —^j -  e  for   the  r.-.s  •  or   s  -  i  -jjg 

■ 

other  for  :  .e  r-.- -.:..•::.     A  .  :  :  .  :=  ordered  :o  be  craw-  up  to  be 
ob?^n'  e  c  '•» ;. e  .'j : :.  e  < : '  ^'r «?  c  r ':  o '  *■-  r. . 

M ay  i> : *. . — T •. e  . ' •: , • '-.  -  ■  ■  •- 1* ^  v •:  r "  r  ^ r,  d  co-j dcU,  ar  d  5-e * eril 
me^TD?:-;  o:  v.e  .-•:-.'.;:.  :-  -  ■.;    ..  '-:'':    .r--,  ro:  ibe  wrioie-  5.?**-z- 

thai  i:.e  stiVje  of  ;.1t  pr-jrer.:  :riijf:<y  r. ;.!'.;;  i*  now  caijy  expeciec 
from  Englandt  migh:,  on  i'^  arriral,  be  erected  ia  tome  pan  of  siia 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CCZ 

Bowling  Green  fronting  the  fort.     The  leave  of  the  common  coun- 
cil is  requested.     This  was  unanimously  agreed  to. 

August  21st. — Being  the  birth-day  of  Prince  Frederick,  (the 
father  of  George  III.,)  '*  an  elegant  equestrian  statue  of  his  present 
majesty,  George  III.  was  erected  in  the  Bowling  Green,  near 
Fort  George.  On  this  occasion,  the  members  of  his  majesty's 
council,  the  city  corporation,  the  corporation  of  the  chamber  of 
commerce,  the  corporation  of  the  marine  society,  and  most  of  the 
gentlemen  of  the  city  and  army,  waited  on  his  honour,  the  lieu- 
tenant-govemour,  C.  Golden,  in  the  fort,  at  his  request;  where  his 
majesty's  and  other  loyal  healths  were  drank,  under  a  discharge  of 
thirty-two  pieces  of  cannon  from  the  Battery,  accompanied  with  a 
band  of  musick.  This  beautiful  statue  is  made  of  metal,"  [the 
writer  did  not  on  such  an  occasion  like  to  say  what  metal  repre- 
sented his  royal  majesty,  the  best  of  kings — it  was  lead,]  **  being 
the  first  equestrian  one  of  his  present  majesty,  and  is  the  workman- 
ship of  that  celebrated  statuary,  Mr.  Wilton,  of  London.  We 
hear  that  in  a  few  days  a  marble  pedestrian  statue  of  Mr.  Pitt  will 
be  erected  in  Wall  street."  This  statue  of  George  III.  stood  till 
some  time  in  177G.  I  saw  it  in  1775.  In  177G  it  was  thrown 
down,  and  tradition  says,  converted  into  bullets,  to  resist  his  gra- 
cious majesty's  soldiers,  when  sent  to  enforce  the  doctrine  of  '*  the 
sovereignty  of  British  parliament  over  the  colonies,  in  all  cases 
whatsoever" — ^the  doctrine  of  Mr.  Pitt,  Lord  Chatham,  which  he 
died  in  an  effort  to  enforce.  The  pedestal  stood  until  long  after 
the  revolution.  No  fragment  of  the  horse  or  rider  were  ever  seen 
after  its  overthrow ;  and  so  completely  had  the  memory  of  this 
event,  (the  erecting  the  only  equestrian  statue  ever  set  up  in  New 
York,)  been  lost,  that  I  have  never  found  a  person  who  could  tell 
me  on  what  occasion  itwas  ordered,  or  when  placed,  in  the  Bowling 
Green.  It  was  not  until  recently,  that  I  met  with  the  foregoing 
announcement  in  Holt's  Ciazette. 

September  10th. — (iovernour's  Island  is  still  called  Nutten 
Island.  Announced,  diat  on  the  7th,  a  marble  pedestrian  statue  of 
Lord  Chatham  was  erected  in  Wall  street.  The  statue  is  de- 
scribed as  being  in  the  Roman  habit ;  the  right  hand  holds  a  scroll 
partly  open,  wherein  we  read  Arfiruii  Mti^uac  Chartoe  Lihcrtatnm; 
the  left  hand  is  extended — the  figure  being  in  the  attitude  of  one 
delivering  an  oration.  On  the  south  side  of  the  pedestal  is  the 
following  inscription  cut  in  the  marble.  "  This  statue  of  the  Right 
Honourable  William  Pitt,  Kari  of  Chatham,  was  erected  as  a  pub- 
lick  testimony  to  the  grateful  sense  the  colony  of  New  York  retains 
of  the  many  eminent  services  he  rendered  to  America,  particularly 
in  promoting  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act,  Anno  Dom.  1770.' 

24th. — John  M'Clean,  who  had  been  a  drummer  in  the  army  of 
William  III.,  died  in  Orange  county.  New  York,  109  years  old. 

z 


GCn  APPENDIX. 

.    80th. — The  celebrated  Whitfield  died  at  Newburyport. 

December  17th. — The  common  council  resolved  to  close  the 
doors  of  their  chamber,  during  their  sittings.     The  vote  stood 
eight  to  five- 
Edmund  Burke  was  in  this  year  appointed  agent  for  the  province 
of  New  York. 
1771         In  Holt's  New  York  Journal,  or  the  General  Advertiser, 
of  January  3d,  is  to  be  found  the  following  curious  narrative, 
of  what  we  must  presume,  to  have  been  spontaneous  combustion : 
"  On  Monday  evening,  the  last  day  of  the  year,  the  following 
dreadful  and  surprising  accident  happened  at  a  house  in  Division 
street,  in  this  city.     One  Hannah  Bradshaw,  (who  on  account  of 
her  large  size,  robust  appearance,  and  bold  behaviour  was  com- 
monly known  by  the  name  of  Man-of-war  Nanccj)  said  to  be  about 
30  years  of  age,  has  lived  a  dozen  years  or  more  in  this  city,  was 
a  healthy,  hearty  looking  woman,  remarkably  industrious  and  neat 
in  her  person  and  manner  of  living,  but  bore  a  bad  character  with 
respect  to  chastity  and  sobriety — living  in  an  upper  room,  which 
had  no  connection  with  the  rooms  below,  occupied  by  a  family. 
On  the  evening  of  the  3 1st  December,  she  desired  a  young  woman 
who  worked  for  her,  and  was  going  home,  to  come  again  early  tlie 
next  morning ;  and  about  7  o'clock  the  same  evening,  another 
acquaintance  of  her's  parted  from  her,  at  which  time  she  seemed  to 
have  drank  a  little  too  freely.     No  person  lived  with  her,  and  she 
was  generally  alone  in  her  room,  close  shut.     She  was  neitlier 
heard  nor  seen  again  till  next  day,  when  the  young  woman  came 
to  work,  who,  after  knocking  and  calling,  and  having  waited  till 
past  11  o'clock,  with  the  assistance  of  the  man  who  lived  below, 
she  got  through  a  back  window,  and  opened  the  door ;  when, 
looking  within  a  screen  which  went  quite  across  the  room,  and  was 
fitted  to  reach  the  ceiling,  she  beheld  the  remains  of  the  unhappy 
Hannah  Bradshaw  the  most  shocking  spectacle  imaginable.     The 
body,  or  rather  the  bones  were  lying  near  the  middle  of  the  floor, 
wherein  a  hole  of  about  four  feet  diameter  was  burnt  quite  away, 
and  the  bones  lying  on  the  ground,  which  was  about  a  foot  beneath 
that  part  of  the  floor.     The  flesh  was  entirely  burnt  off  the  bones 
of  the  whole  body  and  limbs,  except  a  small  part  on  the  skull,  a 
little  on  one  of  the  shoulders,  the  lower  part  of  the  right  leg  and 
foot,  which  was  burnt  off  at  the  srhall,  almost  as  even  as  if  cut  off, 
and  left  lying  on  the  floor,  the  stocking  burnt  as  far  as  the  leg  and 
no  farther.     The  bones,  some  of  which  were  black,  and  others 
white,  like  a  pipe-stem,  were  so  thoroughly  burnt  that  they  might 
be  crumbled  to  dust  between  the  fingers  ;  the  bowels  remained  un- 
consumed.    One  of  the  sleepers,  which  lay  under  the  shoulders,  was 
burnt  almost  through  ;  part  of  the  head  lay  on  the  planks,  at  the 
edge  of  the  hole,  and  near  it  a  candle-stick,  with  part  of  a  candle 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER*  GCm 

Ml  it,  thrown  down,  but  did  not  appear  to  have  touched  any  part  of 
the  body,  or  to  have  set  any  thing  on  fire  ;  the  tallow  was  melted 
off  the  wick,  which  remained  unscorched  by  the  fire,  as  also  the 
screen,  which  almost  touched  the  hole.  The  leg  of  a  rush-bot- 
tomed chair,  and  about  half  the  bottom  were  burnt,  so  far  as  they 
were  within  the  compass  of  the  hole  on  the  floor,  and  no  further. 
The  ceiling  of  the  room,  which  was  white-washed  plaster,  was  as 
black  as  if  covered  with  lamp-black,  as  also  part  of  the  walls  and 
windows,  and  the  heat  had  been  so  great  as  to  extract  the  turpen^ 
dne  from  the  boards  of  the  wainscot.  After  all  these  operationSf 
the  fire  went  entirely  out,  so  that  when  the  body  was  found,  not  a 
spark  remained.  It  is  extremely  surprising  that  with  such  an  in- 
tense degree  of  heat  as  was  necessary  so  entirely  to  consume  the 
floor,  etc.,  with  the  body,  and  to  calcine  the  bones,  the  fire  should 
have  stopped  of  itself,  without  burning  the  house  or  even  scorch- 
ing the  screen  ;  which  is  hardly  conceivable  if  the  fire  had  blazed, 
and  if  it  did  not,  it  is  equally  inconceivable  that  the  heat  should 
have  been  so  intense.  As  there  was  a  chimney  in  the  room,  and 
1  cellar  under  part  of  die  floor,  with  which  tlie  fire  opened  a  com- 
munication, it  could  not  have  stopped  for  want  of  air.  It  is  said, 
the  person  who  was  left  in  company  with  the  woman,  at  parting, 
told  her  he  should  see  her  no  more  till  another  year — litde  think- 
ing, as  it  was  so  near,  that  she  would  not  live  to  see  it — tliat  she 
was  then  on  the  brink  of  eternity  ;  and  that  before  morning  light 
her  soul  would  be  required  of  her." 

Some  apparent  discrepancies  may  be  noticed  ;  such  as  the  wo- 
man^s  apartment  being  called  an  upper  room,  and  yet  some  of  the 
bones  having  been  found  on  the  ground  in  the  hole ;  but  I  account 
for  this  by  the  supposition  that  another  tenant  of  the  small  wooden 
house  lived  in  a  cellar,  under  a  part  of  diis  upper  room  ;  an  upper 
room  only  from  its  being  above  ground. 

Id  Gaine's  Mercury,  of  January  7tb,  1771,  the  same  account 
is  published.  If  there  had  been  any  thing  wrong  in  die  statement, 
four  days  would  have  brought  it  to  light. 

February  25th. — Mr.  Justice  Livingston,  who  had  three  times 
been  refused  a  seat  in  the  assembly,  was  again  elected  for  the  ma- 
nor of  Livingston. 

May  3d. — The  common  council  resolve,  "  whereas,  the  general 
assembly  of  (his  province,  hatli  lately  been  at  the  great  expense  of 
sending  for  an  equestrian  statue  of  his  present  majesty,  and  erected 
the  same,  on  the  green  before  his  majesty's  fort  in  this  city,  and  this 
board  conceiving,  that  unless  the  said  green  be  fenced  in,  the  same 
will  very  soon  become  the  receptacle  of  all  the  filth,  and  dirt  of 
the  neighbourhood,  in  order  therefore,  to  prevent  which,  this  board 
has  uDtnimously  agreed,  to  fence  in  the  same  with  iron  rails  and 
a  stone  fimndation,  according  to  the  plan  now  exhibited  to  this 


OOIV  APPENDIX. 

board,  and  have  contracted  with  Richard  Sharpe,  Peter  T.  Cur- 
tinius,  Gilbert  Forbes,  and  Andrew  Lydall,  for  compleatiDg  the 
same,  for  the  consideration  of  ^800." 

July  9th. — An  address  ordered,  and  the  freedom  of  the  city,  to 
William  Tryon,  Esq.,  captain-general,  governour,  etc.,  etc.  The 
gold  box  to  cost  20  pistoles.  And,  that  the  City  Hall,  New  Jail, 
Work-house,  and  Ferry-house,  at  Nassau  Island,  be  illuminated, 
"  as  a  compliment  to  his  excellency,  Governonr  Tryon." 

The  British  ministry  at  this  period,  appear  to  have  been  per- 
plexed, both  by  European  and  American  affairs.  Many  were  the 
writers,  both  in  England  and  in  the  colonies,  who  employed  dieir 
pens  and  the  press,  on  the  subjects  in  controversy  between  Great 
Britain  and  America.  The  Dean  of  Gloucester,  Dr.  Tucker, 
boldly  advocated  an  immediate  separation  of  the  contending  parties. 
He  contended,  that  the  situation  of  the  British  colonies,  was  now 
such,  that  it  was  for  the  advantage  of  England  to  release  all  claims 
upon  them,  and  establish  them  as  independent  states.  It  is  need- 
less to  say,  that  (like  others,  who  are  in  advance  of  the  time  in 
which  they  live,)  he  was  considered  by  his  countrymen  as  wild 
and  visionary.  Yet,  a  few  years  convinced  them,  that  he  was  a  wise 
man,  and  a  seer.  Of  a  very  different  character  were  other  Eng- 
lish writers,  Adam  Smith,  Samuel  Johnson,  and  George  Chalmersy 
who  were  distinguished  among  the  many  champions  of  the  right  of 
Britain,  to  rule  her  colonies  with  the  rod.  On  the  other  hand, 
Price  and  IVieslIy,  stood  forth  in  defence  of  the  rights  of  their  fel- 
low subjects  beyond  the  Allantick.  Among  ourselves,  Otis,  Dick- 
enson, and  Frunklin,  were  at  this  time  most  conspicuous  as  au- 
thors in  support  of  American  self-government.  Of  these,  Otis  was 
snatched  from  the  ranks  of  patriot  combatants  in  this  year,  by  an 
aberation  of  reason,  perhaps,  occasioned  by  his  intense  devoted- 
nessto  the  cause  of  his  country.  Nor  must  we  forget  the  efforts 
of  Witherspoon,  who  pleaded  the  cause  of  the  country  he  had 
chosen,  both  in  his  sermons,  and  by  addressing  the  Scotch  resi- 
dents in  America,  his  native  countr^'mcn  and  fellow  subjects. 

The  population  of  the  city  of  New  York  at  this  period,  is  said  to 
be  21,163;  Long  Island,  27,731  ;  of  the  whole  province  103,338. 

The  fyiiig  machbic  used  to  go  once  a  week,  to  and  fro,  between 

New  York  and  Philadelphia. 

1772         January  12ih. — The  assembly  voted  Governour  Trj'on 

a  salary  of  ^2,000.     He  informed  them,  that  the   kiiig's 

instructions  forbade  him   from  receiving  any  present  or  gift  from 

the  assembly.* 


Lord  Diinmore,  his  iminediate  predecessor,  had  refased  a  similar  ofier. — Sm 
d1.  1.  D.  449. 


Vol.  1,  p.  449. 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  OCV 

16th. — The  assembly  resolved,  that  a  person  must  have  been 
a  resident  for  six  months  previous  to  election  in  the  place  he  ia 

elected  to  represent. 
1773         February  2d. — The  govemour  recommends  an  increase 
of  the  salaries  of  the  judges  of  the  supreme  court,  the  pre- 
sent annual  allowance  being  wholly  inadequate. 

March  8th. — The  assembly  entered  at  large  on  their  journals, 
a  state  of  the  right  of  the  colony  of  New  York,  with  respect  to  its 
eastern  boundary  on  Connecticut  river,  so  far  as  New  Hampshire 
was  concerned.  They  contended  for  the  priority  of  possession  by 
the  Dutch.  They  (the  Dutch)  had  in  161;:^,  a  town  and  fort,  (near 
New  York)  and  in  1614,  a  town  and  fort,  (near  Albany.)  Previ- 
ous to  1614,  tlie  tSates-General,  granted  a  patent  to  some  of  their 
subjects,  with  the  privilege  of  an  exclusive  trade  in  this  country, 
which  they  called  New  Netherland.  In  1623,  the  Dutch  erected 
Fort  Nassau,  on  the  east  side  of  Delaware  bay,  and  Fort  Good 
Hope,  on  Connecticut  river,  thirty-five  miles  above  the  mouth, 
(Hartford.)  The  Dutch  enjoyed  the  exclusive  trade,  and  posses- 
sion of  the  whole  of  Connecticut  river,  long  before  the  English 
had  approached  it :  and  they  had  purchased  almost  all  the  lands 
on  both  sides  of  it,  from  the  natives.  It  is  clear,  they  claimed  all 
the  country  to  the  west  of  Connecticut  river,  and  as  far  north,  as 
the  river  St.  Lawrence.  [They  refer  to  Ogleby's  America,  pub- 
lished in  1671,  with  his  map ;  and  to  Slave's  America,  published 
at  Amsterdam  in  1662,  Vol.  II.,  and  his  map :  and  to  Johannes 
Van  Kulen's  Atlas.] 

The  Dutch  govemour,  Stuyvesant,  in  his  letter  of  the  2d  Sep- 
tember, 1664,  in  answer  to  a  letter  from  Govemour  Nicolls,  denies 
the  king's  title,  and  insists  on  the  right  of  the  States-General, 
founded  on  first  discovery,  purchase  from  the  native  proprietors, 
and  long,  and  uninterrupted  possession.  He  was  obliged  to  sur- 
render all  the  country  on  the  27th  August,  1664,  with  a  stipula- 
tion that  his  people  should  enjoy  their  land,  wherever  they  were 
in  the  country.  The  States-General  ceded  the  country  to  Great 
Britain  by  the  treaty  of  Breda,  1667,  and  again  by  the  treaty  ojf 
London,  1674.  The  Duke  of  York's  tide  to  the  tract  of  country 
so  conquered,  was  by  patent,  12th  March,  1664,  confirmed 
29th  June,  1674.  It  included  Manhattan  and  Long  Island 
and  Hudson's  river,  *'  and  all  the  land  from  the  west  side  of 
Connecticut  river,  to  the  east  side  of  Delaware  bay,"  The 
Duke  of  York's  commission  to  Govemour  Andros,  July  1st,  1664, 
and  to  Colonel  Thomas  Dongan,  September  30th,  1683,  expressly 
comprehended  all  the  land  as  aforesaid.  The  Duke  of  York's, 
right  as  proprietor,  was  merged  in  the  royal  authority  when 
be  became  king,  and  on  his  abdication,  it  passed  to  King 
William  as  lord  proprietor.    All  the  royal  commissions  to  the 


€0VI  APPENDIX. 

governours,  were  to  the  province  of  New  York,  and  the  territories 
depending  thereon.  The  province  has  been  diminished  by  the 
erection  of  New  Jersey — by  the  agreement  of  the  boundary  line 
with  Connecticut,  in  1GS3,  and  by  the  limits  of  Quebec  in 
1763. 

As  10  the  Connecticut  claim — The  New  England  colonies  were 
founded  on  the  grant  of  King  James  I.,  November  3d,  1620,  to 
the  council  of  Plymouth,  of  property  and  jurisdiction  in  America 
from  40  to  48  degrees,  north  latitude.  This  patent  was  not  in- 
tended to  interfere  with  the  Dutch,  for  it  stales,  that  the  king  is 
given  to  understand,  that  there  aie  no  other  subjects  of  any  Chris- 
tian state,  or  by  any  authority  from  their  sovereigns,  actually  in 
possession  of  any  of  the  said  lands,  and  that  the  premises  intended 
"  were  not  then  actually  possessed  or  inhabited,  by  any  other  Chris- 
tian power  or  state."  This  patent  was  founded  on  fake  sugges- 
tions, and  the  saving  clause  excluded  the  Dutch. 

The  council  of  Plymouth  by  deed,  19th  of  March,  in  the  third 
year  of  Charles  II.,  granted  Massachusetts  to  Sir  Henry  Roswell 
and  others  ;  and  in  162S,  March  4th,  they  obtained  a  royal  char- 
ter, with  ample  powers  of  government.  The  grants  were  east 
and  west  from  sea  to  sea.  But  still  founded  on  the  patent  of  1620, 
and  valid  only,  so  far  as  that  was ;  and  there  was  in  that,  an  express 
declaration,  that  if  the  lands  were  at  the  time  possessed  by  any 
Christian  power  or  slate,  the  grant  as  to  such  part,  should  be 
utterly  void.  The  Massachusetts  charter  was  vacated,  and  recalled, 
and  the  tide  of  Massachusetts  rested  on  the  new  charter  of  1691. 

The  colonics  of  Hartford  and  New  Haven,  setded  at  first  with- 
out any  legal  authority.  They  assumed  jurisdiction  as  voluntary 
associations.  The  Dutch  at  first  considered  tlie  people  of  Hart- 
ford as  their  tenants,  by  the  Dutch  resolution,  entered  on  their  re- 
cords at  the  fort  in  Amsterdam,  at  New  Netherland,  July  9th,  1642. 
The  English  never  acceded  to  the  idea.  In  1643,  the  four  colo- 
nies, (Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Hartford,  and  New  Haven,) 
federated  against  the  Dutch  and  Indians.  Governour  Stuyve- 
sant,  in  1660,  considered  his  situation  most  critical,  from  the  de- 
mands, encroachments,  and  usurpations,  of  his  eastern  neighbours : 
— But  he  says,  '*  the  right  of  both  rivers  by  the  purchase  and  pos- 
session, is  our  own  without  dispute." 

The  Connecticut  patent  of  1 663,  was  not  intended  to  interfere 
with  die  Dutch  colony.  For  in  this  year,  afterward,  the  king  ex- 
pressly granted  all  the  country  to  the  westward  of  Connecticut 
river,  to  the  Duke  of  York.  Governour  Nicolls,  when  he  took 
possession  for  the  Duke  of  York,  found  the  colony  of  Connecticut 
already  in  possession  of  Greenwich  and  Stanford,  and  he  recom- 
mended to  the  Duke,  to  release  his  rights,  and  in  1683,  a  line 
twenty   miles   east  of    Hudson's   river  was    agreed   on.      The 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CCTU 

•greemeoC  was  coDfirmed  by  the  king,  20ib  March,  1700.  This 
was  a  sealement  by  coropioinise.  The  Duke  claimed  to  CoDDecti* 
cut  river  :  Connecticut,  to  the  South  Sea. 

Massachusetts. — Their  old  charter  iras  adjudged  roid  in  1684, 
in  chancery.  They  submitted  and  accepted  a  new  charter,  1691. 
That  stricdy  could  not  go  further  than  Connecticut,  then  legally 
did.  Massachusetts  has  unjustly  wrested  from  New  York,  the  conn* 
try  west  of  Connecucut  river,  to  within  twenty  miles  of  New  York* 
Now  ID  16So,  the  patent  of  the  manor  of  Uensselaerwick  extended 
from  Hudson  river,  on  the  east  and  west  sides  twentv-four 
miles.  Hosick  was  granted  in  IGSS,  and  extends  above  thirty  miles 
from  the  river.  These  grants  could  not  be  affected  by  the  Massa- 
chusetts charter  of  1G9L ;  and  are  evidences  that  it  was  not  in- 
tended to  affect  die  Duke  of  York's  patent.  The  colony  of  New 
York  has  a  tide  to  die  countrv  to  Connecucut  river,  and  north  to 
the  Canada  line,  by  the  submission  and  subjecuon  of  the  Five  Na- 
tions, by  treaty,  as  early  as  IGSS,  with  the  governours  for  New  York. 
The  countr}'  on  Lake  Champlain,  belonged  originally  to  the  Five 
Nations ;  and  this  fact  is  proved  by  all  the  ancient  maps.  The 
lake  was  called.  Lake  Iroquois,  and  that  was  the  name  of  the  Five 
Nations.  In  1G9G,  a  colony  grant  was  made  to  Ciodfrey  Dellius 
(or  a  tract  of  land  from  the  norUi  bounds  of  Saratoga,  to  the  Rock 
ItoucMy  which  is  a  stadon  indisputable,  and  lies  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  north  of  Crown  Point.  This  tract  extends  twelve  miles  east 
of  Wood  Creek.  The  grant  was  repealed  by  statute  in  1G99,  as 
being  extravagant.  The  faithless  encroachments  of  the  French — 
their  fortifyins:  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga — their  depredauons 
and  the  sa^*age  and  merciless  devastation  of  the  northern  (kontiers, 
have  prevented  the  settlement  of  this  northern  countr}'. 

Id  April,  the  fortifications,  etc.,  at  Crown  Point,  were  destroyed 
by  the  accidental  blowing  up  of  the  |K)wder  magazine. 

May  13ih. — ^In  Kivingion'sC»azctte,  of  this  date,  appear  the  two 
following  curious  stories : 

"Advertisement.  Bush  Creek,  Frederick  county,  Marj'land, 
October  11th,  1771.  Run  away  from  the  subscriber,  a  convict 
servant  maid,  named  Sarah  WiUon,  but  has  changed  her  name  to 
Lady  Susanna  Carolina  Matilda,  which  made  the  publick  believe 
that  she  was  his  majesty's  sister.  She  has  a  blemish  in  the  right 
eye,  black  rolled  hair,  stoops  in  the  shoulders,  makes  a  common 
pracuce  of  writins:  and  marking  her  cloaths  with  a  crown  and  a  B. 
\VhoeTer  secures  the  said  servant  woman,  or  takes  her  home,  shall 
recei%'e   five   pistoles,   besides  all   costs   and   charges. — William 

Duvall. 

**  I  entide  Michael  Dalton  to  search  the  city  of  Philadelphia  and 
from  thence  to  Charleston  for  said  woman. — William  Duvall." 

This  Sarah  Wilson  was  an  attendant  upon  Miss  Vernon,  a  maid 


of  honour  to  the  queen,  and  found  means  to  break  open  a  cabinet 
of  the  queen'89  and  abstract  several  jewels,  and  her  majesty's  pic- 
ture. She  was  tried,  and  condemned  to  death,  but  the  sentence 
softened  to  transportation  to  the  colonies.  She  was  exposed  to 
sale,  and  was  purchased  by  Duvall,  from  whom  she  escaped  and 
travelled  through  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas,  as  above  stated; 
having  carried  off  cloaths,  and  preserved  jewtis  fmd  tbe  queen's 
picture,  which  supported  her  chums  to  be  not  the  Idng'sy  but  tbe 
queen's  sister.  She  was  received  as  a  sprig  of  royahy  mm  hooss 
to  house^  and  condescended  to  permit  the  masten  lo  kiss  her  hand. 
They  entertained  her  with  honours,  and  she  proaoised  to  some, 
governments,  and  to  others,  various  civil  appointments,  aad  to  the 
officers  of  the  army  and  navy,  promotion.  She  borrowed  oonsid^ 
erable  sums  of  her  du|ies,  or  the  dupes  of  their  own  folly.  Dahon 
pursued  her  to  Charleston ;  but  she  had  departed  to  a  plantation  • 
on  a  visit.  Here  the  account  ceases.  Bat  m  die  Oaiette  for  Sep- 
tember Sd,  1773,  is  the  following  paragraph  : 

"  Tuesday  last,  arrived  in^  this  city  a  person  who  stjrles  bendf 
the  Marchioness  De  Waldegrave,"  and  the  account  goes  on  tosqr 
that  she  is  supposed  to  be  the  person  mentioned  in  tbe  papers  as 
Bmh  Wilson,  alias  Lady  Carolina  Matilda.  **  She  sjdll  insiBfn  on 
the  reality  of  her  high  pretensions,  and  makes  the  same  impressions 
on  many  as  she  did  in  the  souths" 

We  observe,  that  in  October  11th,  1771,  she  is  advertised  as  a 
runaway  slave,  and  in  September  2d,  (nearly  two  years  after)  1773, 
she  is  announced,  or  a  person  supposed  to  be  tbe  same,  as  having 
arrived  in  New  York,  and  playing  the  same  part  of  nobility.  How 
did  she  escape  the  pursuit  of  Dalton  ?  Where  was  she  in  the 
interim  f  What  her  subsequent  fate  ?  What  a  ground-work  for 
romance ! 

The  story  of  James  Hutchinson  is  a  romance  of  another  kind. 
He  was  a  planter  of  Barbadoes,  and  made  a  practice  of  securing 
in  his  "pen"  any  animals  which  strayed  from  the  neighbouring 
plantations.  He  became  rich.  His  neighbours  very  mjrsteriously 
disappeared.  Finally,  T.  Cadwallader  lost  a  jack  ass,  and  traced 
the  stray  to  Hutchinson's  pen.  Cadwallader  called  oil  bim,  and 
stated  the  fact ;  to  which  the  reply  was,  that  he  should  take  home 
his  property.  Hutchinson  took  his  gun,  and  led  Cadwallader  to 
the  pen,  and  there,  instead  of  restoring  the  beast,  took  the  opportu- 
nity of  the  man's  turning  from  him  to  shoot  him.  He  then  cut  off 
the  head,  and  dragging  the  body  to  the  clifis,  precipitated  it  into  t 
chasm,  (it  is  to  be  supposed  after  rifling  it  of  any  money.)  The 
head  was  thrown  into  a  cave  at  a  distance.  It  happened  Uiat  a  free 
white  person  was  sick,  and  lodged  at  Hutchinson's,  who,  hearing 
the  repoit  of  the  gun,  crawled  out,  and  witnessed  enough  of  the 
transaction  to  convict  the  murderer  on  trial,  and  he  was  hanged. 


mSCBLLAXSOUS  MATTER.  CCIX 

A  Qumber  of  heids  or  skulls  were  rounil  in  the  cave«  and  the  tnces 
of  many  bodies  -thai  had  been  thrown  ilown  ilie  precipice.  A 
part  of  Cadwallader^s  clothing  was  i^ioniiilci!,  from  hanirini:  on  a 
projecting  rock  and  lecorered,  and  his  head  was  likewise  proved 
lo  be  among  the  skulb  in  the  cave.  The  miirJerer's  slaves  knew 
of  his  guilt,  but  dared  not  accuse  him :  neitjier  would  tliey  ha^-e 
been  competent  witnesses  against  him. 

May  ihiih. — The  mayor  produces  an  a^ilress  to  Ga^e.  Il 
laments  his  departure— expresses  their  sense  of  obli^tivin  to  him 
for  his  perfonnance  of  the  arduous  task  of  commanding  **  an  army 
in  that  critical  hour  when  the  several  branehes  of  the  empire,  rent 
by  unnatural  discords^  seemetl  to  bo  upon  the  point  of  dissolving 
the  union  to  which  they  owe  tlieir  safely,  tiieir  glory,  and  their 
bappinesss.** 

November  ISth. — Charles  Clinton.  i!ie  father  of  George  Clin- 
ton, member  for  Ulster  county^  departed  tins  life  at  his  seat  in  Little 
Briuin,  aged  Sd.  He  arrived  here  from  tiie  north  of  Ireland, 
ia  17^,  and  was  long  employed  in  tliis  pr^ivince  as  a  sur^^eyor. 
He  was  lieutenant-colonel  of  one  of  die  regiments  in  Ulster  county, 
and  first  judge.  He  commanded  a  reciment  at  the  reduction  of 
Fort  Frootiguac,  under  General  Bradsireet,  when  near  70  yean 
of  age. 

In  NoTember,  Rivington  publishes  (in  consequence  of  a  threat,) 
«  handbill  which  had  been  cireulateii.  (and  Gaine  and  Parker  and 
Anderson  are  requested  to  publish  the  same.)  It  is  an  address  to 
tbe  Sons  of  Libeny  and  Commeree«  criminating  William  Kelly 
ibr  not  adhering  to  the  non-importation  resolutions,  and  for  saying 
**  that  there  was  no  danger  of  the  resentment  of  the  people  of  New 
York,  if  it  should  be  as  high  as  it  was  at  the  time  of  the  stamp  act. 
That  then  they  had  an  old  man  (C.  Colden.)  to  deal  whh ;  but 
DOW  they  bare  Govemour  Tryon«  (a  miliian*  man)  who  had  sup- 
pressed the  insurrection  in  North  Carolina,  and  he  would  cram  the 
tea  down  their  throats.*'  The  friends  of  libeny  and  commerce, 
considering  the  above  declaration  of  William  Kelly  o  inimical  to 
Atuerka,  and  as  encouraging  the  ministr}*  in  their  diabolical  plans 
df  enslanag  the  country,  bung  him  in  enig}\  after  carting  it 
through  the  streets  with  labels  affixed,  and  between  the  hands  a  tea 
cmnnister.  labelled.  **  tea.  3d.  sierlinc*  dutv/'  and  *^  the  infamous 
Kelly.**  The  multitude  huzza  during  the  procession  to  the  gallows* 
and  shouted  **  No  tea  !**  The  image  was  burnt  opposite  the  Cof^ 
fee-house.  Wall  street.  A  gentleman  then  addressed  the  people, 
saying,  *"  If  we  had  the  base  original,  we  would  ser\*e  him  the 
samef*  and  then  advised  them  to  go  peaceably  home.  About 
this  same  time,  while  his  effigy  was  burning  in  New  York.  Kelly 
married  a  lady  of  fortime  in  London,  and  shortly  after  was  defeated 
ia  hb  eflhrts  'for  a  seat  in  pariiaroenu  r-  ^  :« 


December  lOih. — Roben  R.Liringscoa  lor  tLe  £fK  urr«e  irceia 
as  Recorder. 

Nezro  ?iaven".  a  f5To*jri:e  measure  wiA  Erj'izd.  wx?  ^**^7 
exteodinz  iu  bar^ef*:!  ir.!*:  ;er.ce  ia  the  coion'.v*.  Ti.-5  A^>=ncaB 
Rej^ter,  of  170 J  rives  i:.e  nuaber  of  cenoes  Lro'^jLE  L3  •iai-rj 
from  the  coast  of  AtHca-  br?:wee3  Cape  h'tizico  and  "±e  ri^-irC:*- 
go,  by  difTcpen:  naU-jr.i  Ir*  o'^e  year,  ihu*  : — Great  Lrluia.  ->i^'.  .0; 
Bridsh  AmerlcaEs-  O-Ow :  France,  23,->i^iJ  ;  H«>-..ir.o.  Ilw^iJJ. : 
Portuz^I.  1.700;  Dei^mark.  l.tiw  ;  in  all.  104.1i».  Ik,  ^£Z'.  3y 
barter  for  European  and  Icdiaa  iaaDuiactiirer« — ±iost£r'i'jri  beiJi 
the  arera^e  price  ^.\en  for  ea-r^b  ce^To.  Th:L*  we  see  LiU  z:»:rs 
than  one  half  of  iLe  wre:c:-r*  wlxo  were  kl.;::a:^ted.  cr  zon  ;▼ 
ibrce  from  ihe^r  home*  Lv  i.,e  ajrer.ta  of  Kt-ro'ieia  c-rfci-i-'-f-  '>:t 
euch  those  whosur':/*  i:.e  ::.  =  riic:  i;i;ir:  L-e  co --■]•:  :-:•:/  '»c.-»e  >i:r- 
ficed  to  the  c u : ? i ■ :! : v  ij f  1 1. e  n . -r re.* i r. t"?  of  G re*.:  Ijrlia : .1 :  li-t  :."a5i: £ 
encouraged  bv  •kl.c-  jovcrr.::;er,;  £t  :?.e  »ai::e  tio^e  i:-a:  tl*  !•:*?:  j« 

—  «  ^ 

sounded  liirouju  ;:.c  ivorl*:.  :Li:  il.e  ir.oc;en£  a  ^LaTe  ioj^il^s  'jjt 
sacred  soil.  zo\ercfs*i  Lv  tho.-e  »^I*o  eiicou rare  iLe  *la¥e-cikir% 
and  inhabited  by  iLo^e  vj.o  revel  in  Lie  prodts  derived  iroz:  cin- 
der, he  is  free.  S.r.'.vrrei.  L'.e  ne^o,  i*  ilL-iraie  j  by  liie  cocr:  ci 
kinz's  bench,  ia  177:;.  £r.d  i:.e  wor.d  is  n*ied  wiii  :Le  uoe  cc 
Er.jli*:;  j:;s*I:e  a:: J  Li;;.':i.';!r." !  Jzizes  Grahacie  leL*  -j*  tias 
Somerset's  case  was  r.«ji  il.e  Lrst,  in  wLich  the  iudje*  of  Orei: 
Britain  cour.:eraf::cd  Ir.  clc  or  i-ao  cise*  liiC  pracucal  ir.iiL-cazrT 
of  tl?  joverr.r:.-::.:  ^:.i  i..v  r.o.'.v:  :.e  says,  li.*:  ir.  i7r>*J.  i-* 
gra:;il»a:..':r.  T-. ■....;?  <.»:-.-;. ..v.  •  .•;,*v  cf  ::.-:-  *-^c-Iril:v  c»:-*ir:  « 

It   W  J.-    1  ?.  -.  i  >.   I. .  i:    t :.  •:  1  'j'.    :.'.-  n  of   A  r^-r  r  !■:  i    ; :..  '.t  r  l-r-I    S  ra'-tf 

tr*e  prac;. >j  o:  i.^"-.-,-  .^vj.  :  j.  1  ..e  jc err.  i.-jr-?  i,  '■_ .i:-:i  :«  Lzi- 
lar.d  were  i.>-:::j  ^  'j  *j:.  .•  .r^jv  1:.  ir. ;  t»..-:-.  l  v  ir-r-.:...  ..i^  ex- 
acted li^*  s  to  .  f ' J : . ;l . :  :..-!:..  ^ ;    ■  r.  ::'. :r.  .-: .  : .>:•  v  ^ «e :e  a -f .:  it 

the  ve :o ?  of:..  _•  ,*■.■  v  :-.....-.*.     \^  1 :..  s  ; : . :  »:-  - : .. ..  ;■;  j  -:  r- -:.:.:  ..^  re*:  j.- 

less  and  avi:l'.!.:  >  1     :._•  :!.-:  r^!.  :.!r'.s  '.r.siz^d  1::  u-e    ■ .-:  ,  ird 
the  sidles  were  [•-.:,.. i-.  :  v.,  .-  :,:,  ..j..:  :,_.  :..e  c-_«jr-l-:s  :▼  ■_.'■.??* 
who  were  III:,  i  "j ::--_-  v-!!.  1.:  ;  :^  >.-::-  :  ^.rt-e-:  ti»^  or  r.-oi: :«:  ■_. 
futu.'e  i'o.-j  i.     i'i !vy. :!.-.- :.  ...r^..^'.,  ;..».>'.;.-..:  ::.e  Aiiiehcin  rev^,!  .-_.:q 

was  »:e!rL'rie.:  Ly  l':*..!^ .:.:»:-,  :>  pu:  aa  er.i  to  :le  s  ave  L-i^ie.  isi 
10  si.ow  :..::  i   -^:!   1  -:..    ■:::.!:,•  ::.  v^  is  r.o:  £:  :o  i-e  eciTiisted 
w *: h  i:.e  ^»j \  •: : r.  .. v :. :  o :  •.•  \ •  -. . . •  1  s  t  c *  .0 :- !e s.     \j\iv  L.e  : .  ii. >.-*  c-f 
the  souTj.c:..  -ii:-:"  ..i. -j  i..-.r.". ». re-.,  ."i.. :e  r:.c.-e  ir^e  Li  :^ii  reio- 
lulion.  I'wi!  ^::»;vry  ;^  :.- vv.::  i:.-  -e::vr  :.:  .r^llri-  tLc^ai'Ley.  :;^; 
the  ificrea^e  of  -ii.-.-  .:..i  :l...l:  ex:cr.5:o:i  c.-.r  r.^^r  r*:  j:vr-s.  ij  i» 
duty  ot  tiery  -O';  i........ .  .-a!.     T;.e  r.e.i  v%;.o  i:^<^d  ;&  i77;>.  w 

whom  Americi  o.  e-  . ..:  liLerty.  .[;.i  r..::  ::.::.k  ?*>. 

*».:.cjj:.  re-.-'.r.-: V  :-i  "...e  K;ij..-:j  ;•-'  .:v  i.;  .;*«:rcis.rj  t..e  r<uiE>* 


UISCELLANEOrS  UATTER.  CGXI 

oppo^ttioQ  to  the  system  of  taxatioa  irtt?  the  principal  source  of 
ftciion :  and  this  op{x»>ition  now  centen?  J  in  a  ileternii nation  to 
baffle  the  desiirns  of  Great  Britain  in  res[>ect  to  the  duties  on  tern. 
Seventeen  millions  of  pounds  of  tea  fiTrv  now  accumulated  in  the 
warehouses  of  t!ie  East  India  Company.  The  £x>vemment  wis 
detennined.  for  reasons  I  have  before  civen*  to  assist  this  mercrnn* 
tile  company,  as  well  as  the  African  merchants*  at  the  expense 
of  the  colonists  of  America.  The  East  India  Company  were 
BOW  authorized  to  export  their  tea  free  of  all  duty.  Thus  the 
Tenders  being  enabled  to  offer  it  cheaper  than  hitlierto  to  the  cok>- 
Btscs*  it  was  expected  that  it  would  dnd  a  welcome  market.  But 
the  Americans  saw  the  ultimate  intent  of  the  whole  scheme* 
and  their  distrust  towards  the  mother  country  n-as  proportionabij 

increaseii. 
1774         January  12ih. — Govemour  Tryon,  in  his  speech  to  the 

assembly  says,  with  the  utmost  a£^)ny  of  mind  for  the  safety 

of  mv  £imil\%  1  latelv  beheld  mv  own  interest  and  the  IVovince 

...  . 

House  inTolved  in  one  common  ruin  !  particularly,  he  says«  after 
their  liberal  crant  for  the  repair  of  the  building ;  he  tells  them  tbe 
boundarv  line  between  New  York  and  Massachusetts  was  settled 
by  the  commissioners  ap(H>inted  :  that  with  Canada  not  yet  so  ; 
that  in  consequence  of  the  outni;res  committed  by  the  New  Hamp- 
shire men  on  the  settlers  under  the  New  York  go%'emment,  (in  wlttt 
IS  now  Vennont*)  be  has  been  ordered  to  Enjrland. 

His  majest\^s  *'most  dutitul  and  loyal  subjects/*  in  answer, 
lament  the  calamities  of  the  6ie  in  the  fon«  and  those  in  *^  that 
comer  of  the  colony  which  has  been  for  so  many  years  disquieted 
by  tmjustidable  claims  under  the  province  of  New  Hampshire.** 
They  lament  the  covemouKs  deivxrture,  ahhou^h  they  rely  upoQ 
lus  exertions  in  re:iK\ivin^  the  evils  which  "  a  confederacy  of  in- 
8iire:ents'*  hare  brought  u^Kin  an  extensive  territory,  clearly  within 
dbe  ancient  ^:rant  of  the  colony,  solemnly  adjud^d  to  be  a  part  of 
it  br  tbe  roval  decision,  and  atterwards  ^raciouslv  distributed  to 
tbe  brare  ofiicers.  etc.     This  is  si£:ned.  John  Watts,  speaker. 

March  oth. — A  coni-utiee  rejH>rt  to  the  assembly  facts  respect- 
ins:  outrages  committed  by  lawless  pen>ons,  '*  calling:  themselves 
the  BeuMiMs^on  mtii^^*  who  have  assumed  military  commands  and 
iodicial  powers.  They  name  as  ringleaders  Ethan  Ellen,  Seth 
Warner,  and  six  others 

14th. — James  Jancey.  Jun.,  was  appointed  master  of  tbe  rolb, 
by  Tryon. 

April  :i5th. — The  Bridewell  lottery  is  mentioited.  Both  King*s 
College  and  the  Bridewell  were  built  by  funds  derived  from  the 
in&mous  source  of  lotteries  :  but  this  source  was  not  so  considered 
in  the  ^  rood  old  times.'* 

June  ^th. — Tbe  Records  of  tbe  corporation  of  New  York  ift 


OCXn  APPBNOIX* 

suspended  at  this  date,  and  are  not  resumed  untO  Febnnrj  lOtk, 
1784,  thus  leaving  a  chasm  of  nearly  ten  years. 

August  1st. — Sleasures  are  taken  to  elect  representadves  fortbe 
city  to  the  ensuing  congress.  Philip  Livingston,  John  Alsop, 
Isaac  Low,  and  Jolm  Jay,  publish,  that  if  elected,  they  will  advo- 
cate an  agreement  not  to  import  goods  from  Great  BritaiD,  ii 
being  the  most  efficacious  means  to  procure  redress  of  grievances. 

25th. — ^A  congress  of  deputies  assembled  in  North  Caroliiii 
from  the  counties  and  towns  of  the  province,  and  among  other 
acts  indicative  of  their  love  of  liberty,  passed  this  resolution,  *'thit 
they  will  not  import  any  slave  or  slaves,  nor  purchase  any  slave 
or  slaves  imported  or  brought  into  thb  province  by  others,  (rom 
any  part  of  the  world,  after  the  first  day  of  November  next." 
Happy  would  it  have  been  if  this  resolution  had  been  carried  into 
such  effect,  as  to  influence  the  conduct  of  the  sons  of  these  wise 
men. 

28th. — Gage  proclaims  all  town  meetings  called  without  the 
governour's  consent  illegal,  (except  the  annual  meetings,)  and  pro- 
hibits all  persons  from  attending  on  peril  of  the  consequences. 

September  5ih. — The  delegates  from  the  city  of  New  York 
departed  for  Philadelphia  to  the  congress.  John  Jay's  departure 
was  unknown  at  the  time,  but  Isaac  Low  was  accompanied  to 
Paulus  Hook  ferry  by  the  people  with  colours  flying,  musick  pity- 
ing, and  huzzas.  The  inhabitants  then  returned  to  the  Cofiee- 
house,  "in  order  to  testify  the  like  respect  to  James  Duane, 
Philip  Livingston  and  John  Alsop,  Esqrs."  They  were  accom- 
panied by  the  inhabitants  in  procession  to  the  Royal  Exchanee, 
where  Mr.  Duane  addressed  the  people.  They  embarked  at  the 
foot  of  Broad  Street,  and  they  were  saluted  with  discharges  of 
cannon,  huzzas,  etc. 

25th. — General  J.  Bradstreet  died,  aged  63.  He  had  been 
quartermaster-general  at  the  reduction  of  Louisbourg,  under  Shir- 
ley, in  1745  ;  in  175S  he  took  Cadaraqui.  The  civil  and  military 
officers,  and  tlie  47tli  regiment,  attended  bis  corpse  to  Trinity 
Church. 

October  31st. — Is  published  Israel  Putnam's  vindication  of  him- 
self from  the  charge  of  alarming  the  country  unnecessarily  by  his 
letter  in  September,  which  stated  that  he  was  informed  that  the 
British  had  attacked  Boston,  etc. ;  this  letter  had  been  reprinted 
and  ridiculed  ;  the  vindication  is  long,  and  though  signed,  was 
not  written  by  Israel. 

November  7th.— It  is  stated  that  23  ships,  5  snows,  22  brigs, 
9  schooners,  31  sloops,  were  in  the  harbour,  and  6  vessels  on  the 
stocks. 

December. — The  Flying  Machine  (a  great  improvement  in  tb* 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CCXIII 

rapidity  of  travelling)  still  continues  to  carry  passengers  in  two 
days  from  New  York  to  Philadelphia. 

In  December  certain  arras  ajid  ammunition  were  seized  by 
Andrew  Elliot,  collector,  as  not  being  on  the  ship's  cocket,  and 
conveyed  to  the  custom  house  ;  (where  was  it  ?)  On  the  27th  a 
threatening  letter  was  sent  to  Elliot  saying,  "  by  this  act  you  have 
declared  yourself  an  enemy  to  the  liberties  of  the  country,"  and 
threatening  to  call  upon  him  for  these  arms,  and  prohibiting  their 
being  sent  away.  They  say  his  former  good  conduct  and  genteel 
behaviour  entitle  him  to  this  notification,  otherwise  they  would 
wreak  their  resentment  on  him. 

Elliot  published  a  moderate  and  firm  answer,  saying  he  had  done 
and  should  do  his  duty.  The  merchants  expressed  their  appro- 
bation of  his  conduct:  but  that  night  handbills  were  published 
repeating  threats  and  accusations.  The  next  morning  tlie  mer- 
chants waited  on  him  and  assured  him  of  their  support.  They 
accompanied  him  to  the  Coffee-house,  where  the  people  cheered 
him.  He  returned  thanks,  but  assured  them  he  should  continue 
to  do  his  duty.  Elliot's  place  of  residence  was  what  was  after- 
ward known  as  the  Sailor's  Snug  Harbour,  (two  miles  from  town 
then)  and  he  to  avoid  "  the  troubles"  moved  to  Perth  Amboy, 
until  the  British  took  possession  of  New  York.  He  then  returned 
and  occupied  his  house,  and  received  the  appointment  of  lieutenant- 
govemour  or  head  of  the  police. 

Part  of  a  Song  published  this  year  in  a  handbill :  Tune,  King 
John  and  the  Abbot  of  Canterbury. 

I  sing  not  of  conquests  obtained  in  the  field. 

Nor  of  feats  when  proud  Trulla  made  Hudibras  yield  ; 

But  the  total  defeat  of  those  heroes  I  sing, 

That  would  fix  a  Republic  in  lieu  of  a  King, 

Derrj  down,  ete. 

First  observe  Johnny  Scott,  so  courageous  and  stout. 
He  swore  the  committee  should  all  be  tum*d  out. 
In  all  their  proceedings  he'd  find  out  some  flaw ; 
What's  the  body  of  Merchants  compared  to  the  Law. 

Then  Sawney*  McDougall,  so  grave  and  so  wise, 
With  a  face  like  an  owl,  and  the  same  blinking  eyes, 
Advancing  his  sage.  Puritanical  phyz. 
Cries  out  for  Agricola !    Lo,  here  he  is  ! 

Agricola  came,  most  determined  of  men, 
With  a  wand  that  he  wields  in  the  shape  of  a  pen; 
From  the  freedom  of  which  such  enchautmenls  ariie, 
That  Mcdition  once  touch'd,  it  inunediately  dies. 

King  Sears,  thy  great  merit  must  not  be  held  back. 
When  like  a  parch'd  pea,  thou  did'st  whiz,  jump  and  craek. 
From  this  party  to  tha^-still  engaged  as  a  tool, 
Till  he  found  tronbUd  wOen  to  leap  in  and  cool. 


CCXIT  APPENDIX. 

Shoald  Peter  Van  Brook  not  be  nin;  in  htf  tnm. 
The  >n:i4or«>e(lit!oufu!I  ^rtreW  inijiht  mourn: 
But  h':<«  6ft  ,U  iim?>:  uoi  iia<<TS.  w!iile  connected  with  t!icir»' 
Nor  hi^  foilie^  be  Auctified  by  bit  graj  hairv. 

A*  for  le^-ier  ret-Jn**r«,  1  think  'twould  be  wronr 
That  tfirir  naiii<f<«  ^^hoiild  imittortalizjtd  be  in  mv  fong: 
I  therefore  di*mi««  boib  the  rreat  and  the  miuJU 
Liinbf,  wolves  ^ud  tail  erruud-bo%>:  Himrchtm  and  all. 

1775  Januar}' 13ih. — Govemour  Franklin  addressed  the  le- 
gislature of  New  Jersey,  convened  at  Perth  Amboy^varnii^ 
tbem  not  to  sanction  certain  proceedings  connected  with  the  di»- 
putes  between  the  colonies  and  the  mother  countiy,  and  aasuns 
them  that  their  grievances  will  be  redressed  on  petition.  The 
council  return  a  com[)lacent  answer ;  but  the  assembly  sarrasdcaOr 
tell  him  that  they  know  of  no  improper  proceedings,  sneer  at  fas 
not  naming  the  acts  he  deems  improper,  and  sarcastically  observe 
that  they  cannot  see  why  the  petition  of  one  colony  should  be 
more  attended  to,  than  the  petition  of  all  the  colonies.  LieutenaDl* 
gOYemour  Colden's  address  is  in  the  same  style,  and  be  has  more 
success  with  the  New  York  assembly. 

In  Januar}',  Kivin^ton  appears  bolder,  and  no  doubt  the  tones 
were  encouraired.  The  pieces  against  the  continental  coneresi 
and  the  cause  of  America  were  multiplied  in  his  Gazeteer;  and 
his  paragraphs  were  openly  advocating  the  parliamentary'  tyranny. 
For  example — we  are  informed  that  the  popular  faction  appear?  to 
lose  ground.  Ac:ain,  the  demagogues  are  losing  irround  very  fist 
Yet  the  madmen  of  Marljjehead  are  preparing;  for  an  early  cam- 
paign against  his  ninje-ty's  troops,  etc.  He  published  scur- 
rilous verses  on  Hancock,  Adams,  and  Cooper,  the  Boston  town 
clerk.  The  majority  of  the  New  York  assembly  a^rcein*:  not  to 
send  delegates  to  the  congress  in  May,  caused  creat  triumph  to 
the  tories  ;  and  the  (Jazciecr  rejoices  in  these  verses — 

'*  And  ^o  my  sond  iDn^teri  I  find  it  no  joke. 

For  V>.>KK  1..10  «tf;i't  f(»rvvard  and  tliniuu  otT  the  voke 

Of  riin:rrf"i.  (■•min.ttot-:*.  aiid  ev#;n  K g  S *. 

Who  .".jiuw-  \ii\iT  z*'**d  nature  bv  .«ho\vin^  hi^  ears,"  etc. 

In  the  remainder  Hancock  and  Adams,  etc.,  are  consigned  to 
Gage.  ^ 

February  23d. — ^The  tories  triumphed  in  the  vote  of  the 


Kapelye,  nTcoIIs,  Billop,  IMiillips,  (Phillipse)  Ten'  Eyck,  Wills! 
Wilkin?,  Kissam,  and  Gale.  The  whigs  were  Clinton,  Wood- 
hull,  Thomas,  J3ocrum,  Captain  Seaman,  Colonel  Ten  Broeck, 
De  Witt,  Colonel  Schuyler,  and  Colonel  P.  Liviiigston. 


MISCELLANKOl~S  MATTES.  CCXT 

March  I3ih. — Tho  coir.mjricc  of  ol»>orva!ion  rsominato  Isaac 
I-oir.  Phili:^  l-ivinr>ton.  Jane*  Dct-i'io.  John  Al^i^i^.  Jobn  Jar, 
1—  Lis j'ko :■: :. rvi .  A lo\ .^. iiJ or  M «: Do . . c:' . ! -  -•  '^i  > -^  "-o  ^  : . . >: r?,  2 >  candK* 

■WiTf  c."o>c:':. 

'  o: Cxi  n  o I  :o  : .1  k 0  i n t o  c o :>i v : t  r.\ v.c^  : ." '. •:  ;'» r^^ v*  ot\ i '  :^ ^  o f  • '  \  o ;:  r  co n- 

rT>es5' '  art*  10  b-o  rt* w,i nic d.    "  Vi.o  P . " .- .. 0 c -.  5 .  W " ;::  1  s .  i" ol ik'^r. ?.  and 

ihe  Je5»icr*  ofih;^  ;v-.r:v.  are  10  l-o  n*  .^  ?.:*.: tii  iv.::c::  i::^:.cr.  i  v  places 

OS    honour,  pri^t::,  a:ik\  pc:^>io:":>.  ^'r.  :    W.::»<.  to  io    i'.cii:orani- 

COTvrno u r.  i :i  :  1  ■  c  n>> r.^  of  o " i:  ^" ^'^ \ : t  r .  A^ ':  o  n  :^ ■  ^ r s  on  a  t^i* r * Jo n - 

C reset  to  bo  of  i ;: 0  0 o .: r .^i  1 .  r. ' > -.^  ;:  \ , '. . .^ ,  C * '.^ .  ■. c :- .  M *■  K \  t r? .  and 

«^me  of  •ii'.v  Wi;:^^.     l..;r^"  ^r:.:*.:?  of  ];.  *  i  r.ro  li.Ni'.viso  :o  bo  ^iven  : 

and  ia  a  ■  j : : . 0  : ! .": 0.  ?.  I v.> :-. o.^  \^  ]  11  0 i . :  ■ ' .   v  1  i-*  r  r •  ■  i  ■  1 :: : ■,* ^i  for  A :«e- 

rioa.     Pr.  C^v>:vr«  of  .Now  \o:ls.  i>  :-\i\:  fi^r:   ;  :/:v*.  \^'::o  i>  ihe 

n:i;ii>40ri?.'i  wri-.t  r  ::.i'n^"     Ho  >a\<.  '■    1;.:>  ■■•r  <:  <:::v.::"j  An^crica 

are  cor."ir.v»  ::c?.:i  ,i  onioi.il  iv  lo  ilw  y..\..'<::\  \  •}  C  oiiio  n,  ?.y.d  pri^aiely 

bv  P2r>on  Varx'.iii.  a  rr,::ve  of  No^v  \  i.:k.  w:o  ha?  i-t'vn  horo  a 

4weircnx»n::\  a  niiniMori.ii  wr]:er.  ;::n:ir  :':-.o  <:^:*r.:i:ro  of  "Coriola- 

cu^"'  jaiolv  p.:v>niiiioi1  kiiu**  I'^rofoj.^or  :r.:':c  ool'i'^vof  Now  Yorf:, 

wiui  a  ^tlan*  v>f  aOO',>  s:orl:r.^ :   and  a    >b^^r  S\c-.u\  from  New 

York,  who  i>  aiv.v.r.ioo  co\orro;;rof  Cto^m:  roi;*::.  n:Td  «;:rTOvor 

of  ihe  «  Oivis.  V.  i;  :'i  a  -  m .*:  i  of  1 C •  *. •  ■  •  '■  r*  r: ;  rt>  i  ■  f  !.;:':::.'*     T  i  1 1*  was 

ibe  Skene,  of  Skono-iH^n-^ujh.  ::.^x  W   l-.-l  ;.:",   l.r.ko  Ohanplain. 

Apri]  :>"*:h. — M.^nt-Jiis  Wil-t;    r./vi  J*^  -i  l..'::y.b  are  decoiiiiced 

a«>  hat  2 r c  boo::  0 i: ?.  i rr."!0  n  o f  r.  :  o  -.^  1: ". ;  r  : :■.  ;• :" : .  •  -  :o  ov  0  ri" .:  l;1  pci  ?ons 

whoh3»i  ?<*':l  0:1  ivari??.  0:0.  f;\-  ■.:  0  Fr'.:l>.':  r*.:-.vv  r,:  Bo<:on.    Scars 

is  said  10  have  n\^i5o  a  no:lo:i  ::  ;.:  i".  ■.  :v  :/.*.::  ^".■.o.r.!li  rrrvit?o  liini- 

a«*if  w  ::h  fi^ ;; r  .■  .*  I'l  :^^  i"  r. : v  ro:: "■.■.>.     A :  r.  ^ .^•. '" .' r  r.-  ct:' :: ^.  Scar?  was 

taken  { .=->   is  <  >  1  /. ^  hy  .1  w ,-: r /.i  • :.   ;, / .:   0 :::'. ■:■ .:  l- c f.^ro  she  ir a yor, 

and  oni ert^  .1  :  o  '  ■ . . .  h ;;;  ros  .* ;: i' ,.:  I  v  : .  ;-  v  .\^ ■  '  \  r.  -  .1  0 r. rr ic  li  '.  :\  :ri- 

•  •  • 

wnph  ihro:;::h  :.»o  :i^«n.  Ivorsi,  A:.^*:.  iJl^v  .'.:.•  I.: vl:*->:o",  and 
Roori>ao  ;i  ■;  re  iv.  0  -^ :  \v:  f  ti  as  n ::•.*.-..  1  ■ ,  -.^  :*  >;-.::=.  '.^ !:: . .  *•  lo ;:  r>  in  in ff. 
Ai  6  r.  M .  i  :i  :  :■  ■:  n  c :  vi  s  S  •: .:  r>  ■....•.-- 1  /.  :'.  c  r  •;  o  ■  "i-* :  A  lex ,-  r.der 
McDoi:-:*;-^  .^iii.i  Mr.  IV.r.'lo':  i;.-  . .- \\  s:^;\::..:  Srars.  They 
stopped  <as  I  ^liior^  a  vos>:l  -.^l/.        ■.:/-.  :..:l-:v1:\:  for  IWlon. 

2;W. — \Vho:i  il'-.o  rows  of  ::  .  1..  x.-^-o::  ,:ff.ilr  ix^aohed  New 
York.  I  saao  So  :i rs  a :-:  vi  J  o";-.  •■:  1 . ;.  •  : ;  •  \  nM"* :=. sn:  t*  >  for  stopping 
all  ressc^s  ir.  :l-.o  i\;rl*o:<r  i:::-:  viT:^  ..I'l  ■•.:  s.*.:lir^  for  0::iboc  oranv 
other  p^'fcrts  w'^j-ro  Hr::isi^  t^-^.v-*  v:  .',::::  rule  J.  and  wrolo  lo  the 
ooaim:;:ee  oi  rhilailelphsa.  r.\ov.  l. ,:  \- : -.:  :r.ov  had  i?ore.  They 
ass«inb!eii  the  jvople.  and  do;:'iar.v'.;\-.  :l.o  keys  of  ihe  ci>:oni«housc 
of  Mr.  Kiiio:,  who  delivered  i;:o:ii  r/. 

Mar  01:1. — Tiie  commiitec  of  lv»  r..i*Jrpss  :>f  lor.:  ivavor  and 
cociaK>3  comDcU  of  Londois.     Tl  cv  2.5.50:1  lixir  ri:;!;^?— tiecia  t! 


CCXVl  APPENDIX. 

*'  that  Americans  will  not  be  deceived  by  conciliatory  assurances, 
while  it  is  evident  that  the  ministers  are  aiming  at  a  solid  revenue 
to  be  raised,  by  acts  of  parliament"  They  say,  "  the  minions  of 
power  in  New  York  may  inform  the  administration  that  this  city 
is  as  one  man  in  the  cause  of  liberty." 

This  address  was  signed  by  Isaac  Low,  chairman,  John  Jay, 
Francis  Lewis,  John  Alsop,  Philip  Livingston,  James  Duane,  E. 
Duyckman,  William  Seton,  William  W.Ludlow,  Cornelius  Clop- 
per,  Abraham  Brinckerhoff,  Henry  Kemsen,  Robert  Ray,  Evert 
Bancker,  Joseph  Totten,  Abraham  P.  Lott,  David  Beeckman,  Isaac 
Roosevelt,  Gabriel  H.  Ludlow,  William  Walton,  Daniel  Phoenix, 
Frederick  Jay,  Samuel  Broome,  John  De  Lancey,  Augustus  Van 
Home,  Abraham  Duryee,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Rudolphus  Ritze- 
man,  John  Morton,  Joseph  Hallet,  Robert  Benson,  Abraham  Bra- 
sher, Leonard  Lispenard,  Nicholas  Hoffman,  P.  V.  B.  Livingston, 
Thomas  Marston,  Lewis  Pintard,  John  Imlay,  Eleazer  Miller,  jr., 
John  Broome,  John  B.  Moore,  Nicholas  Bogert,  John  Anthony, 
Victor  Bicker,  William  Goforth,  Hercules  Mulligan,  Alexander 
McDougall,  John  Reade,  Joseph  Ball,  George  Janeway,  John 
White,  Gabriel  W.  Ludlow,  John  Lasher,  Theophilus  Anthony, 
Thomas  Smith,  Richard  Yates,  Oliver  Templeton,  Jacobus  Van 
Landby,  Jeremiah  Piatt,  Peter  S.  Curtenius,  Thomas  Randall, 
Lancaster  Burling,  Benjamin  Kissam,  Jacob  Lefierts,  Anthony 
Van  Dam,  Abraham  Walton,  Hamilton  Young,  Nicholas  Rosevelt, 
Cornelius  P.  Low,  Francis  Basset,  James  Beeckman,  Thomas 
Ivers,  William  Denning,  John  Berrien,  Benjamin  Helme,  William 
W.  Gilbert,  Daniel  Dunscomb,  John  Lamb,  Richard  Sharp,  John 
Morin  Scott,  Jacob  Van  Voorhis,  Comfort  Sands,  Edward  Flem- 
ing, Peter  Goelet,  Gerret  Kettletas,  Thomas  Buchanan,  James 
Desbrosses,  Petrus  Byvanck,  Lolt  Embren. 

I  copy  these  names  as  a  memento  of  men  and  families  then  in 
New  York.  1  know  that  all  of  them  did  not  join  as  one  man  in  the 
cause  of  liberty,  and  I  doubt  whether  they  all  signed  this  address. 

May  11th. — The  committee  forassociation  for  New  York,  address 
C.  Colden,  lieutenant-governour.  Tliey  say,  the  inhabitants  have 
waited  with  the  greatest  patience,  for  a  redress  of  grievances, 
etc. — they  have  found  the  most  dutiful  applications  for  redress  re- 
jected— their  rights  violated — *'  You  cannot  wonder,"  when  the 
sword  has  been  drawn  against  our  brethren  of  Massachusetts,  that 
we  have  associated  and  elected  a  committee  and  delegates  in  con- 
gress. They  assert  that  they  never  will  submit  to  an  invasion  of 
their  rights,  and  view  with  unexpres.^ihle  horrour,  the  blockade  of 
Boston  port,  the  hostile  attack — the  extension  of  the  bounds  of 
Quebec — and  are  determined  to  equip  themselves  for  the  struggle 
for  liberty.  But  they  do  not  arm  against,  but  in  defence  of  govern- 
ment, to  support  his  honour  in  the  administration  of  justice,  etc. 


lUBCSLUUIBOm  HATTER.  CCXVU 


They  look  forward  "  with  deep  concern,  it  die  expected 
of  troops  from  Great  Briuin  :  riolence  mar  be  the  consequence, 
and  the  streets  of  New  York  deluged  with  blood.  Tfaaj  beseech 
him  to  apply  to  General  Gage,  for  orders,  that  such  troops  as  raaj 
aniTe  *^  shall  not  land  or  encamp  in  this  city  and  county/^  Signed 
Henry  Remsen,  D.  C. 

Colden  answers*  that  the  king  and  parliament  are  ready  to  afibrd 
ererr  reasonable  indulcence*-^eT  oder  to  forbear  ererr  kind  of 
taxation,  etc.,  etc.  He  exhorts  the  committee  not  to  irritate  the 
minds  of  the  people — He  has  no  information  of  troops  destined  for 
New  York.  He  will  communicate  their  lener  to  General  Gage. 
This  report  of  troops  coming,  he  says,  has  been  invented  to  faci- 
litate the  design  of  introducing  an  armed  force  from  Connecticut 
— ^'  a  measure  so  de^radinsr,  so  dan^rerous  to  the  honour,  the  free- 
dom  of  this  colony/^  He  speaks  of  the  **  tumults  and  disorder, 
which  has  raged''  in  New  York  city— exhorts  them  to  support  civil 
government. 

May  l-5ih. — Congress  recommended  to  the  citizens  of  New  York, 
if  British  troops  arrive,  to  act  on  the  defensive :  let  them  take  the  bar- 
racks, and  leave  them  in  quiet  while  they  behave  so;  but  not 
to  let  them  erect  fortidcations  ;  that  the  warlike  stores  be  removed 
from  the  town  :  that  places  of  retreat  be  provided  for  the  women 
and  children  :  and  men  embodied  and  kept  in  readiness  to  lepel 
insult  or  injury. 

The  comminee  of  New  York  require  all  persons  having  arms 
ibr  sale  to  inform  them  thereof  within  ten  davs,  or  to  be  considered 
publick  enemies :  and  declare  that  any  person  selling  arms  to  be 
used  a^nst  our  liberties  shall  be  held  up  as  an  enemy. 

35th. — The  provincial  congress  at  New  York  resolve  that  none 
but  enemies  to  America  would  propose  any  hostile  measures  against 
the  inhabitants  of  Canada.  Signed,  Robert  Benson,  secretary. 
Thev  further  recommend  to  the  inhabitants  of  New  York  to  furnish 
themselves  with  arms  and  ammunition. 

July  3d. — The  worshipful  Whitehead  Hicks,  Esq.,  mayor, 
left  with  his  Excellenev,  Govemour  Trvon,  the  humble  address  of 
the  merchants  and  commonalty  of  the  city  of  New  York,  congra- 
tnlatine  him  on  the  re-establishment  of  his  health,  bidding  him 
**  welcome  to  a  people,  who,  from  the  rectitude  of  his  administra- 
tion.^* could  not  part  with  him,  **  without  the  deepest  regret.** 
They  regret  he  does  not  dnd  them  **  in  a  condition  more  propi- 
cioiis  to  his  felicity.**  They  sigh  for  tranquility,  re-established 
upon  that  ancient  system  of  government  and  intercourse,  which  has 
been  the  fruitful  source  of  prosperity  and  opulence.  They  are  af> 
fficted  to  behold  a  nation  so  wise  as  Great  Britain,  involved  in  m 
dvil  war,  **  in  which  disloyalty  in  his  majesty's  American  subjactt 
to  dieir  Prince,  or  want  of  afiection  to  their  motbo'  country, 


COXTin  APPBIIDIX. 

Btitute  no  part  of  the  unnatural  controversy."  They  trust  in  his 
intercession*  with  his  majesty  for  a  speedy  termination,  etc.  Tryon 
in  his  answer,  says,  (after  thanks,  etc.,)  that  he  is  disappointed  in 
viewing  the  aspect  of  affairs,  and  distressed  ;  and  that  he  fells  na- 
turalized and  bound  to  America.  He  wishes  them  to  view  the  con- 
troversy, as  flowing  from  the  misconception  of  constitutional  prin- 
ciples— that  the  parliament  has  taken  the  first  step  to  reconcilia- 
tion. If  America  would  Uberate  the  restraint  she  has  laid  on  her 
commerce,  etc.,  many  acts  of  conciliating  grace,  would  be  ex- 
tended to  her  by  Great  Britain,  **  which  national  honour  cannot 
suffer  to  be  torn  from  her  by  violence" — That  the  memorial  of 
New  York,  had  expressions  in  it  and  claims,  which  made  it  impos- 
sible for  parliament  to  receive  it.  But  the  petition  to  the  king,  had 
been  presented  and  graciously  received — he  promising  *'  attention 
to  the  humble  requests  of  his  faithful  subjects  of  New  York." 

July  6lh. — The  provincial  congress  of  New  York,  resolve,  that 
no  English  vessel  arriving,  shall  be  permitted  to  load  any  provision, 
*^  unless  the  property  of  those  articles,  be  in  some  merchant  or 
inhabitant  of  this  colony,  and  not  intended  for  Newfoundland." 
Signed  John  McKesson,  Sec. 

August  4th. — The  committee  of  New  York,  published  a  state- 
ment of  a  violation  of  the  orders  of  the  continental  congress,  by 
Abraham  H.  Van  Vleek,  of  New  York,  and  George  Coffin,  master 
of  a  sloop  in  his  employ,  in  that  they  carried  provisions  to  Nan- 
tucket, contrary  to  said  orders,  and  were  preparing  to  repeat  it, 
and  therefore,  represent  them  as  acting  inimically  and  guilty  of  an 
infringement  of  the  liberties  of  the  colonies.  The  confessions  are 
published  of  these  individuals. 

23d. — Mr.  Mulligan*  was  on  the  Battery  when  the  Asia  fired  on 
the  town.  Alexander  Hamilton  had  gone  off  with  others,  dragging 
one  of  tiie  cannon,  and  left  his  musket  with  Mulligan.  When  the  ship 
fired  a  broadside,  the  people  scampered,  and  with  them  Mr.  Mulli- 
gan, who,  as  he  retreated  by  Pearl  street,  met  Hamilton ;  "  Where's 
my  musket  f" — was  the  inquiry — "  I  left  it  by  yonder  embrasure/' 
was  the  answer  of  the  fugitive.  Hamilton  very  deliberately  walk- 
ed on  and  seized  his  arms,  as  if  in  defiance  of  the  seventy-four. 

28th. — We  have  an  account  of  the  removing  of  the  guns  fi-om  the 
Battery,  by  order  of  the  provincial  congress :  Captain  John  Lamb's 
Artillery  on  the  Battery,  and  Parker's  Infantry,  etc.,  are  firing — 
women  and  children  removing.  "  The  governour  returning  from 
the  country,  took  an  account  in  writing  of  the  damage  done."  Con- 
ference between  Tryon  and  the  provincial  congress,  committee,  etc. 
He  declares,  that  he  knows  of  no  troops  coming  from  Boston. 


•  Mentioned  in  John  C.  Hamilton's  life  of  his  father,  Vol.  I. 


MISCELLANBOUS  MATTER.  CCXIX 

October  13th. — Tryon  writes  to  Hicks,  the  mayor  of  New 
York,  that  the  contineotal  congress  had  recommended  to  the  pro- 
vincial congress  of  New  York,  to  seize  him — he  places  himself  un- 
der the  protection  of  the  mayor  and  corporatioOf  notifying,  that 
if  he  is  made  prisoner,  the  captains  of  the  men-of-war  would  de- 
mand him,  and  enforce  the  demand.  To  avoid  which,  if  it  is  the 
wish  of  the  citizens,  he  will  embark,  and  requesting  the  citizens  to 
defeat  any  intention  to  interrupt  the  removal  of  his  servants,  pro- 
perty, etc. 

14ih. — He  is  answered,  that  the  "  members  of  the  corporation, 
on  reading  the  letter  of  the  governour,  "  expressed  themselves  in 
terms  of  the  strongest  affection"  to  him  :  and  are  disinclined  to  his 
removal  **  from  the  capital  of  his  province."  The  mayor  says, 
that  the  city  committee  to  whom  he  had  communicated  the  letter 
of  Tryon,  desire  '*  the  continuation  of  his  residence.  I  have  not 
the  least  doubt  of  your  enjoying  the  most  ample  protection." 

Same  day,  Tryon  replies  to  Hicks,  that  as  the  citizens  had  not  au- 
thorized the  mayor  to  pledge  to  him  '*  their  assurances  of  security," 
his  duty  to  his  sovereign  will  not  justify  him  in  staying  on  shore, 
unless  he  has  positive  declarations  of  full  protection  '^  under  every 


91 


Circumstance." 


I7th. — The  answer  of  the  committee  to  the  mayor,  was  to  as- 
sure Tryon,  that  they  "  are  not  apprehensive  of  the  least  danger  to 
his  person  and  property,  and  tliat  he  may  rest  assured  of  all  that 
protection  from  them,  and  their  fellow  citizens,  which  will  be  con- 
sistent with  the  great  principle  of  our  safety  and  preservation." 
They  declare  their  con6dence  in  his  wisdom,  and  that  he  will  me- 
diate to  restore  harmony,  etc.,  they  again  express  their  desire,  that 
Tryon  would  remain  among  them. 

18th. — The  mayor  writes  Tryon,  that  he  could  not  take  the 
sense  of  the  citizens  on  his  letter,  till  Tuesday,  when  the  commit- 
tee met,  and  *'  the  result  of  their  councils  will  appear  in  the  written 
answer"  herewith  transmitted.  He  adds,  that  '*  people  of  all 
ranks,"  express  great  anxiety  at  the  thought  of  his  retiring,  etc. 

19th. — Governour  Tryon,  by  letter,  informed  the  mayor,  that  he 
understands,  congress  had  ordered  him  to  be  seized,  and  if  so,  he 
wouldbedemandedby  Captain  Vandeput,  of  the  Asia,  and  on  refusal 
to  give  him  up,  the  demand  would  be  enforced.  The  mayor  as- 
sures the  governour  of  his  safety,  and  of  the  good  will  of  the  inha- 
bitants. The  committee  likewise  give  assurances  of  personal 
safety  to  Tryon,  and  of  respect  for  him. 

23d. — Stephen  Sayre,  of  Long  Island,  was  committed  to  the 
Tower,  upon  a  charge  (made  by  a  fellow  of  the  name  of  Rich- 
ardson, an  adjutant  in  the  British  service^  of  intending  to  seize  the 
king's   person,  take  possession  of  the  Tower,  and  overturn  the 


gorerament.    This  sboirB  the  exeesure  fean  and  jeilonues  of  cc 
Englisb  at  that  time.     Sayre  vas  admitted  to  bail. 

A  letter  from  Brook  Watson,  merchant,  to  P.  V.  B.  LiTis^aK. 
president  of  the  prorincial  congress  of  New  York,  dated  Juj  i'^ 
Lake  Cbamplain,  near  Su  Johns,  is  published.    He  sajs*  thai  l-t  ok 
aaaiatance  Liring&ton*s  letter  to  the  officers  in  the  serriceof  die  exit' 
nies  aflbfded  him,  he  is  nocr  so  near  Montreal,  that  he  expecs  to  tif 
there  in  the  ereniog.     He  thanks  Livingston  and  the 
congress,  for  their  letters,  mhich  have  protected  him.     **  A 
friend  to  America  and  its  rights,  I  truly  am."     He  is   uaBSsy  a: 
the  spirit  of  the  colony  troops  on  the  lake,  as  they  seem  diiiB 
mined  to  enter  Canada*     This,  he  says,  would  ^*  prodoce  the 
most  dreadful  consequences ;   the  Canadians  and  Indians  woaU 
immediately  fall  on  your  back  settlements  ;  with  the  king^s  troop 
on  one  side,  and  the  Canadians  and  Indians  on  the  other,  vfaai  ait 
the  colonists  to  expect,  but  slaughter.''     He  sa}  s,  it  auanoc  be 
doubted,  that  Great  Britun  is  ready  to  receive  "  any  fiir 
tion  constitutionally  offered.*' 

November. — Arnold  crossed  the  St.  Lawrence,  and 
to  PoiiU  aux  TrtmJUcs  seven  leasrues  above  Quebec,  wbeaoe 
be  sent  Burr,  with  a  letter  to  Monigomer^',  dated  SOtfa  \o- 
Tember,  saying :  '^  This  will  be  handed  to  you  by  3Ir.  Bmr.  a 
volunteer  in  the  army,  and  son  to  tl)e  former  president  of  New 
Jersey  College.  He  is  a  youni:  gentleman  of  much  life  and  acti- 
vity, and  has  acted  with  great  spirit  and  resolution,  on  our  fatiiniicr 
march.  His  conduct,  I  make  no  doubt,  ivjil  be  a  sufficient  recom- 
mendation to  your  favour."^  C>n  the  2oxh  November.  Moniro- 
mery  left  Montreal,  and  must  have  met  Burr  as  Le  ascended  iiiC- 
river. 

23d. — RIvington  publishes  his  list  paper,  until  he  revives  i: 
again  as  the  Koyal  Gazette  in  the  garrison.  His  types  were 
destroyed,  December  4ih,  by  ilie  Connecticut  Lijiiii  Hor?e. 
who  surrounded  his  house — ^tbe  citizens  looked  on,  without  izr- 
terfeiing. 

December  4ih. — Tr\*on  sends  to  the  mayor  a  letter  from  on 
board  of  the  Duchess  of  Gordon,  New  York  harbour,  desirini:  him 
to  lay  before  the  corporation  the  enclosed  paper,  and  make  the 
same  publick.  In  the  paper,  he  tells  the  inhabitants  of  the  pro- 
vince, that  his  majesty  has  been  £:raciously  pleased  to  permit  him 
to  witlidraw  from  his  iinvemmenu  and  he  is  ready  to  do  them  any 
senice — but  if  he  sees  no  hope  of  re-establishing  harmony,  be 
expects  to  be  soon  obliged  to  avail  himself  of  the  king*s  indul- 
gence.    It  gives  him  great  pain  to  see  tliem  in  a  turbulent  sute. 


I 


'  See  Vol.  I..  Iii*tvncftJ  Socictj  of  Maine  i  coUccbon. 


MISCBLLAXBOrS  MATTEII.  CCXZI 

he  wislies  lo  do  something  to  alleviate  the  cmlanutiea  dm  musi  be* 
Ul\  ihero«  etc. 

Tno  j"^j>er*  p;jb]islu\i  in  tbo  province  of  New  York  in  1775« 
wen?.  The  York  Mervun*,  The  New  York  JoumaK  The  New 
York  liaxeneer.  (ihc^e  in  tlic  citv.)  and  The  Albanv  Post,  (in 
Alhinr.) 

The  names  of  Crown  Point  and  Tkonderoca.  so  frequendv  occur 
in  our  lustorv,  a<  lo  descne  notice.  The  tirst  was  named  bv  the 
Dutch  **  Krulne  Puni/'  Tiie  second  stiil  bears^  its  Indian  iMiiie« 
SijiiifriDg:  ••  the  r.uviir^  of  the  waier?/'  i.  e.  of  Lakes  Sacrament 

or  Georpt^  and  Cnamplain.  It  is  familiarir  called  2V> 
1777  Maxvh  t^4ili. — liaine's  Gazette*  of  this  date,  savs.  the 
rebels  take  np  royal  siihiects.  and  chain  them  to  their  own 
necTOCs.  **  The  whole  countr%\  erenr  where,  is  one  continued 
scene  of  horrour,  di<:rL>ss.  and  confusion.  A  pretty  exchanee  far 
the  libenv  ihev  oiice  enjoved  under  the  eoreriuneut  and  pcotectioa 
oTBiicai^r  •  • 

And  afain  : — '*  The  cruel  and  desperate  wnetches^  who  conduct 
die  rebellion  in  die  northern  parts  of  this  colony,  have  civen  orders 
ID  shoot  ail  persons.  iniiiscn:n:n.nely.  who  may  be  found  in  any  of 
the  roads  totrards  Kin^briiice." 

Jane  4th. — S.me  paper — "  The  flower  of  >[r.  \Vashini:ton's 
army,  is  com}H>sed  of  liie  irloanincs  of  British  prisons,  transported 
to  the  somhem  color. ios." 

July. — In  l76o,  a  law  \^"as  passeJ  to  prcTeni  hunilng  on  the 
rrouads  near  New  York,  bv  oiiiers  than  ilie  owners,  etc.  In  Julr« 
1777.  it  is  put  in  fon:e  by  the  commandant  of  New  York,  Oeneral 
rip>t. 

Aa^iisi. — General  Jones  commandant  in  New  York.  Peter 
Siiivvesarii  died,  ci^htv-soven  vears  old. 

SepiemSer  14ih. — At  this  time,  ceitain  persons  called  5(7JiJe» 
mii%i<2fij,  made  o:>en  declaration  at  New  Haven,  that  bv  their  reli* 
dous  faiih.  tbev  were  lound  to  be  taiditul  sul iec*»s  to  Kinc George 
III.,  and  olw  his  comina:ui>  in  all  thinirs  not  ini^rferin^:  with 
the  co::i:n3r.os  of  God— ar>*l  believing,  that  his  kiiudon  was  to  be 
defended  bv  the  swor\i.  a:iJ  thev  bound  so  to  do — Init  bein^  wil- 
lin^  to  live  ^^vaoeably,  they  r>*que>j  either  to  be  unmolested,  or  to 
be  removed  to  some  place  under  the  kinir's  government.  The  as- 
sembly resolved,  that  diese  jx^rsous.  **  disciples  of  d^e  late  Robert 
Sandeman.  residing  in  New  Haven/*  imy  remain  in  New  Haven, 
pving  their  parole  of  honour,  not  to  give  intelligence,  or  otherwise 
act  iniunouslv  to  the  rnireil  States— or  if  thev  decline  rivinc  such 
parole*  they,  niih  their  ramilies.  furniture,  provisions,  etc.,  mar 
remove  to  3:n  placo.  subjec:  to  the  kii^g  of  Great  Britain.  fjxYpfimg 
a  gifi.  the  iuiress  of  an  estate  in  Now  Haven,  who  mtxst  remain 
under  the  guardianship  of  WiUiam  G^[^eaough.     This  girl,  wis  the 


OCXIII  APPENDIX. 

daughter  of  Robert  Woodliull,  one  of  the  Sandemanians.  In  con- 
sequence of  their  declaration  of  loyahy,  these  people  were  con- 
signed to  the  care  of  the  jailer,  October  21st,  1777  :  and  oo  the 
6ih  November,  were  set  at  liberty  on  giving  the  required  promise. 
They  then  solicited  leave  to  proceed  to  New  York  or  Long  Island, 
and  the  following  certificate  was  given  them.  "  By  his  Excellency 
Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq.,  governour,  captain-general,  and  com- 
mander-in-chief, in  and  over  the  state  of  Connecticut,  one  of  the 
United  States  of  America  : — to  all  whom  it  doth  or  may  concern. 
Mr.  Daniel  Humphreys,  with  his  wife  and  three  children,  Joseph 
Pynchon,  with  his  wife  and  three  children,  Mr.  Titus  Smith,  with 
his  wife  and  five  children,  Thomas  Goold,  Benjamin  Smith,  with 
one  child,  William  Richmond,  with  his  wife  and  four  children, 
Thomas  Chamberlain,  with  his  wife  and  one  child,  and  Richard 
Woodhull,  with  his  wife  and  two  children,  are  to  be  permitted  to 
pass  from  the  port  of  New  Haven  in  this  state,  and  go  to  New  York, 
or  if  they  think  it  expedient,  to  Long  Island,  in  the  sloop  Lilley, 
under  a  flag  of  truce  for  the  purposes  on  the  other  side  specified. 
Given  at  my  office  in  Lebanon,  in  said  state,  the  21st  of  Novem- 
ber, A.  D.  1777. — Jonathan  Trumbull."  Several  certificates  fol- 
low, by  which  it  appears,  that  these  people  were  transported,  with 
their  property,  and  due  provision,  to  New  York. 

25th. — In  Rivington's  Gazette,  is  mentioned,  the  arrival  of  the 
Experiment,  fifty  guns,  and  Zebra,  fourteen,  with  a  convoy  of 
transports,  bringing  numerous  reinforcements  of  English  and  Ger- 
man troops ;  among  them,  the  Marquis  of  Lindsey,  Lord  Cath- 
cart.  Major-general  Robertson,  Sir  Spencer  Watson,  Brigadier- 
general  Pattison,etc.  With  this  fleet  arrived  Colonel  Pennin^on, 
of  the  Guards,  who  on  the  passage  quarrelled  with  Captain  Talle- 
mash,  commander  of  the  Zebra,  and  immediately  on  their  arrival, 
they  repaired  to  Hull's  Tavern,  on  the  site  of  the  present  City 
Hotel,  and  fought  with  swords.  Tallemash  received  a  wound 
under  the  left  breast,  of  which  he  expired  immediately,  and  Pen- 
nington was  wounded  in  seven  different  parts,  but  notwithstanding 
recovered. 

Rivington  congratulates  himself  and  his  former  subscribers  on 
his  return  to  New  York.  He  compliments  them  for  having  sup- 
ported him  through  a  long  period  of  confusion,  anarchy,  and  tyran- 
ny, till  an  armed  banditti  from  Connecticut  forcibly  entered  his 
house  at  noon-day,  and  robbed  him  of  his  types  and  other  property 
to  a  considerable  amount.  He  speaks  of  his  seeking  an  asylum  in 
England,  and  says,  he  always  endeavoured  to  preserve  peace,  or- 
der, and  legal  government.  He  congratulates  his  friends  and  the 
publick  on  the  present  happy  prospect  opening  from  the  success  of 
his  majesty's  arms,  both  at  the  north  and  south,  etc. 

In  Rivington's  Loyal  Gazette  the  following  is  published,  as  found 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTEE.  OOXXIU 

ai  Fort  Montgomery,  when  taken.  **  To  Egbert  Benson,  Esq.,  or 
in  bis  absence,  to  Melanctbon  Smith  or  John  ^chenk,  Esqs.,  at 
New  Windsor;  dated  Kingston,  2d  June,  1777.  Sir:  A  com- 
mittee from  the  counties  of  Orange,  Ulster,  and  Duchess,  are  to 
meet  at  New  Windsor  to-morrow,  for  the  important  purpose  of 
agreeing  on  men  proper  to  fill  the  great  offices  of  government,  we 
take  the  liberty  of  communicating  to  you  our  sentiments  on  that 
subject  ....  General  Schuyler  arrived  here  last  evening.  " 
Then  they  go  on  mentioning  that  congress  had  established  him  in 
the  command  of  the  northern  department,  and  done  him  justice. 
They  recommend  him  as  governour,  and  General  George  Clinton 
as  lieutenant-governour.  They  say  the  constitution  is  approved — 
recommend  entrusting  it  to  men  of  unquestionable  abilities,  etc. 
Signed,  John  Jay,  Charles  Dewitt,  Ze{)haniah  Piatt,  Matthew  Can- 
tine,  and  Christian  Tappan. 

November  22d. — Peter  Van  Tassel,  commonly  styled  the  Indian 
King  was  taken,  with  two  others,  near  Tarryiown,  by  that  enter- 
prizing  officer.  Captain  Emerick.  Van  Tassel  was  a  committee- 
man, and  is  lodged  in  the  provost. 

Emerick  was  a  German.  Gordon  says,  that  on  the  18th  of  No- 
vember Tryon  sent  Emerick  with  100  men  to  bum  houses  on  Phi- 
lipse's  manor  :  this  they  did,  turning  out  women  and  children  to  the 
inclement  weather,  and  leading  the  men  away  with  halters  round 
their  necks,  after  stripping  the  whole.  General  Parsons  wrote  a 
remonstrance,  saying  that  he  could  at  any  time  bum  Philipse's 
house,  etc.,  and  those  belonging  to  Delancey.  Tryon  answered 
from  Kingsbridge,  saying  that  he  was  not  accountable  to  any  re- 
volted subject  of  the  king's,  but  as  to  Emerick's  conduct  in  Peter 
and  Cornelius  Van  Tassel,  he  would  burn  every  committee-man's 
house  to  purge  the  colony  of  them,  and  would  give  twenty  silver 
dollars  for  every  committee-man  delivered  to  the  king's  troops. 
The  reply  to  this  was  a  party  of  Americans,  who  arrived  at  Green- 
wich, and  burned  Delancey's  house,  within  three  miles  of  New 
York — dismissing  the  ladies  in  peace,  though  rather  hastily. 

In  December,  the  American  officers  who  had  in  numbers  been 
carried  from  Long  Island  to  the  prison-ships,  were  carried  back 
again,  and  received  as  lodgers  by  the  people,  Mr.  Lewis  Pintard 
agreeing  to  pay  two  hard  dollars  per  week  for  them.  There  were 
250.  Pintard  advises  fresh  beef  to  be  sent  to  the  prisoners,  as 
convalescents  have  relapses  when  fed  on  salt  beef  by  the  English. 
There  were  nine  thousand  privates  and  three  hundred  officers  pri- 
soners in  the  city  of  New  York. 

December  6th. — A  charily  sermon  advertised  to  be  preached 
at  St.  George's  Church  for  the  support  of  the  Charity  School  of 
New  York.     The  school  consists  of  56  boys  and  30  girls.    Read- 


OOXXIV  APPENDIX; 

ing,  writing,  and  arithmetick  taught,  and  to  the  girls,  needlework. 
Mr.  Wood,  tlie  father  of  Williara  B.  Wood,  comedian,  was  the 
master. 

Sir  H.  Clinton,  allows  the  inhabitants  of  Long  and  Staten  Island 
to  carry  three  bushels  of  salt  for  each  family  from  New  York  under 

strict  surveyance. 
1778         January  3d. — "  Last  Monday,  Selah  Strong  was  com- 
mitted to  the  care  of  the  provost  of  this  city,  on  a  charge 
of  treasonable  correspondence  with  his  majesty's  enemies.*'* 

Slat — I  perceive  that  the  houses  in  Wall  street  were  at  this 
time  numbered.  I  find  the  same  in  Maiden  Lane,  and  the  same 
in  Queen  street. 

February  21st. — Sir  Henry  Clinton  appoints  Alexander  Gardi- 
ner wharf-officer  of  Staten  Island,  for  the  purpose  of  preventing 
rum,  salt,  and  other  goods  being  carried  to  the  rebels.  He  is  em- 
powered to  seize  such  goods  as  are  not  accompanied  by  the  super- 
intendent's permission,  etc. 

It  appears  by  a  proclamation  of  General  Robertson,  that  some 
English  sailors  had  attacked  and  wounded  three  Hessian  soldiers. 
He  promises  a  reward  for  the  discovery  of  the  perpetrators. 

As  early  as  February,  in  this  year.  General  Schuyler  gave  notice 
to  congress  that  the  Iroquois  were  preparing  to  attack  the  frontiers; 
and  ia  March,  he  informed  them  tliat  the  Mohawks,  Onondagaa, 
Cayugas,  and  Senecas,  were  ready  to  commence  hostilities.  No 
effectual  measures  being  taken,  the  storm  of  desolation  fell  in  blood, 
particularly  upon  Wyoming :  it  was  guided  as  usual,  by  tories. 

March. — The  judicious  cantonment  of  Valley  Forge  served  to 
cover  the  country  and  cut  off  supplies  from  the  enemy  in  Phila- 
delphia. 

Colotel  Mawhood,  of  the  17th  Regiment,  and  Simcoe,  of  the 
Queen's  Rangers,  were  sent  into  New  Jersey  with  about  1200  men, 
and  the  small  parties  of  militia  near  Salem  fled  before  them.  Col. 
Shreve's  regiment  had  been  detached  into  Jersey,  and  Gen.  Wash- 
ington gave  notice  of  the  erruption  of  the  British  to  Governour 
Livingston,  with  request  to  call  out  the  militia  to  join  Shreve ;  but 
less  than  one  hundred  joined  the  Colonel,  at  Haddonfield,  the 
place  of  rendezvous.  Mawhood  was  left  at  liberty  to  destroy  the 
country  and  collect  forage,  which  was  done  with  wanton  aggrava- 
tion to  the  yeomanry  and  their  farms.  Another  expedition  of  the 
British  was  equally  successful,  in  destroying  vessels  and  stores  at 
Burlington  :  Generals  Dickinson  and  Maxwell  had  not  force  enough 
to  oppose  the  enemy.  In  May,  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  with  a 
detachment,  was  sent  into  Jersey,  and  he  took  post  at  Barren  Hill ; 


*  Rivington's  Gazette. 


MISCUXJLXSOCS  MATTE  K.  CCXXV 

ikx:  :-*  Bn-i>h  fn>ca  Piulide.-ycla  :orv>?%i  hirj  bv  a  supeHoar  force 

>l*y  LI:-. — A:  ::::?  ur/e,  Hoir  rr^ur^  the  p::bI:cation  of  liis 
we^x'v  :vi:y:r.  i:  Po*.:r.:ie>f r^?ie,  afitr  bx^I::^  i::Yo*vevi  in  ihe  Jestnic- 
rlo;=  cc"  '.re  IL::!^'  i:e:Vro^"t<>  lown  of  H?o:^us  or  Kir.^sioK.  by  the 

Ho':  turer^se*  hL?  j^Jtv^r,  "  For  a  quarter  of  t:ew*,  ICIbs,  of 
•:"  rvrt.  vt-ji*.  or  nrjKoa,  or  4!^^  b;:::er/*  e:c. 
li  iii-.iw'*  >ew  York  GAser.e,  A«2:u>:  I0;h.  Ls  iho  folloiriii^: 
*"  Lxj:  Tu€^>*iiv  i;Wrroor.  arout  ont?  oVIook.  durir^  a  hearr  nim 

sloop  Morrbc  Srir.  Ni^r  off  the  ConV-o-hou^e*  in  the  East 
riTer,  w:±  :^1>  bbls^  of  ;cun?owaor  on  boarvl :  ii  ;>rvHluvvd  a  Ru>$t 
tr^fT^?.-:do«s  e\:»!>.>*:on,  A  nu:rber  of  houses  wvr\?  uarvK»fcd.  maar 
w:::oo'.Tr>  brv^ke,  ir.d  *o:ro  furn«:::^  iter.U'^'.Isrrevi  bv  ihe  blast — ihe 
es"^ct:s  of  wj-cn  we:^  sur.IIar  ;o  an  eirt:i\:irake.  Hip:ntv,  cbere 
wx*  oiiy  v'^c-e  r.Ti:i  in  ir.e  ve>s*<l  wV.ea  ihe  accijctit  happeced.** 
R:»i::^:o3  rtere-y  ro:ioe<  a:*  ex'.vv>>:o:T, 

li  12^  dre  of  the  T:h  u:*:.  th<»<a:we  i?a;vr  erutuerate?  >ixtv-threc 
aocs5<?<  i::vi  a  R^trrrb^r  of  scorvs  lie^troveJ.  iienenil  Joiues,  the 
cor:  r:i::o  it::.  o£er>»v;  a  re«-arvi.  ujva  si?ppcK§icion  tha:  the  dre  ma 
tae  work  of  13  inoe::d:irT* 

In  r^'.i::o2  :o  :he  secotui  ^rea:  £re»  and  i:>:*  expfosioo  of  the  next 
^T«*  I  I:ive  rec^Ivtd  a  cv>nirti::ntoatioa*  dated  S»prember  7tht 
1S3?>,  fro::;  irr  i^ed  and  highly  re#^>ectable  ciCLZtn  still  living, 
vsEoQ  the  trader  nay  be  ^rratidevi  to  peruse : 

—  la  !ook:3C  over  vovir  two  iDtere^tin^  li:;Ie  volumes  entitled 
•  A  Hsstory  of  New  York/  1  ivrceive  that  you  notlee,  at  passes  ^16 

d  •  IT  of  voIu:i:e  ll-  •  the  second  ^reat  Sre*  in  shis  citv  which  took 


piactf  oa  :h.e  ci^ht  of  the  7:h  of  August.  IT7>,  and  the  exptosioQ 
ria:  occurred  on  the  Sli.  These  oirvu:i^s:ances  I  recollect  as  db- 
t£nct."T  a*  if  ihev  had  tiken  place  but  vcsrervtav :  for  inv  faiher*3 
fca' ly  a:  that  time  oocu:>:evi  :he  hoiise  the  thirvi  door  frvMU  the  Old 
Sii"?*  12  Lir-Ie  Pvvk  street,  which  nas  consumed  in  the  earfy  f>art 
of  the  cv^nda^raiion  :  and.  as  you  conrectfv  observe,  •the  militarr 
tncererevt.  120.  perhai>s  iuteadiaj:  welL  ai^ied  the  work  of  destruc- 
tion/ Tn Ls  reiuirk  strikes  rue  ver*-  forciblv  at  this  time.  aJthouch 
a  lin-e  over  sixiy  years  have  passevi  away  since  the  transaction  it 
reter*  to  took  place :  for  while  aidin;;  to  rernovin  r  mv  father's  sroods 
to  a  riace  of  saferv.  1  was  compelievi  bv  a  soiv.tier  to  lav  mv  load 
down,  and  fall  in  t:ie  ranks  and  hand  bv:ckets.  W::h  respect  (o  the 
explosion,  vou  will  pardon  nie.  mv  v:e-irs:r.  when  I  sar  vou  are  in 
an  errour  in  sraucr  it  to  be  a  s^txnK  and  onlv  i>tiif  life  lost,  and  that 


*  Sm  Am».  ff.  1^  1«6l 
CC 


3 


MISCELLAXEors  MATTER. 


OCXXTII 


■I.  the  sot!  ofa  shon  o^^Urly  mm  nstr.i-J  I-sr^caswr. 
jitnl  was  ihf  rrjirj  3:-ii  v«i\:::^;  of  KCnsjviptrs 

11:1  titaiii-  :ii  bri;-;:  ;i:f  fc^y.t-jux.  r>>>U:o:^.  .mil  ain- 

tad  Utf  ics:-.:  oinvin  oo''-x':tv'.  i:i  iho  i-.v>:n- 

__      d«\*  dMtf  i':-.::-\\vi-,:,  S-.f  ha.i  o:r-y  len  haiK-aux 

and  lii^  <l«T**  prv'i  isi.v!  ::i  a.ii  ■i::v-^  :or  ihe  amir. 

d  on  ti.1  Skt-.-t  rl  i»iv;: jr\  sfri  hU  barcsiir, 

J  FraJiT.  n  i:'.:  hU  iTX-.-iiilcrs,  fv.  pursued 

on  til;'  Vi'.-.uo:;:  *:.:«.'.  i^vertakin^  aijJ  at- 

!*t.  I.e^rcr  was  ai  this  tis-.w  *U[ipi>*od 

For  i"^::i«-;\.     S.-:-.t;j  ler  anj  !:U  irmv. 

L'.!w::cr.  be!\vt-t'n  Sarav^,  (rom 

n  o!"  I'-x  Mo:-..iwi£.     He  says,  a 

1 10  I'c  o;"  ',':\c  uT'T.o?:  v-i>r*o\j;;?noa 

anJ  to  a:,i  S;.  1.^-p.T'*  OfH'ratioii*, 

I  cii:H::i;ir!i.\t;!on  ivi;h  Lake  ileor^ 

imi  ;>t  S:T"»a:i"r  a^'X^er  ta:u!  oai- 

■aiilc  aiij  t".Tjje.  he  t'uri-.'oj  iho  plan 

ir,'rise.     Ha;;::!  wa#  trxcJ  on  so  cont- 

,\xi!t*  ot"  liUvst'i's.  Cipuin  Fraser'a 

oluDieeP*.  a  pjrty  of  m>vino:il5  wf bo 

Jians  anil  mv'  pieces  ot'  '.i;hi  cansoQ 

\  k>Bt  -50l>. 

[■everley  Kobinson.  >o.  il.  in  Kini; 
,■  employ  £□«!  assistaaoe  from  covera- 

!er9  roTObine  ionise  their  waj«*  by  an 

hey  KIT  a  common  labourer  cew  ?l 

e  lowest  diet' haaiL'ks  frvni  lH  to  I^ 

that  sJvenistiueitis  of  fifteen  lines 

pi»}»ortion." 

.1  nanilanc.  fixes  the  prtee  of  Wood  it 

nut,  and  a'4  lor  oa'K. 

-All  bmd  ordered  to  be  made  in  2Ib. 

J    lof  31  cop|>ers  the  lost     ThU  to  iak« 

I  to  eaiic*  sailor*  to  man  t'te  prS^ateer?, 

*  it  Jartie»  Pick,  eomtnissjry  of  prisoners. 

«  for  the  detention  of  #c.iiHen  who  had 

e  Anierkaris,  snd  exchanp»d.  but  on  tfri- 

nbetbunrat  vcre  pme^  '*bT  mistake," 


} 


CCSXVI  AFPBNDIX. 

a  boy.  It  was  a  brig  or  a  ship^*  with  a  large  quantity  of  gunpow' 
der  on  board,  and  was  commonly  (sailed  tbe  powder-ship,  the  num* 
ber  of  her  crew  not  known.  ¥ot  the  security  of  the  city,  she  was 
anchored  not  far  from  thit  Loifg  Island  shore,  and  not  a  great  dis- 
tance from  the  entrance  of  what  was  then  called  the  Buttermilk 
Channdf  which  separates  Govemour's  Island  from  Long  Islandi 
and  at  that  time  affiirding  only  a  passage  for  market  boats*  The 
explosion  of  the  sloop  took  place  in  1779  or  1780.    I  will  now 

Srive  you  a  short  history  of  this  vtry  sloop.    She  was  a  privateer 
irom  this  port,  and  had  been  captured  by  an  American  vessel  of 
war,  and  a  crew  of  fifteen  men  put  on  board  of  her,  with  orders  to 

Eroceed  for  an  American  port,  leainng  on  board  three  men  and  a 
oy  of  her  original  crew.  The  names  of  these  three  men  were 
O'Brien^  Burke,  and  Murphy.  In  a  calm,  a  part  of  the  American 
crew  got  into  the  boat  alongside  for  some  purpose,  while  others 
went  aloft  to  adjust  some  of  the  rigging.  The  three  men,  with  the 
boy,  took  this  opportunity  to  retake  the  vessel.  They  threw  a  pig^ 
iron  into  the  boat,  with  the  intention  of  staving  her,  and  caat.her 
loose ;  and  not  one  of  the  prize  crew  was  ever  afterwards  beard  of, 
excepting  those  in  the  boat  might  have  been  picked  up.  When 
she  returned  into  port,  she  anchored  off  the  Crane  Wharf,  veiy 
near  the  shore,  and  the  day  after  her  arrival,  the  men  went  on 
shore,  leaving  the  boy  on  board,  with  another  boy,  a  companion  of 
his,  in  charge  of  the  vessel,  when  she  was  blown  up.  The  boy 
who  was  a  visiter  on  board  was  miraculously  saved.  After  the  ex- 
plosion, Cunningham,  of  notorious  memory,  who  had  charge  of 
the  old  jail,  then  called  *  the  Prevo,'  immediately  repaired  to  the 
wharf  and  took  the  boy  into  custody,  and  interrogated  him  very 
sharply,  in  the  expectation  of  eliciting  something  from  him  on  the 
subject  of  the  disaster.  The  account  he  gave  was  this;  that  he 
and  the  otlier  boy  were  in  the  cabin,  when  the  lad  belonging  to  the 
sloop  took  up  a  musket,  and  commenced  snapping  the  lock — at 
which  he  became  alarmed,  knowing  that  there  was  powder  in  the 
cabin,  and  went  upon  the  quarter-deck — and  he  knew  of  nothing 
afterwards,  until  he  found  himself  in  the  water  on  the  quarter-deck 
of  the  sloop.  There  was  a  light  drizzling  rain  at  the  time,  and  she 
had  but  a  small  quantity  of  powder  on  board — ^by  no  means  suffi- 
cient to  produce  theresuh  you  speak  of;  for  after  her  quarter-deck 
was  blown  off,  she  immediately  sank.  I  cannot  be  mistaken  in  this 
statement,  as  this  veiy  bay  was  afterwards  a  fellow  apprentice  with 
me,  and  he  has  very  often  related  the  circumstance  to  rae.     His 


•  "  Mr.  J.  R.,  in  whose  correctnesi  in  recollecting  circumstances  long  gone  by,  I 
hftTe  the  fullest  confidence,  informs  mo  that  itwaa  a,  ship ^  and  that  her  name  was  tlie 
M&ming  Star. 


MISCELLANEOUS  UATTER.  CCXXVII 

inme  was  Robert,  ilie  son  of  a  short  elderlv  man  named  Lancaster, 
ikho*e  employment  was  the  cn'ins:  and  vending  of  newspapers 
liiivuch  the  stroeis,  as  then  was  the  practice/' 

August  iJOth. — Ry  Kur^oj-ne's  leiier  to  Lord  (»eorge  Ger- 
mjine,  wo  see  that  from  the  oOih  of  July  to  the  loth  of  Aufust* 
erepi-  exertion  was  made  to  brin^  the  batteaux*  provision,  and  am- 
mun::;on  from  Fort  Cieor^  to  the  first  navigable  part  of  the  Hud- 
son, a  ili stance  of  eighteen  miles.  This  was  done  with  horses 
broii^Jit  from  Canada,  and  lifiv  team  of  oxen  collected  in  the  coun- 
irv  :  and  after  tifteen  davs  iluis  emnloved,  he  had  onlv  ten  batteaux 
on  the  Hudson,  and  i^\e  day*s  provision  in  advance  for  the  armr. 
K;:rcoyne,  w!:en  pushed  on  to  :^kenes^o^ough,  sent  his  batteaux, 
eic.  i:i'»  LakeCiei^r^-e.  and  Frazer,  with  his  grvnadiers,  etc.  pursued 
lh«*  n?:r\.*atin^  Americans  on  the  Vermont  side,  overtaking  and  ai- 
tackinc  tliem  at  Hubl>erton.  St.  Le^r  was  at  this  time  supposed 
bv  l>iir;rovne  to  be  before  Fort  Sranwix.  Sohuvler  and  his  amiT, 
op{H"»sed  to  Bur^oyne,  were  at  S:i!! water,  l»eiween  Saratoga,  from 
whence  he  writes,  and  the  mouth  of  the  Mohawk.  He  savs,  a 
rapid  movement  fonvard  appeared  to  be  of  the  utmost  consequence 
to  toroe  tiie  enemy  to  action,  and  to  aid  St.  Lep?r's  operations. 
His  dlincuhies  in  keepin^r  up  communication  with  Lake  George 
if  he  advanced,  are  stated  :  and  at  Stillwater  another  land  car- 
riage is  necessary.  To  gain  cattle  and  torage,  he  formed  the  plan 
of  aiiackin  -  I>ennington  by  surprise.  Baum  was  fixeil  on  tocom- 
n^and.  :-*00  dismounted  dragoons  of  Kiedsel's,  Captain  Fraser's 
marksmen.  a!l  the  Canadian  volunteers,  a  party  of  provincials  who 
krew  the  countr}',  and  100  Indians  and  two  pieces  of  light  cannoa 
a  re  the  rt^  fore  e  n  umerated.     About  500. 

November  6th. — Colonel  Beverley  Robinson,  No.  21,  in  King 
street,  noiities  refuses  waniin;;  emplov  and  assistance  from  TOvern- 
ment,  to  call  Ui'ton  hi:n. 

9ih. — The  journeymen  printer?  combine  to  raise  their  wages  by  an 
addition  of  S-J  per  week.  T!iey  say  a  common  labourer  gets  $1 
per  day  and  provisions,  and  t!ie  lovest  nHH?hanicks  from  12  to  IGs. 
Kivin^on  agrees  ;  and  adds,  that  advertisements  of  fifteen  lines 
win  be  $1,  and  "  long  ones  in  proportion.*^ 

0-5 til- — Mr.  G.  Jones,  commandant,  fixes  the  price  of  Wood  it 
£5  a  cord  for  walnut,  and  j£4  for  oak. 
1779         Januarj-  tJth. — All  bread   ordered  to  be  made  in  21b. 
loaves,   and  sold   for  HI  coppers  the  loafl     This  to  take 
place  on  the  Isi  of  February*. 

We  see  the  arts  useii  to  entice  sailor?  to  roan  the  privateers, 
etc.,  by  a  publicaiion  of  James  Pick,  commissary  of  prisoners, 
in  which  he  apologizes  for  the  detention  of  seamen  who  had 
been  prisoners  with  the  Americans,  and  exchanged^  but  on  arri- 
ving in  a  Flag  from  Elizabethtown,  were  pressed  **by  mistake/* 


to 


ocsxTm  AnmKDOm 

for  the  ships  of  war.  He  likewise  gives  nouce,  that  all  seamea 
and  others  that  shall  come  in  from  the  rebels  after  the  SOth  inat, 
shall  be  at  liberty  to  enter  on  board  privateers^  etc.,  and  not  be 
liable  to  impressment.  But  the  adjutant-general  of  the  fleet  offers 
SO  guineas  reward  to  any  person  who  shall  give  information  against 
any  master  or  owner  of  a  privateer  who  has  enticed  seamen  to 
leave  his  majesty's  service,  for  their  service.  And  a  similar  reward 
is  ofiered  from  the  adjutant-generaPs  office  in  Broad  street,  for  like 
information  against  tibose  privateersmen  who  have  enticed  soldiers 
to  desert  from  their  regiments, 

Grovernour  Tryon  admits  Mr.  Hepburn,  late  practitioner  of  law 
in  North  Carolina,  to  plead  and  practise  in  all  his  majesty's  courts 
In  this  province. 

20tb« — ^It  is  stated  that  three  whale-boats,  with  continental  sol- 
diers, came  from  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  intending  for  Hunting- 
don Bay,  but  obliged  by  a  storm,  they  made  for  the  nearest- port  of 
Long  Island ;  one  was  lost,  with  a  captain  and  seven  privates ;  the 
others  hauled  up  their  boats  and  covered  them  with  branches;  but 
being  discovered,  were  made  prisoners  and  brought  to  New  York. 

Mr.  6.  Jones,  commandant,  proclaims  that  the  commander-in- 
chief  continues  in  force  the  order  to  the  farmers  of  Long  Island 
and  Staten  Island,  to  thresh  out  their  grain,  and  bring  to  market 
all  but  sufficient  for  their  families.  They  are  ofiered  the  follow* 
ing  prices : — Wheat,  26s.  currency  per  bushel ;  wheat  flour,  SOs. 
per  cwt. ;  rye,  10s.  per  bushel,  and  the  flour,  30s.  percwt.;  maize, 
10s.  per  bushel,  the  flour,  2Ss.  per  cwt.  Buckwheat,  7s.  per  bushel, 
the  meal,  26s.  per  cwt.  And  no  greater  price  shall  be  demanded, 
ofiered,  or  received.  Penalty,  loss  of  the  property  and  imprison- 
ment. 

Privateers  and  their  prizes  arriving  in  this  harbour  are  to  put 
their  prisoners  on  board  the  Good  Hope,  or  Prince  of  Wales  prison 
ships,  and  bring  receipts  for  them  to  James  Dick,  before  they  have 
had  any  communication  with  the  shore.  If  prisoners  are  permitted 
to  come  on  shore,  heavy  penalties  are  threatened  to  be  inflicted  on 
the  privateersmen. 

February  6th. — *«  Deserted  from  the  Virginia  company  of  Blacks, 

employed  as  labourers  in  the  service  of  the  Royal  Artillery." 

Names  follow. 

10th. — Permission  is  given  by  the  commandant  to  farmers  and 
gardeners  "of  these  islands,"  who  have  not  woods  on  their  lands 
proper  for  fencing,  to  cut  railing  for  fences,  on  the  lands  of  per- 
sons not  under  the  protection  of  government  on  Long  Island  or 
Btaten  Island.  Woodcutters  who  have  broke  down  fences  on  cul- 
tivated land,  are  threatened  with  punishment;  and  permits  granted 
to  cut  wood  are  to  expire  on  the  1st  of  March  next. 


A  carman  io  New  York  was  allowed  for  a  common  load  of  wood* 

'•«  tor  one  mile  within  the  citv«  3s.  The  carmen  were  licensed 
bj  the  police. 

A  huckster  who  was  delected  selling:  bread  *'  at  a  higher  pric« 
than  was  dxed  bv  the  late  assize/*  was  dned  ^*5. 

It  is  reported  that  a  party  a  day  or  two  a^  went  over  into  Jer- 
sey* and  succeeded  in  securing  tlie  persons  of  Captain  Nathaniel 
Fitz  Randolph*  and  Charles  Jackson,  a  tavern-kee^>er,  of  Wood^ 
brtd^.  and  brought  them  within  the  lines.  Mr.  Randolph  is  a  verj 
encerprizin^  person,  and  had  distinguished  himself  in  various  coups 
de  main  upon  the  loyalists.  In  common  parlance*  Randolph  wis 
called  "  Nan  Randall."  And  1  remember  hearing  of  his  braverjr 
when  I  was  a  child,  in  1 770—7 — particularly  of  his  standing:  alone, 
firing  and  reloadino:  his  musket,  wiien  approached  by  several  of  the 
17th  Dragoons,  who  were  advancin:;  to  cut  him  down,  but  were 
ordered  to  take  him  alive  bv  an  omcer  who  saw  and  admired  his 
cool  courajre. 

13ih. — Rivinccon  at  this  time  is  lavish  of  praise  on  Arnold,  and 
abuse  of  his  accusers  in  Plilladctphia.  One  of  his  aids  at  this  time, 
was  Major  M.  Cbrfcson. 

November  :J4ih. — Sir  Henrj-  Clinton  issuevl  his  proclamadoa 
at  New  York,  to  procure  tuel  for  the  apprvKiching  winter.  He 
requires  all  persons  who  ha\e  obtained  permission  to  cut  wood 
^'ott  certain  lanvis  on  Lon^  Island  and  State n  Island,  immediately 
ID  briaz  what  wood  they  have  cut  to  this  market."  He  points  out 
a  mod-eof  brin^iiTc  it  in,  by  iiTipressinj  the  fanrersand  their  wa^ns 
or  carts.  The  colonels  of  the  miliui  of  tiie  ditferent  districts  have 
power  to  znnt  permissions  for  cuttin;;  wood  otF  "the  above  meo- 
doned  lands."  and  to  order  the  wood  to  be  brought  to  the  landings. 
He  speaks  of  the  ample  price  allowed  for  drewood  in  this  market, 
and  therefore  *•  al!  proprietors  of  woodland  on  Lon^  Island  and 
Scaten  Island  are  herebv  ordered  im media telv  to  cut  and  cart  to 
the  most  conii;ri::ous  landin:^?  ^uch  proportion  of  their  wood  as  wiQ 
fiiily  answer  the  intent  and  meaning  of  this  proclamation,  and  pre- 
vent the  disa::reeal»le  necessity  of  irantin^  permissions  for  their 

woods  to  be  cut  by  otiiers." 
17S0  January  oth. — The  following  proclamation  is  published 
at  this  date :  "  His  Excellency.  Sir  H.  Clinton,  K.  B-, 
etc..  Whereas,  the  enemy  have  adopted  the  practice  of  enrolling 
negroes  amonir  their  iroo[>s.  I  do  hereby  sive  notice  that  all  negroes 
taken  in  arms,  or  uixtn  anv  milinrv  ducv.  shall  be  purcha«ed  for 
cbe  publick  service,  at  a  seated  price :  the  money  to  be  paid  to  the 
capcors.  But  I  do  most  strictly  torbid  any  person  to  sell  or  clsiae 
ri^t  over  any  ne^ro.  the  property  of  a  rebel,  who  may  take  refu^ 
wfldi  any  part  of  this  army  :  aiid  I  do  pronitse  to  every  oecro  who 


OOXXX  Jt^  MPPBMDIl.  .^« 

shall  desert  the  rebel  standard,  full  secuntjr  to  follow  within  these 
lines  any  occupation  which  he  shall  think  proper.  Given  under 
inj  hand,  at  head-quarters,  Philipsburg,  the  30th  day  of  June/' 

16th. — ^Rivington  says ;  Yesterday,  great  numbers  of  the  inha- 
bitants of  New  York  and  Long  Island,  ako  a  sleigh  and  two  horses, 
passed  over  the  ice  in  the  East  river.  Six  persons,  in  attempting 
to  pass  to  Powle's  Hook  on  the  ice,  were  carried  by  the  tide  into 
die  East  river ;  but  the  ice  lodging  at  Blackwell's  Island  they  got 
ashore  frostbitten.     This  was  some  dsjB  before. ' 

20th. — General  Pattison  orders  the  enrolling  of  every  male  b- 
habitant,  from  17  to  60,  under  officers  and  armed. 

In  relation  to  the  hard  winter  of  1779-'80, 1  have  received  a 
communication  from  a  highly  respectable  source,  a  part  of  which 
I  will  copy.  After  some  introductory  matter,  which  need  not  be 
here  inserted,  the  writer  alludes  to  a  cotemporary  memorandum, 
made  by  himself,  of  which  he  has  favoured  me  with  a  copy. 

'*  January  24th. — This  day  the  river  Hudson,  opposite  New 
Tdrk)  was  4»t>ssed  on  the  ice.  I  record  this  fact,  because  my 
father  says,  it  has  not  occurred  before- m  fifteen  years,  and  as  the 
winter  is  thus  far,  of  unprecedented  severity. 

**  29th. — This  day  several  persons  came  over  on  the  ice  fiom 
Staten  Island. 

**  February  1st — A  four  horse  sleigh  came  over  on  the  ice,  from 
Staten  Island. 

*'  15th. — ^A  thaw  has  set  in,  which  promises  to  open  the  navi- 
gation. 

"  24th. — Navigation  entirely  open. 

"  March  1st. — Weather  warm  and  rainy. 

"  If  you  have  any  doubt  as  to  the  accuracy  of  these  memoran- 
dums, I  can  only  refer  you  to  the  newspapers  about  this  time.  To 
satisfy  myself,  I  one  morning  went  to  the  Historical  Library,  and 
for  a  few  minutes  examined  several  papers  published  at  tliis  time. 
The  New  York  papers  speak  of  arrivals,  at  and  after  the  20th  of 
February,  and  the  New  Jersey  Gazette,  published  at  Trenton,  on 
the  8th  of  March,  says,  the  Delaware  is  open  to  Philadelphia  from 
that  place,  after  having  been  closed  about  three  months.  There 
must  have  been  a  great  thaw  to  have  opened  the  Delaware  at  Tren- 
ton so  early  in  the  season,  after  such  an  extraordinary  frost. 

"  I  have  in  my  possession  also,  several  volumes  of  The  fievr 
Annual  Register,  published  at  London,  about  this  time.  In  the 
volume  for  1780,  there  are  two  letters  from  General  Kn^phausen 
and  General  Pattison,  which  speaks  of  this  winter.  General  Knyp— 
hausen  is  dated  New  York,  28th  March,  1780,  and  says,  that  h  is 
only  since  the  middle  of  February,  that  the  harbour  has  been  open  at 
New  York.     General  Pattison's  is  dated  New  York,  February  22d. 


MISCELLANEOUS  BfATTEB.  CCXXXI 

and  says,  the  rigour  of  the  cold  is  abated,  and  we  are  threatened 
with  a  rapid  thaw." 

February  2d. — Rivington  triumphs  in  the  acquittal  of  "  Major 
General  Benedict  Arnold.  The  general  whom  they  heretofore 
stiled  the  American  Hannibal,  triumphed  in  an  honourable  ac- 
quittal, and  liis  adversaries  having  lost  the  confidence  of  the  inha- 
bitants, are  hourly  sinking  into  their  pristine  insignificance  and 
obscurity."     Does  not  this  look  like  a  "  foregone  conclusion  .^" 

5th. — At  Poughkeepsie,  January  lOlh,  they  speak  of  the  long 
continued  and  intense  cold — the  violent  tempests,  and  repeated 
snows,  cutting  off  all  intercourse  between  neighbours. 

(jeneral  Patlison  expresses  his  satisfaction  at  the  prompt  obedi- 
ence paid  to  his  orders,  in  forming  militia  companies,  and  the  order 
displayed  at  the  review.     Particularly  of  the  volunteer  companies. 

9th. — Mr.  William  Maxwell  **an  inhabitant,"  is  tried  by  a  court 
martial,  on  charges  brought  against  him  by  Lieutenant  Cramond, 
of  the  forty-second  regiment,  and  the  court  decided,  that  the  charge 
made  by  Maxwell,  that  Cramond,  brought  dissolute  women  into 
his  quarters,  and  kept  them  all  night,  (in  Maxwell's  house,)  is  not 
supported  by  proof — and  the  same  of  Maxwell's  charge,  that  Cra- 
mond's  servants  were  permitted  to  threaten  to  kick  Mrs.  Maxwell 
— therefore,  as  it  does  not  appear,  that  the  prisoner,  Maxwell,  had 
any  malicious  views,  and  taking  into  consideration,  what  the  pri' 
srmer  his  alrenchj siiffaedfrom  imirrisoiiment^  the  court  doseritence  hinif 
to  make  a  publick  and  personal  apology  to  Lieutenant  Cramond,  for 
the  offence  he  has  been  guilty  of,  an  the  grand  j^irade,  and  to  publish 
the  same  in  the  newspapers.  With  respect  to  the  other  complaints, 
preferred  by  Maxwell,  in  his  memorial  and  letters,  ("  though  some 
of  them  appear  frivolous,)  the  court  is  of  opinion,  that  the  prisoner 
has  established  them,  by  credible  evidence."  By  this  it  appears, 
that  some  of  Maxwell's  complaints  were  not  frivolous,  and  were 
proved — yet,  because  he  did  not  prove  all,  he  is  sentenced  as 
above,  and  he  was  obliged  to  comply,  after  suffering  imprisonment. 
His  apology  is  published  accordingly,  in  these  words  :  "Agreeable 
to  the  above  sentence  of  the  court-martial,  and  in  order  to  do  every 
justice  to  the  character  of  Lieutenant  Cramond,  as  an  officer  and 
a  gentleman,  I  do,  in  every  particular  in  which  the  court  has  found 
me  culpable,  acknowledge  the  offence,  and  beg  Lieutenant  Cra- 
mond's  pardon.     William  Maxwell." 

Eighty  sleighs,  with  provision,  escorted  by  one  hundred  soldiers, 
crossed  the  ice  to  Staten  Island. 

Persons  are  said  to  have  crossed  from  Saybrook,  Connecticut, 
to  a  point  opposite,  on  the  ice  :  distance  twenty  miles. 

March  4th. — The  commandant,  by  notice,  signed  "  Stephen  P. 
Adye,  aid-de-camp,"  says  :  "  A  board  of  three  field-officers  of  the 
garrison,  and  the  magistrates  of  police  shall  assemble  at  the  City 


•  ■V 


Hall  on  Ihe  9tb  ipst,  to  examibe'  a4^U  nuiwn  aAqmAig  bUlet- 
ting" — complaioU^and  iHfnioritlt^having  belli  kv^aitffSC:   A.  thieat 
to'complaipantti  is  intiinalpdl  tiu||t  tb«n  who  briog  fiivolpip  coib^,-^ 
.^idaints  ''must  abidf-ihS  consequences  ;**  |Miiliapnii6h  as  te  4Bili^ 
of  Maxwell  snows  forth*  ■*-..'• 

The  fohii  ;0f  a  billet  is  rpublished»  to  be  issued  '1^  the  banpck- 
inastcri'  it  is*— *' Barrack  office, — ^Haviu  examined  the  boose 

Nb.^^^in street,  nov^n  your  poflM&nf  ttd.  finding  that 

it  will  justly  admit  of  receiiring'%  billet  for  '  tyiii  are  there- 

fore directed  tQjQnd  room  for^— — ." 

8tb. — ^In  Rivingnp's  Gazette  of  diis  date  is  a  list  of  the  members 
of  congress,  pretending  to  give  their  original  occupations,  by  way 
of  showing  contempt  for  them.     I  will  copy  some :     New  Hamp- 
shire— Josiah  Banlet,  a  farmer ;  William  W  hippie,  a  shopkeeper; 
George  Frost,  a  fisherman.    Massachusetts — ^Elbridge  Gerry,  a 
Marbleheadflnder ;  James  Level,  town-schoolmaster  at  Boston ; 
George  Partridge,  a  schoolmaster ;  Artemas  Ward,  a  farmer,  after- 
witfds  an  attomej;  Samuel  Adams,  a  mallster.    Rhode  Island — 
Henry  Marobao^  an*  attorney ;  Stephen  Hopkins,  a  blacksmith; 
John  Collins,  t  blacksmith.     ConnecUcut — ^muel  Huntingdon, 
an  attorney ;  Roger  Sherman,  a  ditcher  and  shoemaker,  and  author 
of  tHe  Almanack  called  Poor  Roger's;  Jesse  Root,  a  country 
attorney  ;  Eliphalet  Dyer,  an  attorney ;   Oliver  Ellsworth,  an 
attorney ;  Andrew  Adams,  a  tavern-keeper,  and  lately  a  country 
attorney.     New  York — Philip  Schuyler,  a  merchant ;  Robert  BL 
Livingston,  a  lawyer ;  John    Morin   Scott,   a   lawyer ;  William 
Floyd,  a  farmer ;  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  a  country  attorney.    New 
Jersey — Charles  Houston,  a  tutor  in  Princeton  College  ;  Abraham 
Clarke,  a  country  surveyor ;  John  Fell,  a  ship-captain  in  the  mer- 
chant service,   and   lastly  a   farmer.      Pennsylvania — Frederick 
Muhlenburgh,  a  parson;  John  Armstrong,  a  surveyor;    William 
Shippen,  an  apothecary.     In  Maryland,  they  find — two  gentlemen. 
Virginia — ^James  Henry,  a  country  attorney ;  James  Madison,  jr., 
DO  profession  or  occupation  ;  John  Walker,  a  gambler  and  farmer. 
North  Carolina — Cornelius  Harnett,  a  country  trader;   Thomas 
Burke,  formerly  a  doctor,  and  now  a  country  attorney.     South 
Carolina — Thomas  Heyward  and  Richard  Colston,  rice-planters. 
Further  remarks  are  promised  on  ^'  this  scaled,  miserable,  modqr 
groupe." 

General  Knyphausen  issues  a  proclamation  as  commander  of  bis 
majesty's^  troops  on  the  island  of  New  York,  Long  Island,  and 
Staten  Island,  and  the  posts  depending. 

22d. — On  Wednesday  night,  two  detachments  crossed  the  Hud- 
son to  Jersey,  consisting  of  300  men  from  Kingshridge  and  SOO 
from  New  York — ^both  destined  to  attack  the  "  rear  of  the  rebel 


MISCBLLANEOUS  MATTER.  CCXXXUt 

rantoiiinenu  at  Hopper*s  town."  By  this  account,  the  expedition 
faileJ,  as  the  "  rebeb"  retreated,  abandoning  their  cantonments, 
atier  slia:lit  resistance,  and  the  invaders  returned  with  the  acknow- 
ledged loss  in  killed,  one  man — a  captain  and  i  (ew  men  wounded ; 
the  rebels  *Mn  loose  parties  koeplDir  up  an  irresrular  (ire  upon  the 
rear,  some  men  droj^pi'd  behind  from  taiiirue."  Sixty-four  priso- 
ners are  reported  to  have  been  brouirht  from  Jersey,  and  some 
desoriors  from  the  rebels.  A  clergyman  was  made  prisoner  by 
mistake,  and  another  inotionsix  e  inhabitant,  and  dismissed. 

April  -Tuii. — .Tames  Robertson,  srovernour  and  captain-sreneral  of 
the  province  of  New  York,  issues  a  proclamation  forbidding  the 
cuiiinir  down  of  wood  on  New  York  Nland,  Lone  Island,  Morris- 
ania,  and  i^taten  Uland,  by  persons  ••  witiuuit  riglil  or  title."  The 
pretence  of  cniiinir  on  estates  of  persons  sup|>osed  to  be  in  rebel- 
lion, is  not  to  bo  allowed. 

L indie V  Murrav  was  at  tliis  time  an  importincr  merchant  in  New 
Yolk. 

llhh — .Tames  Kobortson,  as  irovernour  of  the  province  of  N.  Y'ork, 
issues  a  proclamaiiou,  wiierein  ho  says,  in  a  lonsr  residence  he  had 
contracted  an  esteem  lor  some,  and  an  atVoction  lor  many  of  the 
inhabitants  :  announces  his  mnjosiv's  pleasure,  bv  the  revival  of  civil 
authority,  to  prove  t!iat  it  is  not  his  design  to  iiovern  America  by 
militarv   law,  but  hv   their  former  constitution  ;    and   for  this  he 

m  m 

had  brou::nt  out  the  royal  appointments  for  forming  the  council 
znd  supplying  the  places  of  lioulenant-governour  and  chief-justice. 
And  in  concurrence  with  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  British 
forces,  wiio  is  also  his  majesty's  commissioner  for  restoring  peace 
to  i!io  colony,  he  will  speedily  open  the  courts  of  justice,  convene 
the  asscmblv,  and  completelv  restore  the  loirislaiive  and  executive 
authority.  He  takes  groat  pleasure  in  antici)>ating  the  blessings  of 
peace,  when  *•  your  country,  with  your  ancient  privileges,  will  then 
participate  in  an  extensive  commerce,  and  be  exempted  from  all 
taxation  not  imposed  by  yourselves."  He  pledges  himself  (until 
he  meets  them  regularly  in  jreneral  assembly)  for  the  "  im passionate 
desire**  of  the  kinir.  and  of  the  parent  country  to  unite  in  afTection 
as  in  interest  with  tlie  colonies  planted  by  her  hand.  [Which 
were  they :]  lie  likewise  pledges  himself  '*  that  the  suggestions 
of  her  (England's)  intention  to  impair  their  rights  and  privileges, 
are  the  arts  of  malice  and  faction."  There  is  a  srrcat  deal  of  this 
Stuff.  He  laments  that  the  jhc  who  have  managed  to  acquire  a 
sway,  "have  been  averse  to  ever}-  uniting  system  of  policy,  and 
studiously  shunned  the  path?  to  harmony  and  peace.^'  He  does 
not  wish  to  mortily  these  few,  by  a  mortifying  review  of  their  con- 
duct ;  but  he  warns  them  from  attempting  to  seduce  the  loyalty  of 
others.  He  gives  assurance  of  protection  and  support  to  all  who 
arail  themselves  of  Sir  H.  Clinton's  proclamatioo  issiied  at  Jaiiie*t 

DD 


Cdjnuor  apfbudix. 

Island,  3d  of  March.  He  advises  all  concerned  '*  to  apply  withoiit 
delay  in  the  ordinary  course  for  charters,  to  redress  the  disorders 
arising  from  the  old  ones  being  lost.  As  to  the  publick  books  of 
records,  so  important  to  your  titles  and  estates  in  all  parts  of  the 
colony,  and  formerly  lodged  in  the  secretary's  office,  I  understand 
that  they  were  separated  from  the  rest,  by  the  provident  circum- 
spection of  my  predecessor;  and  having  been  afterwards  sent  home 
(or  safe  custody,''  (hey  shall  be  returned  when  tranquility  is  restored. 
He  then  calb  on  all  to  accomplish  the  king's  most  gracious  design, 
etc.  etc. 

It  is  to  be  remarked,  that  at  this  time  the  British  rulers  were, 
first.  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  commander-in-chief,  then  absent,  and  in 
his  stead.  Baron  Knyphausen,  General  James  Robertson,  gover- 
nour  of  the  province  and  captain-general,  etc.,  and  his  council. 
General  Pattison,  commandant  and  chief  of  the  police.  Andrew 
Elliot,  lieutenant-governour  and  superintendent  of  police.  David 
Matthews,  mayor,  and  Peter  Dubois,  magistrate. 

29th.-^'*  The  following  are  the  candidates  for  the  chair  of  usur^ 
pation  as  governour  of  this  province  : — Mr.  George  Clinton  ;  Mr. 
Philip  Schuyler  ;  Mr.  Malcolm,  formerly  a  ship-chaYidler  of  this 
city ;  Mr.  Palmer,  of  New  Windsor,  surveyor ;  Mr.  Peter  W. 
Yates,  attorney,  at  Albany." 

The  king's  council  for  the  province  of  New  York,  appointed 
by  James  Robertson,  were — ^Andrew  Elliot ;  Ch.  W.  Ap- 
thorpe ;  William  Smith ;  Hugh  Wallace  ;  Henry  White  ;  Wm. 
Axial ;  and  they  address  General  Robertson  with  congratulations 
and  professions  of  loyalty  and  gratitude  to  their  "most  gracious 
sovereign."  They  say,  '*  the  ambitious  and  self-interested  pro- 
moters of  rebellion,  to  support  their  unauthorized  and  perilous 
combinations,  with  designing,  popish,  and  arbitrary  powers,  have, 
by  concealing  and  misrepresenting  the  many  generous  and  humane 
offers  of  Great  Britain,"  brought  on  the  people  the  evils  they  taught 
them  to  dread.  They  praise  the  proclamations  of  Robertson  and 
Clinton,  and  echo  the  sentiments  expressed  by  the  former.  To 
this  address  Robertson  returns  compliments,  and  requests  their 
advice  to  make  the  loyal  inhabitants  happy. 

May  12th. — The  Marquis  de  Lafayette  arrived  from  France  at 
head-quarters,  with  an  appointment  from  Louis  for  Washington  of 
Lieutenant-general  of  France,  and  assurances  of  supplies. 

27th. — The  commandant  says  that  the  superintendant-gene- 
ral  of  the  Hospitals  represents  that  the  patients  daily  purchase 
spirituous  liquors  from  the  licensed  publick  houses  ;  therefore,  it 
is  ordered,  that  those  selling  liquors  to  soldiers  coming  under  the 
above  description,  shall  lose  their  licenses,  and  be  punished  as  a 
court-martial  shall  adjudge.  And  it  is  ordered,  that  soldiers,  con- 
valescent, and  allowed  to  go  out  of  the  hospitals,  shall  wear  a  dis- 


tnicwiiuif  wauky  of  id  H^  made  of  Uoe  doth,  and  sewed  om  a 
coiispicuoos  pan  of  each  ann  V^  It  »  Bkewise  comphiped,  that 
paiMCs  hare  been  encoufa^ed  hx  the  inhabkanlB  to  sell  their 
doihia^  and  the  beddins:  and  uteosUsof  the  ho^tab. 

3l5t. — A  bncaotine  behMu:in$  to  PhBadelphia  was  taken  coining 
from  Port  au  Prince :  **  she  wia  commanded  bj  Captain  Mesnaid« 
fermeriy  of  the  snow  Carolina^  who  sometime  since  was  tried  in 
the  citT  br  a  coimHDMrtial,  on  a  charj:e  of  seeretii^  letters  addressed 
from  wrpMitmms  m  EmgUtmJ  to  thetr  rebel  brethren  in  Amertca: 
he  was  found  tuittr,  but  the  whole  of  his  sentence,  through  the 
wonted  grace  and  clemency  of  hb  excellencr.  General  iSir  Henry 
CUoton«  was  remitted.  Immediateir  after,  and  to  express  ha 
sense  of  thb  lenitr  and  forbearance*  he  repaired  to  Phihdelphia, 
obtained  a  command  in  the  metrhant^s  semcc,  and  commenced  m 
siendr  wagoner  to  and  from  the  island  of  St.  Etistnce  and  thedtf 
of  Philadelphia.     So  much  at  present  for  Mesnard." 

June  4th. — Sunday,  ^^  his  worship,  the  mayor,  attended  bj  a 
BMist  respectable  body  of  our  principal  citiaens,  waited  on  his  ex* 
cellency,  our  j^oremour,  with  the  following  address :  To  his  excel- 
lency. J.  Robertsoot  captaitt-s:eoefal  and  goTenioor-in-cfaief,^  elcu 
Ther  re^i^fet  the  loss  of  Tnroo.  ^  eoreniour,  but  are  consoled  by 
the  Tirtues  of  R. — praise  his  proclamation— congratuhie  himon  the 
conquest  of  Charleston — the  prospect  of  the  restoration  of  civil 
government,  etc.  Signed,  *^  in  behalf  of  the  citiiens,  and  at  their 
iei|uesc*''     D.  Matthews,  mayor. 

June  7th. — Robertson,  in  his  answer  to  die  address  of  the  mnyor 
and  citoeas  on  the  4th.  sars«  in  conclusion :  *^  Mar  the  armn  tow 
haT«  so  readilv  taken,  awe  those  into  submission,  whom  the  himM«n 
eatts  of  a  soreieicn  and  your  example,  nil  to  induce  to  become 
friends  to  the  general  weliane«** 

17th. — General  Robertson  calb  on  the  inhabitants  of  Long 
Island  to  fumbh  wood  for  the  bamck-yard  b  New  York.  The 
connty  of  Kin^  is  required  to  get  l.StiSo  cords :  Queen^s,  4,500  ; 
and  the  western  part  of  Su£^lk,  including  Httntingdol^  lalep, 
Smitbtown.  and  Brookharen,  a,00l>— cut  and  corded  by  the  16th 
•f  August.  Price.  30s.  per  cord  for  walnut,  SOs.  for  oak.  Cart- 
age. 4s.  a  cord  per  mile.  The  inhabitants  of  SouthoM,  Southamp- 
ton, and  Eastharopton,  are  requkred  to  cut  in  the  woodlands  hlto 
belonging  to  WiUiam  Smith  and  WlUiam  Floyd,  of  Sufiblk  conntyt 
(now  out  in  rebellioo)  in  the  parts  thereof  nearest  to  the  landing  of 
Mastick  Neck.  3,000  cords,  to  be  ready  by  the  1st  of  September  ; 
they'  will  at  the  landing  receive  10s.  per  cord  hr  enniag  and 


Robertson  likewise  issues  his  proclamation  to  encotmge  brmcn 
to  cut  and  cure  the  cteatest  quantity  of  grass  the  season  wiD  per* 
Mt.    There  is  an  acknowkdgmem  thai  the  aeaicitf  of  fonfa  in 


CCXXXVI  APPENDIX. 

the  Spring  of  1780  had  rendered  it  uncertain  what  proportion  he 
could  depend  upon  for  his  own  use  the  ensuing  winter,  in  conse- 
quence of  its  being  seized  for  the  troops,  he  therefore  assures  the 
farmers  that  if  they  will  deliver  two-thirds  of  their  fresh  hay  for  the 
king's  magazines,  they  shall  be  allowed  to  keep  the  other  third  for 
themselves.  On  delivery,  certificates  will  be  given  them  of  the 
quantity,  and  for  the  cartage. 

In  Rivington*s  paper  of  this  date  is  an  account  of  the  burning 
of  Johnstown  in  part,  and  the  atrocities  of  the  Indians  under  Sir 
John  Johnson,  copied  from  Loudon's  New  York  Packet,  printed 
at  Fishkill.     An  abstract  of  it  is  desirable : 

"  Sir  John  Johnson,  (who  styles  himself  lieutenant-colonel  com- 
manding the  king's  Royal  Yorkers)  on  the  21st  of  May  made  his 
first  appearance  at  Johnson  Hall,  undiscovered — aided    by  the 
tories  of  the  neighbourhood,  and  began  to  burn  all  the  houses 
except  those  of  the  tories.     They  commenced  at  below  Tripe's 
Hill,  (the  name  given  to  the  hill  on  which  the  Indian  tribes  used 
to  meet  in  council)  meaning  Tribe's  ;  thirty-three  houses  and  out- 
houses were  destroyed  ;  some  of  those  fired,  were  quenched  after 
the  destroyers  passed ;  eleven  persons  were  killed.    Colonel  Fisher 
and  two  brothers  defended  the  house  they  were  in  ;  and  after  the 
brothers  were  killed  and  scalped,  the  Colonel  still  defended  him- 
self until  knocked  down  and  scalped  ;  he  was  left  for  dead,  but 
revived,  and  is  likely  to  recover.     His  mother  was  knocked  down, 
but   not  scalped,  and  has  recovered.     Major  Van  Vrank  saved 
many  by  giving  the  alarm  to  the  inhabitants,  who  crossed  the  river. 
Johnson,  after  committing  this  devastation,  returned  to  the  Hall, 
dug  up  his  plate,  and  in  the  evening  marched  with  his  band  to 
Scotch-bush.     Some  of  his  negroes  that  had  been  sold   by  the 
state,  he  carried  off  with  him,  and  several  of  his  former  tenants 
who  joined  him.     Some  of  his  prisoners  he  suffered  to  return  on 
parole.    He  is  said  to  have  had  with  him  200  English  soldiers  and 
800  of  his  regiment  of  Indians." 

George  Clinton  was  re-elected  governour  by  a  majority  of  3,264. 

September  30th. — *'  Thursday,  died  of  fever,  at  his  seat  in  the 
Bowery,  Nicholas  Stuyvesant,  Esq.,  in  the  53d  year  of  his  age. 
He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Colonel  Stuyvesant,  one  of  the  most 
venerable  characters,  and  elected  annually  to  the  magistracy  for 
this  town  for  a  series  of  more  than  forty  years,  and  the  great  grand- 
son of  that  brave  Dutch  governour  who  commanded  here  at  the 
conquest,  in  1 6G4.  His  remains  were  interred  in  the  family  vault, 
on  the  patrimonial  estate  of  the  old  Governour,  which  now  descends 
entirely  to  Mr.  Peter  wStuyvesant."*     Peter  Stuyvesant,  the  son  of 


•  See  Rivington'a  Gazette,  of  this  date. 


llI$CCLLAXEOi;S  MATTER.  CCXXXTU 

the  last  mentioDed  Peter,  was  born  in  t77S«  and  through  the  death 
of  his  uncle  Nicholas,  \vitlK>ut  children,  possesses  the  greater  part 
of  the  estate,  now,  within  the  city«  Nicholas  was,  during  the  pos* 
wssioQ  of  the  En:;iish  troops,  an  auctioneer, 

lo  a  C^aiette  extiaonlinar}*,  Kivington  gives  what  purports  to  he 
copies  of  letters  taken  in  a  rebel  mail  intercepted.  The  first  is 
from  lieneruls  Greene,  Parsons,  Knox,  ii lover.  Stark,  Huntingtont 
and  Patterson,  to  liovernour  Trumbull,  filled  with  complaints,  etc. 
The  second  from  Alexander  Uamihon  to  Isaac  Sears,  at  Boston : 
•*  We  roust  have  a  goveniment  with  more  power:  we  must,  he  says, 
have  a  tax  in  kinJ :  we  must  have  a  foreign  loan ;  we  must  have  a 
bank  on  the  true  principles  of  a  bank :  we  must  have  an  administra- 
tioQ  diderent  fn>m  congress,  and  in  the  hands  of  single  men,  under 
their  orders:  and  above  all,  we  must  have  an  amiv  for  the  war,  and 
oo  an  establishment  that  will  interest  the  othcers  in  the  sen'tce.** 
If  this  letter  is  not  genuine,  it  is  well  imagined, 

November  1st. — It  is  recommended  tluit  **  By  permission,  on 
Mooday  the  lUth  of  Noveml)er,  will  be  run  for  on  Flatland  Plains, 
fire  miles  from  Brooklyn  ferry,  a  purse  of  4.'G0.*'  Then  the  terms 
and  rules,  ihher  prizes  on  the  second  day.  There  will  be  fox- 
huoting  during  the  races.  And  on  the  the  second  ^^  to  be  run  for, 
bT  icvfli«rA,  white  or  f>litci\  a  Holland  smock  and  a  chintx  STOwn, 
fiiil  trimmed  with  white  ribbands,  etc.  To  be  run  in  three 
quarter  mile  heats :  the  tirst,  to  have  the  smock  and  gown ;  the 
second  best,  a  sruinca  :  and  the  third,  half  a  sruinea.*^  God  save 
the  King  will  be  played  ever\-  hour. 

December  :?d. — **  A  party  of  rebels,  about  eighty  in  number, 
beaded,  it  is  said,  bv  a  rebel  Major  Talmadi!:e,  assisted  bv  a  certain 
Heathcot  Munson,  Benajah  Strong,  Thomas  Jackson,  and  Caleb 
Bfewster,  officers  belonging  to  said  part}*,  formerly  all  of  Long 
Island,  came  across  in  eight  whale4>oats  from  somewhere  about 
New  Haven  on  the  Connecticut  shore,  and  landed  between  Wading 
River  and  the  v)ld  Man*s,  and  are  supi>osed  to  have  been  concealed 
two  or  three  davs  oo  the  island  bv  their  old  friends,  the  rebels." 
The  account  «^>es  on  to  say  that  they  surprised  a  boily  of  respec* 
table  loyal  refugees  from  Khixle  Island,  who  were  establishing  a 
Mst  at  Smiiirs  Point,  St.  Ceorge^s  manor,  south  side  of  Long 
Isbod,  The  sentr}'  fireil  u^)on  the  rebels,  and  they  had  the  crti* 
elty  to  return  the  fire,  rush  into  the  house  and  kill  a  loyal  subject  in 
the  most  shockini;  manner.  The  rebels  carried  off  about  fortr 
{unsooers,  burnt  a  ma^zine  of  hay,  and  returned  to  Connecticut.* 

13th. — Rivington  gives  notice  that  on  the  commencement  of  the 
ensuing  year,  he  will  adopt  the  custom  of  London,  where  the  whole 


^  8«#EtTui|iMi*8Gaaetlt.«rite 


CX-IULTIU  APPB3n>IX. 

dty  is  dailj  supplied  br  hawkers  oolr.  viitfa  nevrspapen.     He  ^a- 
dines  subscribers  or  subscripcion?. 

19tiu — George  Battermaa  deposed  before  a  justiee  of  trie  rtnce 
in  Boston,  that  beicj  a  pas^enrer  on  board  tite  bnr  Pi«ii6?o!«. 
from  Turk's  L^land.  bound  to  Rhode  Island,  he  was  carccM  m 
the  15tb  of  September  last  br  the  Intrepid,  a  *>4  run  KJp.  Jcdss 
Acthonv.  purser,  Mewlej,  capuin,  wbo  "took  evwj  fact  rr 
clothes  the  prisoners  had  on  board,  and  hove  if^em  orefiK»rL* 
On  the  2Sth,  put  the  prisoners  on  board  the  prison  sL:p  r.  .Vv 
York.  They  bad  eight  ounces  of  condemned  bread  per  csr.cac 
ei^t  ounces  of  meat  per  week,  [eridentk  a  misrake  of  w€«i  yx 
dav.l  He  was  afterwards  put  on  board  tlje  Jerser,  wae?e  !:  ra 
supposed  11 00  American  prisoners  were ;  was  tfareaieoed.  if  saersic- 
ing  to  escape,  he  should  be  brought  to  the  sanzwiy  and  &>rr^ : 
same  food  as  abore — not  6t  to  eat ;  that  recruitinr  oseers  ca=« 
on  board,  and  6ndin2  that  the  American  oficers  per^oad^d  thezisi 
not  to  enlist,  removed  the  officers,  as  B.  was  told,  to  rhe  PrTvtK?: 
the  people  were  then  tempted  to  enlist  to  free  themseiv-es  frrj^^  vias 
was  represented  confinement  hopeless  of  exchanse :  tint  tbe  oc- 
cers  were  thus  from  time  to  time  removed.  On  the  -5th  of  !>««:- 
her,  tber  were  served  a  pint  of  water  for  the  daj  ;  that  tLe  Sdck  «f^ 
not  sent  to  the  hospital  ship  until  they  were  so  ill  and  weak  '^ 
they  often  expired  before  they  got  oat  of  the  Jei^ey.  Tbe  co&- 
mandiosr  ofncer  told  us.  that  his  orders  were,  that  if  the  sh:p  \vx 
fire,  we  shoi^M  ail  be  turned  beiow.  and  perish  in  the  names  :  ['.ijf 
was  probaL]/  i.T  con-e*:  ience  of  the  bunsin?  of  a  prxsoc-s:^p.  « 
mentioned  by  David  .Soro'Jt.  and  meant  to  deter  them  from  tt:e=::> 
ing  to  escape  by  that  desperate  means.]  He  says,  bv  iccioeci.  zia 
ship  took  fire  in  the  steward's  room,  and  the  Hessian  ruards  «er» 
ordered  to  drive  the  prisoners  below,  and  if  we  offeree  to  r 
that  they  §::ouid  fire  araoaz  us,  and  if  any  of  u?  got  i^to  ase 
thev  should  dn  on  us- 

.30:h. — Ciinion  and  Arbuthnot  piiblish  **a  declaiarioa"*  v>  ibe 
inhabitants  of  the  BriTisb  colonies.  offerinrhLs  n:aie«ty's  c<ardoo  to 
all  rebel*.  •*  excepiinz  such  persons  as  under  forms  of  trial  hav? 
been  instrumental  in  purtin?  to  death  any  of  his  majesty's  subject-" 

la  Riviozton's  Gaz'^rtc  of  this  date  there  '^  Gkewise  in  laQ.  a 
declaration,  approved  by  Sir  Henrj-  Clinton,  by  the  boQoanb«e 
board  of  Director?  of  Associated  LovaIL«ts.  Thev  sav  tftt  bsi 
WtkjeBtXj  has  been  inJuced  to  siznify  his  royal  pleasure  ihatabovd 
be  established  for  emboli*,  inz  and  emplovinz  such  of  \m  6shf^ 
■objects  m  >orth  America  as  may  be  willinz  to  associate  fcr  ire 
purpose  of  annoyin;  the  sea-coasts  of  the  revohed  proviaccs.  a>i 
disiressinz  their  trade.  elt?:er  in  co-ope  ration  with  bis  majesnr's  jrd 
and  sea  forces,  or  by  raakinz  diversions  in  their  (aToor,  wljen  iher 
are  carrriiig  on  operations  in  other  parts.**     In  conseqaepce,  CE»- 


MISCBLULNEOU8  MATTER*  CCXXXIX 

ton  issued   a  commission,  constituting  William  Franklin,  Esq* 
B^overnour  of  New  Jersey,  Josiah  Martin,  Esq.  govemour  of  North 
Carolina,  Timothy  Ruggles,  Daniel  Cox,  George  Duncan  LudloWf 
Edward   Lutwyche,  George  Rome,    George  Leonard,  Anthony 
Stewart,  and  Robert  Alexander,  Esqrs.,  a  Board  of  Directors  for 
the  conduct  and  management  of  this  business.     Then  follow  the 
mrticles,  stating  that  all  persons  willing  to  bear  arms  for  the  above 
purposes,  shall  be  commanded  by  officers  recommended  by  the 
board  and  appointed  by  Clinton.     They  are  to  be  furnished  with 
arms,  etc.     All  captures  made  by  them  to  be  distributed  among 
thera,  unless  when  in  conjunction  with  the  army  and  navy.     Ves- 
sels to  be  furnished  them  for  their  excursions.     Their  prisoners 
only  exchanged  for  refugees.     Their  sick  and  wounded  taken  care 
of  in  the  king*s  hospitals.     If  acting  as  guides,  to  be  paid  for  it. 
And  at  the  end  of  the  rebellion,  the  associates  are  to  receive  each 
200  acres  of  land  in  North  America.     Their  particular  business  is 
to  stop  the  cruelties  with  which  the  rebels  have  treated  loyalists  ; 
and  the  directors  pledge  themselves  to  omit  nothing  in  their  power 
to  make  tlie  rebeLs  feel  their  vengeance,  if  they,  by  making  a  dis- 
tinction between  prisoners  of  state  and  prisoners  of  war,  punish 
worthy  loyalists  as  heretofore ;  and  they  appeal  to  God  that  they  do 
not  wish  to  prolong  the  horrours  of  war  or  increase  the  miseries  of 
their  country.    The  murder  of  Huddy  was  one  of  ihe  consequences 

of  forming  this  board. 
1781         February  7th. — A  letter  from  David  Sprout  to  Abraham 

Skinner,  the  American  commissary  of  prisoners,  is  published. 
It  bad  been  asserted  that  a  captain  of  a  king^s  ship  took  the  clothes 
of  the  Americans  he  had  prisoners,  and  threw  them  overboard* 
Sprout  says,  no  dirty  rags  are  suffered  to  remain  on  board  a  king^s 
ship.  He  acknowledges  that  very  many  of  the  prisoners  on  board 
the  Jersey  are  sick  and  dying,  but  their  disorders  only  proceed 
Grom  dirt,  nastine&s,  and  want  of  clothing.  He  says,  that  on  the 
first  complaint  made  to  him,  with  respect  to  provisions,  he  went  on 
board  the  prison-ship,  and  wrote  down  in  a  large  hand  on  a  folio 
sheet  of  paper  the  quantity  of  each  species  of  provisions  allowed 
by  the  king  to  prisoners  of  war,  and  pasted  it  on  a  board,  and 
caused  it  to  be  hung  up  in  the  most  publick  place  of  the  vessel,  in 
order  that  every  prisoner  might  see  it,  and  requested  of  their  owq 
officers,  that  they  would  take  in  rotation  the  trouble  to  see  that  they 
got  the  full  quantity  of  good,  sound,  and  wholesome  provisions ; 
and  that  when  a  cask  happened  to  be  damaged,  or  otherwise  bad, 
it  should  not  be  served  to  them,  but  headed  up  again,  surveyed* 
and  condemned  according  to  the  custom  of  the  navy. 

He  further  says,  *'  on  my  appoinment  to  this  office,  the  Idth  of 
October*  1779, 1  examined  bto  the  state  of  the  prisoners  and  prison 
ahips  and  reported  the  same  to  Admiral  Arburthnot,  who  ordered 


OCXli  APPENDIX. 

me  to  make  every  necessary  regulation  in  order  to  accommodate 
the  prisoners  as  well  as  circumstances  would  admit.     Accordingly 
carpenters  were  sent  from  the  king's  yard,  and  a  bulk   head  run 
across  the  prison-ship  Good  Hope  ;  the  officers  were  bertlied  abaft 
this  partition,  and  the  men  before  it :  and  two  excellent  large  stoves 
purchased  with  every  appurtenance  thereunto  belongings  and  erect- 
ed, one  in  the  apartment  of  the  officers,  and  the  other  in  the  apart 
ment  of  the  men."     The  hospital  ship  was  equipped  in  the  same 
manner,  and  every  sick  or  wounded  person  furnished  with  a  cradle, 
bedding,  and  surgeons  appointed  to  take  care  of  them.     (This 
assertion  is  made  in  the  siiape  of  a  question.)     **  In  this  comforta- 
ble situation  did  the  prisoners  remain  until  the  5th  of  March,  1780; 
when  they  wilfully,  maliciously,  and  wickedly  burnt  the  best  prison 
ship  in  the  world.     The  perpetrators  of  this  horrid  act  were  not 
hanged,  but  ordered  to  the  provost.     The  prison  ship  at  this  time 
lay  in  the  Wallabought,  near  to  a  number  of  transport  ships ;  the 
people  belonging  to  them  were  so  alert  in  snatching  the  prisoners 
from  the  flames,  that  but  two  out  of  some  hundreds  were  missing. 
This  is  what  I  suppose  the  congress  allude  to  when  they  say  that 
they  were  indiscriminately  thrown  into  the  holds  of  prison  ships. 
They  were  indeed  without  distinction  put  on  board  the  nearest 
ship,  called  the  Woodlands,  where  they  remained  for  a  short  time, 
until  the  ships  Strombolo  and  Scorpion  were  got  ready  for  tbeir 
reception.     But  the  officers  were  always  admitted  to  parole  on 
Long  Island,  in  that  pleasant  village  Jamaica,  until  the  lOlh  of  July 
last,  when   many  of  them   had  broke  their  parole,  and  othervvays 
behaved  so  ill,  that  it  was  refused  them.     This  alteration  had  not 
taken  place  above  two  months,  when  the  prisoners  were  all  moved 
on  board  the  ship  Jersey,  where  there  is  a  variety  of  apartments 
for  officers,  and  plenty  of  room  between  decks  for  the  men." 

He  says  he  has  offered  to  exchange  prisoners  man  for  man,  for 
as  many  as  shall  be  sent  within  the  British  lines.  He  says  thai  if 
the  congress  stick  to  their  resolve  "  not  to  exchange  any  British 
sea  officers  or  seamen,  until  the  enemy  have  returned  to  some  of 
their  garrisons  in  America,  such  seamen  as  they  have  taken  upon 
the  American  coasts  and  sent  to  Great  Britain  or  other  parts  be- 
yond the  sea,"  and  that  **  British  prisoners  receive  the  same  allow- 
ance and  treatment,  in  every  respect  as  our  people  who  are  pris- 
oners receive  from  the  enemy  ;"  **  it  will  hurry  on  their  misery  and 
distress  faster  than  they  are  aware  of  and  in  a  short  time,  put  the 
honour  of  every  nuin  to  the  test  who  is  out  on  parole.^^  Signed 
David  Sprout,  commissary  of  naval  prisoners  in  North  America, 
and  dated  the  29th  of  January,  1781. 

The  resolves  of  congress  and  letter  of  Sprout  appear  to  have 
been  occasioned  by  the  deposition  of  George  Batterman,  before 
noticed. 


Bfudi  tst. — Nev  York  ceded  her  rwcua  Indi  to  die  raioii, 

the  iKMiourof^/lrn^sodotB;.  Ylfgiaiai  leheeed  her  ckiw 
IB  17S4  ;  Massachusetts  in  AiMiI>  1795  ;  and  Canneclicttl  in  Se^ 
Ipndbnr;  17  S6.  The  settlement  of  Cttiio  lbUoved»  whieli  after  Att 
failure  of  tbe  Indian  war  supported  by  England  ui  179Sv  becuae 

the  pride  of  America. 
17S9         Desertions  from  tbe  British  were  more  frequent  than 

ttsual  this  winter,  and  paiticularljr  Arooid*s  corp8>  who 
came  off  with  their  horses  by  fires,  sixes  and  threes,  privates  and 
and  likewise  manr  Hessians, 
fune  :^Xh. — Coni^ess  adopted  tbe  spread  eagte  as  the  anan  of 

the  United  States. 
17S3        About  the  time  of  tbe  acknowledgement  of  indepeodeaco 

Colonei  Thompson,  since  known  as  Count  Ramlbrdt 
conamanding  at  Huatiogtoo>  Long  Isbnd,  cai»ed  a  fcrt  to  bo 
erected  in  tbe  church-yard  contrary  to  the  remonstrance  of  Ao 
inhabkanis,  and  at  a  dme  when  it  was  known  the  war  was  nearly 
or  qoite  at  a  close :  but  this  formed  a  pretext  for  charging  Aia 
Engikh  goremment  with  the  expense,  or  pretended  expenoew 
The  man  bad  oifered  himself  in  1775  for  a  commiasioQ  in  Ao 
rebel  armr,  and  being  refused,  repaired  Id  the  Britiah  and  went  lo 
London,  and  found  means  to  get  into  the  office  of  the  secretary  of 
staae  as  a  clerk :  this  aided  him  La  procnring  a  commissioQ  lo 
raise  a  regiment  in  America  in  perhaps  17$0,  which  he  partiaQj 
accooplehed*  and  enjored  tbe  pay  and  emolonents.  The  com* 
miasion  be  asked  was  a  majority  in  Grkttey^s  AitSkiy,  hot  Grid- 
ley  preferred  giviog  it  to  his  own  son,  wlm  afierward  pvoved  a 


Immediately  after  tbe  peace  of  17SS,  Isaac  Sears  letmnaJ  lo 
New  York  from  Boston,  where  he  and  his  soo-iD4aw  had  residM 
daring  tbe  war :  tbe  son-in4aw  followed  next  year  and  the  co* 
partnership  between  tbem  continued. 

In  i7S4— 5  the  company  of  Sears  and  Smidi  failed,  and  Ae 
OBergetick  old  man  made  a  voyage  to  tbe  East  Indies  which  r^ 
tfiered  in  part  his  fortunes,  but  in  i7S6  he  was  seiied  with  forer 

in  Bataria  and  died. 
17S4  March  ^d. — ^By  a  report  of  tbe  commitlee  appointed  by 
tbe  common  council  of  New  York,  relattre  Id  arreais  oai 
hack  rents,  or  rents  for  lots  of  the  corporation  on  lease  I  find  that 
one  person  having  possession  of  a  lot  in  rear  of  the  jml  at  £9  per 
innnm,  paid  ^*  during  the  war'*  to  ^^  John  Smyth,  the  dien  city 
tteaanrer,*'  .CIS  os.  The  common  cooncil  reaoire  to  renew  the 
lease,  the  lessee  paying  tbe  rent  doe  withoot  dednctii^  tie  said 
jCIS  58.  Another  person  represents,  that  he  leased  in  17S0,  of 
Darid  Matthews,  mayor*  a  lot  in  Chatham  street,  snppooed  lo  be 
meant,  but  which  bad  been  leased  before  the  war  to  anodier,  and 


I 
4 


QgUiU  AFPBIIDIX* 


the  whola  rent  U  demandnd ;  he  asks  to  pay  enly  from  1780. 
The  committee  report  "  that  arrears  of  rent  are  dye  to  the  corpo* 
jration  from  many  meritorious  persons,  who  have  taken  an  active 
4nd  decided  part  in  the  cause  of  their  country,"  and  sufiered 
losses,  **  and  many  other  persons  well  affected  to  the  cause  of  theit 
country,  (lessees  to  the  corporadon)  who  left  this  city  in  the  year 
1776|  have  from  poverty  and  other  unavoidable  misfortunes  been 
obliged  to  return  within  die  British  lines  before  the  peace  took  plaee, 
pmd  have  been  prevented  from  occupying  their  %*  habitations,  and 
deriving  any  advantage  from  their  leased  estates,  because 'of  their 
attachment  to  the  American  cause,  but  upon  condition  of  their 
paying  cent  to  iht  vestry^  or  Mr.  Smyth  their  treasurer."  The 
iDomiiutlae;iepq:t  fiivourably  to  suib  persons,  i.  e.  not  to  exact  rent 
^fll  tbevi'  £>r  the  time  so  paid  for  to  Mr.  Smyth,  or  from  1776  to 
Nofendber^ftStk  1783. 

jiT.^Tbe  common  council  '^  ordered  thai  do  allowance  x>r  abatement 

*be  lliade  to  any  person  or  persons  whomsoever,  who  are  grantees 

of  the  corporadon,  for  any  rents  which  became  due  previous  to  the 

Ut  <f  Majft  1776,  or  subsequent  tortfae  26th jif  November  kst" 

October  9<)-r-An  addre^  and  the  city's  fieedoi^were  presented 
to  Mr-  Jay  jOQijbis  return  s  After  compSnents  to  our  statesmen  gene- 
pilly,  they  say^  i^  among  ih^se  worthy  patriots  you,  ^,  were  distia* 
^ibhed— in  our  own  oosvention— rin  our  first  siat^of  justice-— as  a 
member  and  as  president  of  the^  United  States  in  congress  assem- 
bled— and  as  a  minister  plenipotentiary  botli  in  Spain  and  France, 
etc."  Mr.  Jay  in  his  answer  does  not  confine  himself  to  com- 
mon place  compliments^  but  speaks  of  the  '*  singular  spectacle" 
exhibited  to  the  world,  ''  of  a  patriot  army  of  citizens,  peaceably 
retiring  with  their  great  and  good  chief,  crowned  with  laurels  and 
the  blessings  of  the  people  to  fill  the  various  stations  of  private 
life."  He  recommends  ^uilMiuil  views — union— good  faith — pro- 
vision for  war,  however  improbable — and  our  federal  government 
rendered  efficient. 

''  This  being  a  land  of  light  and  liberty  I  bless  God  that  it  is  the 
land  of  ray  nativity.  Here  my  forefathers  (after  the  revocation  of 
the  Edict  of  Nantz,  A.  D.  1684)  sought  and  found  freedom  aud 
toleration.  I  am  bound  to  it  by  the  strongest  ties,  and  as  its  happi- 
ness has  been  the  first  object  of  my  endeavours  from  early  life,  so 
the  most  fervent  wishes  for  its  prosperity  shall  be  among  those  of 
my  latest  hours." 

8th. — The  return  of  election  is  made  to  the  common  council  for 
the  Outward,  Nicholas  Bayard,  and  Henry  Shute,  as  alderman 
and  assistant.  Alderman  Ivers  demands  a  scrutiny,  because  that 
(among  other  things)  Mr.  Bayard  after  having  left  the  town  did 
voluntarily  return  thereto,  enjoyed  his  property  and  held  employ- 
ment under  the  British  government  during  the  war.     Ordered  tluit 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATTER.  CCXLIII 

the  clerk  fiirnUh  Mr.  Bayard  with  a  copy  of  Mr.  Ivers's  petition, 
and  a  srnitinv  ordered. 

14tli. — On  Mr.  Jeremiah  Wool's  coming  up  to  be  sworn  as 
alderman,  the  recorder  objected  to  his  being  qnalified  becanse  he 
held  and  exercised  the  otlice  of  coroner ;  ilie  board  determined 
that  Mr.  Wool  miiiht  take  liis  choice  of  the  ortices,  but  he  insisted 
on  hoUiinn:  both  ;  the  board  snspemled  opinion  and  Wool  took 
the  oaths.  Mr.  \'arick  (the  recorder)  objected  to  Mr.  l^hoenix  as 
an  assistant,  he  holdin^^  the  ofhces  of  treasurer  and  chamberlain  : 
but  it  was  overruled. 

It  was  resolved  that  Nicholas  Bayard  was  not  disqualified  and 
was  dulv  elected. 

December  2d. — The  mayor,  James  Duane,  presented  a  draft  of 
an  address  to  (icneral  Washinfifton,  etc.  "  To  his  Exccllcncj 
(ieorsre  Washinirton,  late  commander-in-chief  of  the  armies  of  the 
United  States  of  America. 

**  When  this  city  after  the  restoration  had  the  honour  of  your 
Excellency's  presence,  it  was  regretted  that  the  derangement  of  its 
institutions  suspended  those  public  testimonials  of  respect,  grati- 
tude and  applause,  which  every  heart  truly  American  is  solicitous 
to  pay  to  your  distinguished  merits  and  services.  The  corpora- 
tion, since  organized,  resolved  to  embrace  a  proper  opportunity  to 
manifest  the  exalted  sense  which  they  entertain  of  both  ;  and  are 
happy  that  your  opjinHich  to  the  riciuify  of  this  $tatt  will  put  it  in 
tlieir  power  to  carry  that  resolution  into  effect.^*  The  rest  b  com- 
plimentary. 

As  the  mayor  was  going  to  Philadelphia,  he  is  deputed  to  carry 
tlic  address  with  a  gold  box  to  his  Kxcellcncy,  who  is  expected  at 
that  place,  and  if  not  found  there,  Mr.  Duane  was  to  forward  it  to 

him. 
17S-3  May  :?d. — Washinirton's  answer  was  as  follows  : — 
**  (icntlemen,  I  receive  vour  address  and  the  freedom  of 
the  city  with  which  you  have  been  pleased  to  present  me  in  a  gol- 
den box,  with  the  sensibilitv  and  gratitude  which  such  distin<niished 
honours  have  claim  to.  The  Hatterini;  expression  of  both,  stamps 
value  on  the  acts :  and  calls  for  stronger  language  than  I  am  master 
of,  to  convey  my  sense  of  the  obligation  in  adequate  terms. 

**  To  have  had  the  eood  fortune  amidst  the  vicissitudes  of  a  long 
and  arduous  contest,  '  never  to  have  known  a  moment  when  I  did 
not  possess  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  my  country,'  and  that 
my  conduct  should  have  met  the  approbation,  and  obtained  the 
atiectionatc  regard  of  the  i>tate  of  New  York,  (where  difficulties 
were  numerous  ami  complicated)  may  be  ascribed  more  to  the 
elTect  of  divine  wisdom,  which  had  disposed  the  minds  of  the 
people,  harrassed  on  all  sides,  to  make  allowances  for  the  embar- 
rassments of  my  situation,  whilst  witli  fortitade  and  patience  tbej 


pazUV  APPBNDUU 

suataioed  die  loes  of  their  oepital,  and  a  yalaablerftft  of  tbeir  t« 
ritoiyt  and  to  the  liberal  aentunents  aod  great  ezertimi  of  ker  tir- 
tuoiiB  dtizena,  thao  to  aDjr  merit  of  mine. 

**  The  reflection  of  these  things  now,  after  the  many  houis  of 
anxious  solicitude  which  all  of  us  have  had,  is  as  pleasing,  as  oor 
embarrassments  at  the  moment  we  encountered  them  were  disliiiSB 
ing,  and  must  coiisole  us  for  past  suflbrbgs  and  perplezitias. 

** I  pray  that  heaven  may  bestow  itsclK^icest  bleBungs  on  yoor 
dty.  That  the  devastatbns  of  war  in  which  yon  bavo  found  it, 
may  soon  be  without  a  trace.  That  a  well  regulated  and  beoefcial 
commerce  may  enrich  all  your  citisens,  and  that  your  stale  (at 
present  the  seat  of  empire)  may  set  such  examples  of  wisdom  and 
liberality  as  shall  have  a  tendency  |o  strengthen  and  give  penna- 
imicy  to  the  union  at  Ikmoo  ;  and  credit  and  respectability  to  it 
abroad — the  accompHshmeot  whereof  is  a  remaining  wish,  and  die 
primary  object  of  all  my  desiree. — Gbobob  WASKiHcnNm/' 

June  29th.^ — The  committee  respecting  die  fourth  of  July  im- 
port, and  it  is  agreed  to,  that  at  sun  rising  thirteen  romid  of 
cannon  to  be  fired  iu  the  fields,  and  the  flaff  of  the  United  Stalas 
displayed  on  the  City  HalL  At  8  o'clock  m  the  ^morning  all  dM 
bells  in  die  city  (the  alarm  bell  at  die  City  Hall  and  dwt  aft  die 
Goal  excepted)  ,to  commence  and  continue  ringing  one  hour*  Aft 
IS  o'clock  the  mayor,  recorder,  aldermen  and  assistants,  attended 
by  the  clerk,  sheriff,  and  the  marshalls  and  constables,  to  assemble 
at  the  City  Hail,  when  the  like  firing  of  the  cannon  and  ringing 
of  the  bells  is  to  be  repeated,  and  thence  to  proceed  to  wait  npon 
their  excellencies  the  govemour  and  the  president  of  congress  with 
the  compliments  of  the  city  on  the  occasion.  To  conclude  the 
day,  the  like  firing  of  cannon  is  to  be  repeated  at  the  setting  of  the 
sun. 

October  14th.<-— The  common  council  passed  the  following  re- 
solution :  '*  Whereas  it  hath  been  represented  to  this  board  in  behalf 
of  Mr.  Lawrence  Embree,  one  of  die  commissioners  of  the  Alms 
house,  that  the  company  of  comedians  in  this  city  some  time  since 
presented  him  with  £4kO  for  the  use  of  the  poor ;  and  that  although  be 
disapproved  of  a  donation  so  circumstanced,  he  thought  it  his  dutj 
to  suffer  it  to  be  deposited  with  him  until  the  sense  of  the  magis- 
trates respecting  the  same  could  be  determined.  Whereupon  the 
Board  came  to  the  following  resolutions  : — ^Resolved,  that  it  sp- 
pears  that  the  play  bouse  was  opened  by  tlie  said  company  of 
comedians  without  the  license  or  permission  of  the  civil  authority, 
which  in  the  opinion  of  this  board  is  a  thing  unprecedented  and 
offensive  :  Resolred,  that  while  so  great  a  part  of  this  city  sdll  lies 
in  ruins,  and  many  of  the  citizens  conUnue  to  be  pressed  with  the 
distresses  brought  on  diem  in  consequence  of  the  late  war,  there 
is  a  loud  call  to  industiy  and  economy ;  and  it  would  in  a  peculiar 


MISCBLLANBOTS  MATTBK.  OCXLT 

be  unjustifid^Ie  in  this  corpontioir  to  counteotnce  endciag 
txpeoses  and  imuseoien^ :  that  imoog  these  i  thettre  hdrerer 
itgnlated  must  be  ounibered ;  while,  under  no  lestnint  it  mtj 
piore  a  fearful  source  of  dissipation*  immorality  and  vice :  Re- 
tohrcdt  that  the  acceptance  of  the  said  donadon,  bj  the  advice  of 
A«  board,  mi^ht  authoriae  a  conclusion  that  they  approved  of  Att 
ipening  of  the  said  theatre,  and  that  therefore  it  be  and  it  hereby 
B  recommended  to  Mr.  Eiubree  to  return  the  same  to  the  peiaoo 
rom  whom  he  received  iu  Ordered,  that  the  foregoing  resolutioiis 
le  pidriished  in  all  the  newspapers  of  this  city.*^ 

November  14th. — Number  of  persons  in  the  Alms  house  at  diia 
ime  301 ;  viz :  63  men,  VdS  women,  50  boys,  49  girls,  3  black 

men*  and  4  black  women. 
L7S7  April  3d. — The  mayor  laid  before  the  board  a  concur* 
rent  resolution  of  the  senate  and  assembly*  dated  the  d6th 
of  November,  17S4,  ^*  that  the  monument  by  the  United  States  in 
congress  assembled^  ordered  to  be  erected  to  the  memory  of  Major 
Lieneral  Mont^mer}-,  be  erecied  in  the  city  of  New  York,  at  siich 
particular  place  as  the  mayor  etc.  shall  appoinu"  The  mayor  re- 
commended an  immediaie  aiiendon  to  fixing  on  a  suitable  place 
for  erecting  said  monument,  and  that  the  same  be  put  up  witboot 
delav.  Thev  ao:Teed  that  the  front  of  St.  Paul's  Church  is  the 
most  proper  place,  and  a  committee  was  app<Hnted  to  consult  with 

the  church  wanlens  and  camr  into  efiect  the  above. 
17 SS  July  16th. — In  pursuance  of  the  law  of  this  state  au- 
thorizing the  corporation  of  the  city  of  New  York  to  remove 
die  statue  therein  mentioned :  i>rdered,  that  the  aldermen  and 
assistants  of  the  Dock  ward,  and  East  ward,  be  a  commitlee  to 
remove  the  remains  of  Pittas  statue  from  Wall  street,  and  that  they 
deposit  the  same  in  some  safe  place  until  the  further  order  of  thn 
board. 

September  17th. — The  act  of  congress  for  appointing  the  time 
and  place  for  the  meeting  of  the  general  government  tmder  the 
■etr  a^mstuution^  is  laid  before  the  common  council,  and  it  appears 
that  this  ciiy  is  appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  Ordered,  ^*  that  the 
whole  of  the  City  Hall  be  appropriated  for  the  accommodadng  the 
general  government  of  the  United  States,  and  that  this  board  will 
provide  means  for  defraying  the  expense  of  putting  the  same  in 
proper  order  and  repair.^*  A  committee  was  appointed  to  consult 
the  delegates  of  this  state  in  congress,  and  others,  and  to  report  the 
alterations  and  repaiis  necessary ;  and  to  examine  the  exchange 
and  report  what  repairs  will  make  it  fit  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  courts  of  jusdce  and  the  meeting  of  the  corporation  of  diia 

SOdi. — The  comminee  on  the  subject  reported  that  diey  bam 
consulted  the  gendemen,  and  had  proenred  a  plan  (execmed  hj 


CCXLVI 

Major  L*Enfant)of  the  additions,  alterations  and  reptiis,  pecesanr 
to  the  City  Hall,  and  recommend  the  same  to  be  adopted  bj  the 
board.  It  is  represented  to  the  board  that  a  number  of  citims 
had  by  voluntary  subscription  engaged  to  the  monies  necesitryibr 
the  said  building,  in  expectation  of  being  reimbursed  by  tbe  less- 
lature,  and  had  nominated  five  commissioners,  viz :  Robert  Wans 
Alexander  Afc  Comb,  Major  L'Enfant,  James  Nicholson,  and 
William  Maxwell,  to  purchase  the  materials  and  snperinteDd  the 
said  business.  Resolved,  that  the  common  council  approve  tbe 
proceedings,  **  so  that  no  charge  be  made  on  this  corporation  for 
any  part  of  the  expense." 


THE  END. 


ERRATA. 


VOLVME  h 


1?.  40 fiw  iww  rwMl  ttere. 

:£k  iM>le.    7 tVur  tk^ftn  rNbd  tkfjtrtt. 

;M.  I'J        litfc  •. 

•*   aN>te.    I for  is  K«id  w. 

•'    t  :?       deW  adW »«? « 

'^— ttfter  «wrf  inteit  «crv. 

a>!  do 1liwk»  likt  ttad  UK 

SO.  Botr,  15 for  .  !tuS»Kitute  .. 

*^ for  Theff  rwkl  c/Wy. 

91,  7         for  ariw  nsid  wrrr. 

100.  13 aftvr  llvmi  iinert  AAa  l4it#««. 

Sd for  tkrre  ivad  ttnr. 

101.  &— ttlWr  tfrwf  iwtft  «ff«. 

1;M.  9^^ for(mfyrf«i«KilS|u 

145.  3k>— After  Ami  inwtt  mti. 

147.  Bote.  94 for  ^iiMicA'j  Oh  reaJ  5Mtt*«  I V 

lt>8.  41 for  if  rvMl  •(. 

^l:>.Dote.  • for  Gnttim  W9d  Gmmwim. 

^M,  Dole.  13 alVr  mtme  uwert  ^f. 

^iX\,  31 for  kttf  read  ktfi. 

^45.  note.  16 for  ^ruMr  ic«d  Bum 

^47.  dele  noie  t> 

)i55.  noiF.  7        Ibt  .  fohrtimtc  «. 

" for  Te  redhl  4^ 

^K  ^1 for  .  Mbrttete  .. 

:il«t.>.  note.  6        for  Mimws  rettd  Umrrimm. 
^Tt.  17 for  Cttsfmtm  immI  Qwmvmm. 

30       dele  Ai*. 

3^>.  21 after  ITrt  iwert  tknt  vrrft. 

oi5.  41 for  ^tdmnU  rrad  differed. 

plei 
319. 

«%:iH.  notm,  6 for  BaHtm  read 

::»7.  M>ie.  16 for  17^  rrad  17T:v 

17 fbr  17^  read  177!^ 

X9.  37 for  •»  read  inif. 

:M<k  ^5 for  4Af  read  Ar. 

^I^.Boie.    !l— deleC^lAu 


aiWO 

Irwm 
forii^M 
for  irrnr  read 

liDe  14.     ^  pMC  p.  447. 


4.^.  1 for  Mumt  read 

445»  delefti»iAr.liM9.l» 

14.aiidadd«aMliaM 

P^  «I7.  M& 


BRRATA.' 


Pafe.  Line. 

446,  note,   7 for  Ommisaimmr  read  G 


447, 
456, 


«< 


461, 
468, 
476, 
480, 


81- 

1- 

32- 


fbr  1769  read  1766 

for  1776  read  1775. 

•between  Mtdkoriims  and  while  i 


23 for  1071  read  1761. 

13 aAer  August  inaert  1775. 


rt[1775 


15- 


-for  exmted  read  execmud. 


2 for  eocUMtoat  read  wkmU^omi, 

Bee  Vol.  II.  pp.  19, 80. 


Page. 

36» 


ft 


37, 
40, 

42, 

45, 

« 

50, 

54, 

M, 

102, 

162, 

iTii, 

207, 
211, 
245, 

248, 
269, 


VOLUME  II. 

LIb« 

•for  any  read  mf . 

for  Oghntcaga  read  OgUataga. 

Tor  Ogkkteogate^A  Ogkkwaga. 

lele  trom  tSt  tine  13,  to  tiijfy  line  22, 
See  Vol.  I.  pp.  407,  408. 

28 between  and  and  the  insert  dmrimg. 

dele  from  appoinUd,  line  21,  to 

genendf  line  23. 

24 before  hi$  insert  as. 

41 for  Bmr^ofpu  read  Carltion. 

19 ^for  eommg  up  wiik  read  approackiug. 

90— for  in  roM  on. 

27 for  JIfoses  read  Moon*». 

46        for  fAis  read  an. 
"—between  euierprize  and  teas  insert  to 
10— for  emt  Jiciit  read  immineuL 

18 for  which  read  trAife. 

32 for  them  read  if. 

12 for  proper  read  property, 

30        for  appointment  read  avporttoiimfiif . 

19 dele  •/. 

46 ^for  power  read  houee. 


Till, 

XL, 
LXXXII, 


CI, 
CXXVII, 

CXLII, 
CLXX, 

CXCVII, 

CCXI, 

CCVIII, 

ccxxi, 


APPENDIX. 


44— after  island  inaert  of  Manhattoes. 

2 for  ^  read  of. 

40 for  1705  read  1805. 

33 for  others  read  otters. 

45— for  is  read  are. 

35 for  Jersey  read  ForAr. 

1 ^for  CoUteU  read  Corbett. 

23        for  country  read  county. 
36— dele  and. 

for  IMS  read  were. 

for  Ellen  read  Allen. 

for  fells  reud  feels. 

for  rvyoi  read  loyal. 


r    •